SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

Hidden Sage

  • The Fisherman Who Told Confucius to Stop Pretending

    •

    This commentary on Zhuangzi ‑ Yufu retells the fisher‑sage’s dialogue with Confucius. It advocates “honouring authenticity”, warning against artificial worldly rituals that drain one’s inborn genuine nature.

  • Chapter 31. The Fisherman (Yu Fu)

    •

    This page explores The Fisherman from Zhuangzi. A wise fisherman criticizes Confucius for exhausting himself pursuing ritual and righteousness. Advocating “valuing authenticity”, he stresses inner sincerity over hollow conventions, as Confucius humbly receives his Daoist teaching.

  • Chapter 25. Ze Yang

    •

    This Zhuangzi ‑ Ze Yang chapter includes the famous snail‑horns parable. Through varied dialogues, it diminishes human conflicts, explores relational causation, and advocates transcending narrow worldly standpoints for the Dao.

  • The Yellow Stone Sage [Biographies of Noble Scholars]

    •

    The hidden Yellow Stone Sage tested Zhang Liang’s humility three times on a bridge. Satisfied, he gave Zhang the military text Strategies of Tai Gong. The sage said he would appear as a yellow stone years later. Zhang treasured the stone and buried it with himself upon his death.