SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

meditation

  • Bei Yi [Biographies of Noble Scholars]

    •

    Ana

    Bei Yi (or Pi Yi) was a man from the time of Emperor Yao. Yao’s teacher was Xu You; Xu You’s teacher was Nie Que; Nie Que’s teacher was Wang Ni; and Wang Ni’s teacher was Bei Yi.

  • Sequel to a Dream

    •

    Ana

    After winning the title of jinshi, (Tran. Note: Jinshi was a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination; juren was a successful candidate at the provincial level) Juren Zeng and several others who had passed the examination went for an excursion in the suburbs of the provincial capital.

  • Polishing a Brick to Make a Mirror

    •

    Ana

    One day, seeing Mazu Daoyi (later a renowned Chan master) sitting rigidly in meditation for hours, his teacher Huairang decided to challenge him.

  • Shenhui’s awakening under the Sixth Patriarch

    •

    Ana

    In his childhood, Shenhui studied classics and history under a teacher, mastering the philosophies of Laozi and Zhuangzi. Later, after reading the Book of the Later Han, he encountered Buddhism and devoted himself to its teachings.

  • Harmonious Fusion of the Religions in Journey to the West

    •

    Juan

    Journey to the West masterfully integrates China’s three major traditions or religions—Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism—into a cohesive narrative, creating a rich cultural tapestry and unique philosophical-religious foundation.

  • [Journey to the West]Monkey of the Mind

    •

    Juan

    The journey of the Tang Monk and his disciples is, in essence, an inward pilgrimage. Buddhist and Taoist perspectives play a vital role in shaping this spiritual allegory.

  • Immortality and Journey to the West

    •

    Juan

    In many cultures, immortality is regarded as a noble ideal. Ancient Chinese myths, legends, and texts are rich with stories and figures pursuing eternal life.

  • Why is the Dao De Jing Difficult to Understand?‌

    •

    Ana

    The Dao De Jing (or Tao Te Ching) is a pivotal philosophical classic of ancient China. Its concepts, such as the “‌Unity of Heaven and Humanity‌” and the “‌harmony of Yin and Yang‌,” have deeply influenced fields like traditional Chinese medicine and art, shaping the unique ethos of Chinese civilization. Many readers drawn to…