SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

Qin Dynasty

  • Emperor

    •

    Ana

    The supreme sovereign who rules “All Under Heaven”. In China, the title “Emperor” (Huangdi) was first adopted by Ying Zheng, King of Qin, following the unification of China in 221 BCE and the establishment of the Qin dynasty.

  • Records of the Grand Historian – Shiji

    •

    Ana

    Originally titled Taishi Gong Shu (“Book of the Grand Historian”), the Shiji was compiled by Sima Qian (c. 145–c. 86 BCE) during the Western Han dynasty. It is China’s first comprehensive biographical universal history (jizhuanti tongshi), covering approximately three millennia – from the legendary Yellow Emperor to the reign of Emperor Wu of Han…

  • An Unexpected Teacher on the Bridge: Zhang Liang and the Yellow-Stone Elder [Western Han]

    •

    Juan

    After Qin Shi Huang unified China by conquering the six warring states, he frequently toured his vast empire.

  • The Peach Blossom Spring

    •

    Ana

    — by Tao Yuanming (Jin) During the Taiyuan era of the Jin Dynasty, a fisherman from Wuling made his living by fishing. One day, he sailed along a stream, forgetting how far he had traveled. Suddenly, he came upon a grove of peach trees lining both banks for several hundred paces. There were no…

  • Han Fei

    •

    Rob

    Han Fei (c. 280–233 BCE), often revered as Han Feizi or Master Han Fei, stands as one of ancient China’s most influential philosophers and political theorists. Emerging during the tumultuous Warring States Period (475–221 BCE), he hailed from Xinzheng, the capital of the state of Han (in modern-day Henan Province). As a royal descendant…

  • From Stone Monkey to Handsome Monkey King

    •

    Juan

    Born from a mystical stone, Sun Wukong gains power through sheer ambition. After discovering the Water Curtain Cave, he declares himself the Handsome Monkey King, rallying the monkey tribe under his rule.

  • [Journey to the West] Wukong and Zhang Liang

    •

    Juan

    In ‌Chapter 14 of Journey to the West‌, Sun Wukong kills six bandits (symbolizing the ‌”Six Roots”‌ of desire in Buddhist teachings) and is harshly rebuked by Tang Sanzang. Angered, he storms off and visits the ‌Dragon King of the Eastern Sea‌.