SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

Zhao Shu

  • The Humiliation of Jingkang: The Fall of the Northern Song [Song & Yuan]

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    Juan

    This article narrates the Jingkang Humiliation, the fall of the Northern Song. After a risky alliance with the Jin, the Song court’s weakness and misrule led to a Jin invasion. Emperor Qinzong’s wavering and dismissal of loyal defenders sealed Kaifeng’s fate. In 1127, both emperors were captured, ending the Northern Song.

  • The Iron-Faced Judge: Bao Zheng [Song & Yuan]

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    Juan

    This article explores the legendary integrity of Bao Zheng, a renowned judge during the Song Dynasty, contrasting him with his predecessor Fan Zhongyan. It details his strict adherence to impartiality, highlighting how he refused to take even a single Duan inkstone as a souvenir to distinguish public duty from private gain. A key story…