SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

philosophical insight

  • Mencius – Chapter 14.11

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    Mencius criticizes fame-driven hypocrites. Such people may surrender a large kingdom for good repute, yet reveal greed and discontent over trivial food gains, showing hollow virtue fails small, unobserved tests.

  • The Analects – Chapter 48 (3.8). The canvas beneath ritual

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    3.8 Zixia asked, saying, “What is the meaning of Oh the sweet smile dimpling,The lovely eyes so black and white!Plain silk that you would take for coloured stuff.” The Master said, “The painting comes after the plain groundwork.” Zixia said, “Then ritual comes afterwards?” The Master said, “Shang it is who bears me up.…

  • Caigentan 58. Joy in bitterness, Sorrow in success

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    Joy can often be found in fulfilling a painstaking job, and sorrow from an unexpected setback may arise after success has turned one’s head.