SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

zengzi

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 32.12

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    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter32.12 Legalist excerpt presents multiple tales. It highlights political trustworthiness’ governance value and also covers investigation and surveillance techniques for handling litigation and official corruption.

  • Value Your Life Above Kingship, Wealth and Power

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    This commentary on Zhuangzi ‑ Rang Wang gathers fables stressing valuing innate life above kingship and wealth. It also notes textual tensions: some tales celebrate moral suicide, conflicting with its core cherish‑life theme.

  • Chapter 28. Yielding the Throne (Rang Wang)

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    This Zhuangzi ‑ Rang Wang collects fables of hermits rejecting thrones, rank and wealth. It advocates cherishing one’s inner life above worldly power, holding politics as secondary to personal spiritual cultivation.

  • Chapter 27. Imputed Words (Yu Yan)

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    This Zhuangzi ‑ Yuyan (Metaphors) chapter explores three literary‑philosophical speech modes: imputed, quoted, and goblet‑words. It advocates flexible, natural language aligned with heavenly equality rather than rigid fixed judgments.

  • Mencius – Chapter 14.36

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    Zengzi shunned jujubes, his late father’s exclusive favorite, though he ate popular tasty meat. Mencius compares this to ancestral name taboos: shared common things are fine, yet unique personal symbols deserve reverence out of filial affection.

  • The Analects – Chapter 19.19

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    Zengzi counsels newly appointed judge Yang Fu: rulers’ abandonment of the Way has long driven people to crime. When uncovering offenders’ truths, judges must hold compassion instead of pride, embodying Confucian benevolent and reflective justice.

  • The Analects – Chapter 19.18

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    Zengzi passes on Confucius’ comment: Meng Zhuangzi’s ordinary filial deeds are easy to imitate, yet his restraint to retain his late father’s officials and policies stands as rare, supreme filial piety integrating morality and stable governance.

  • The Analects – Chapter 19.17

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    Zengzi relays Confucius’ view: people rarely pour out their full genuine emotions, except when mourning parents. This innate heartfelt grief rooted in blood ties forms the natural foundation of Confucian filial piety and authentic ritual sentiment.

  • The Analects – Chapter 19.16

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    Zengzi acknowledges Zizhang’s dignified bearing but remarks it hard to cultivate benevolence with him. He implies Zizhang overemphasizes outward grandeur while lacking the sincere inner simplicity that true benevolence demands.