SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

Perfect Man

  • Chapter 33. The World (Tian Xia)

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    This page covers The World, Zhuangzi’s final chapter, an early survey of pre‑Qin thought. It laments the fragmentation of the unified ancient Way, reviews major schools, and assesses thinkers including Mozi, Laozi, Zhuangzi himself and the logician Hui Shi.

  • Chapter 32. Lie Yukou

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    This page interprets Lie Yukou from Zhuangzi. Through fables, it warns against fame‑seeking and hollow ambition, satirizes worldly success, and advocates detachment. It ends with Zhuangzi’s famous rejection of lavish burial, accepting death as part of nature.

  • Chapter 31. The Fisherman (Yu Fu)

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    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 26. External Things (Wai Wu)

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    This Zhuangzi ‑ Wai Wu chapter features classic parables: the minnow in dry ruts, Ren‑Gongzi’s giant‑fish catch and “useless‑as‑use”. It argues external outcomes are uncertain and advocates “forgetting‑words” for true insight.

  • Chapter 23. Gengsang Chu

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    This Zhuangzi ‑ Gengsang Chu chapter features Gengsang Chu and seeker Nan Rongchu. It teaches “guarding‑life” Daoist practice, criticizes Yao‑Shun‑style governance and advocates inner stillness and infant‑like simplicity.

  • Chapter 22. Knowledge Wanders North (Zhi Bei You)

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    This Zhuangzi ‑ Zhi Bei You chapter explores the ineffable Dao via allegories. It argues true Dao cannot be grasped by intellect or words, discussing universal Qi, life‑death transformation and famous idiom‑generating episodes.

  • Chapter 13. The Way of Heaven (Tian Dao)

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    This Zhuangzi ‑ Tiandao excerpt highlights wu‑wei and inner stillness as governance’s root. It includes Wheelwright Bian’s famous parable arguing books hold only ancient dregs, and debates over artificial benevolence and righteousness.

  • Gengsang Chu [Biographies of Noble Scholars]

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    Gengsang Chu, Laozi’s Taoist disciple, brought bumper harvests to Weilui Mountain via wuwei. Villagers wished to worship him as a local deity, yet he refused, believing true sages live in seclusion and let natural Heaven’s Way govern all.

  • Wang Ni [Biographies of Noble Scholars]

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    Wang Ni was a worthy man from the time of Emperor Yao, and he was the disciple of Bei Yi. Nie Que studied under Wang Ni and asked him about the Dao.