SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

slander

  • 三人成虎 (sān rén chéng hǔ)

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    Basic Info Chinese Idiom: 三人成虎Pinyin: sān rén chéng hǔLiteral Meaning: Three people claiming there is a tiger creates belief in a tiger.Figurative Meaning: False reports, rumors or hearsay, when repeated over and over by multiple people, will gradually convince others to treat them as truth. Cultural & historical background This story comes from the…

  • The Rebellion of Bai Gongsheng

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    This text narrates Bai Gongsheng’s 479 BC Chu rebellion. Stemming from King Ping’s crime against his crown prince, Lord Bai sought revenge, seized the capital, yet was defeated by Lord Ye, revealing deep royal clan rifts.

  • Mencius – Chapter 14.19

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    Disciple He Ji grieves over widespread slander. Mencius consoles him that such gossip harms nothing, citing two Book of Songs verses: even Confucius and King Wen endured petty men’s resentment yet retained their noble reputations.

  • The Analects – Chapter 19.24

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    Zigong defends Confucius against slander. Ordinary virtuous men are mere hills one may climb, yet Confucius equals the unrivaled sun and moon. Slander cannot harm him; it only reveals the critic’s ignorance and lack of self-awareness.

  • The Analects – Chapter 19.10

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    Zixia stresses trust as the foundation of governance and advice. A gentleman wins people’s trust before assigning labor and gains a ruler’s trust before offering remonstrance; without trust, his efforts will be misread as oppression or slander.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 22.34

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    Han Feizi tells Lu Dan bribed attendants to gain favor, then fled, knowing trust from hearsay is fragile.

  • The Zhen and the Snake

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    The Zhen bird (a mythical poisonous bird)) met a venomous snake on the road and advanced to peck at it.

  • Is That So?

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    Chan Master Hakuin Ekaku (1686–1769 CE) was one of the most influential figures in Japanese Rinzai Zen Buddhism, renowned for revitalizing the tradition during the Edo period. His teachings and practices have profoundly impacted Zen Buddhism, not only in Japan but also around the world.