SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

Qin Guli

  • How the Whole Way Shattered into a Hundred Schools

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    This commentary on Zhuangzi ‑ Tian Xia, an early pre‑Qin philosophical survey, assesses major schools including Mohism, Lao‑Dan’s Daoism and Hui Shi’s sophism. It laments how the complete ancient Way fragmented into partial one‑sided doctrines.

  • 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.

  • Mozi – Chapter 71

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    This chapter answers Qin Guli’s questions on countering earthen siege mounds, covering beacon signals, ration standards, scorched-earth rules, hostage systems, equipment management and five fatal flaws for city defense.

  • Mozi – Chapter 63

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    This chapter details defenses against suicidal ant-like swarming assaults. It covers pulley-hung shields, incendiary carts, wall stakes, boiling liquids, plus midnight ambushes and white-cloaked night troops to rout enemy waves.

  • Mozi – Chapter 62

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    This chapter details Mohist counter-tunnel tactics. It uses leather-covered jars to detect digging sounds, dig intercepting tunnels, and deploy mugwort smoke, spears and vinegar to defeat underground enemy assaults.

  • Mozi – Chapter 56

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    This chapter records Mozi’s counsel to his devoted disciple Qin Guli on countering cloud ladders, detailing auxiliary walls, arrow slits, incendiary traps, ambushes and night psychological tactics to repel ladder assaults.

  • Mozi – Chapter 53

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    This chapter records Mozi’s response to disciple Qin Guli on countering enemy earthen siege mounds. It details tall inner counter towers and giant multi-shot linked crossbow carts with winch mechanisms for repelling elevated assaults.

  • Mozi – Chapter 52

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    This chapter records Mozi’s talk with disciple Qin Guli on city defense. It lists twelve siege tactics and matching countermeasures, detailing fortifications, weapons, manpower allocation and fourteen essential defense prerequisites.

  • Mozi – Chapter 50

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    This chapter recounts Mozi’s famous mission to stop Chu from attacking Song. He travels ten days to defeat master craftsman Gongshu Ban’s siege engines in a simulated battle, then reveals 300 disciples already guard Song, forcing Chu to abandon the war.