SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

pride

  • 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.

  • Six-Character Poem – To Comrade Peng Dehuai [Mao’s Poems]

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    –Mao Zedong, 1935 High hills, long roads, deep ravines lie;Our mighty army surges far and nigh.Who dares stand sword in hand, steed astride?None but our General Peng, with fearless pride! Note Composed in October 1935, right after the Battle of Wuqi Town (the “Cutting the Tail” battle) during the Long March. This was the…

  • The foresight of the plain sister

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    “The Sister Switch (Sisters Marrying in Each Other’s Stead)” is a story from Strange Tales from Liaozhai (Liaozhai Zhiyi), presenting a fable about marital choice and values. Centering on the contrasting attitudes of two sisters towards marriage, it reveals the conflict between superficial appearance and intrinsic worth, as well as the recognition of true…

  • The ginger that grew on trees

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    In the state of Chu lived a man who did not know where ginger grew.

  • Drawing a snake with legs

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    In the state of Chu, a man who had held a sacrifice gave the goblet of sacrificial wine to his stewards.

  • Wukong – the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven

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    ‌In Journey to the West, the names and titles of the characters often carry specific symbolic meanings.‌