SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

Yelu Xiezhen

  • The Tragic Fall of General Yang Ye [Song & Yuan]

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    Juan

    This article tells the tragic story of General Yang Ye, a loyal and brave defender of the Song Dynasty. It reviews the failed Northern Expeditions against the Liao, highlights Yang Ye’s brilliant victory at Yanmen Gate that earned him the title “Invincible.” In the 986 campaign, slandered by jealous supervisors and abandoned by his…

  • The Covenant of the Golden Casket and the Shadow of the Axe [Song & Yuan]

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    Juan

    This article explores the mysterious succession of Emperor Taizong after Emperor Taizu’s sudden death in the Song Dynasty. It covers the controversial “Candlelight and Axe Sounds” legend, the legitimacy debate over the Golden Casket Covenant, and the tragic fates of Taizu’s sons and younger brother. It also notes Taizong’s cultural achievements and completion of…