SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

moral order

  • Why Mencius Refused to Talk About “Profit”

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    This article unpacks Mencius’ famous exchange with King Hui of Liang. It explains Mencius opposes putting profit first rather than rejecting it, arguing benevolence‑righteousness yields lasting benefit, with modern real‑world illustrations.

  • The Analects – Chapter 13.3

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    Zilu asked Confucius, “If the ruler of Wei were waiting for you to take charge of government, what would you do first?”The Master said, “Certainly, I would rectify the names!”Zilu replied, “Really? How impractical you are! What’s there to rectify?”The Master said, “How uncultivated you are, You! When a noble person does not understand…

  • The Analects – Chapter 9.15

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    Confucius said, “After I returned from Wei to Lu, I put the music in order, so that the ‘Ya’ and ‘Song’ sections each found their proper place.”

  • The Analects – Chapter 205 (8.19). The Sage-King ideal – Emperor Yao

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    8.19The Master said, “Greatest, as lord and ruler, was Yao. Sublime, indeed, was he. ‘There is no greatness like the greatness of Heaven,’ yet Yao could copy it. So boundless was it that the people could find no name for it; yet sublime were his achievements, dazzling the insignia of his culture!”