SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

Li Shimin

  • The Arrow Duel at the Xuanwu Gate Incident [Sui & Tang]

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    Juan

    Brief: This article recounts the pivotal Xuanwu Gate Incident in 626 AD. Fearing elimination by Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Prince Li Yuanji, Li Shimin launched a preemptive coup, killing his two brothers. He seized power, forced Emperor Gaozu to abdicate, and ascended as Emperor Taizong, laying the groundwork for the Zhenguan golden age.

  • Unifying the Realm: The Campaigns of the Early Tang [Sui & Tang]

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    Juan

    Brief: This article chronicles early Tang’s unification campaigns. Led by Li Shimin, Tang forces defeated warlords Xue Ju, Liu Wuzhou, Li Mi, Wang Shichong, and Dou Jiande. It also covers the pacification of the south, unifying China after long chaos. These victories laid the foundation for the Tang golden age.

  • The Founding of the Tang: Li Yuan’s Rise to Power [Sui & Tang]

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    Juan

    Brief: This article tells the founding of the Tang Dynasty by Li Yuan. Amid Sui’s collapse, Li Yuan plotted a revolt in Taiyuan, outwitted Li Mi to seize Chang’an, and installed a puppet emperor. After Emperor Yang’s assassination, Li Yuan took the throne in 618, establishing Tang and ending the chaotic Sui regime.

  • Is Wei Zheng Mortal or Divine in Journey to the West?

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    Juan

    In Journey to the West, Wei Zheng embodies a dual identity. He is neither fully mortal nor purely divine but a liminal figure ensuring cosmic order—a reminder that even human affairs are threads in the tapestry of heavenly design.