chinese-culture
共 158 篇文章
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Ji Shengzi Raising Fighting-Cocks | 纪渻子养斗鸡
Ji Shengzi trained a fighting cock for the king. Over forty days, he patiently waited until the c...
Having Bamboo in Mind | 胸有成竹
The story of artist Wen Tong illustrates how deep, sustained observation and mental preparation l...
The Quail Mocks the Roc | 鹌鹑笑大鹏
A tiny quail, content with its short hops among the weeds, mocks the mighty roc for its grand but...
The Jade of Song | 宋人献玉
A man from Song tries to flatter Minister Zi Han by offering him a precious jade, but Zi Han refu...
Grinding a Brick into a Mirror | 磨砖成镜
A Chan master uses the metaphor of grinding a brick to make a mirror to teach his disciple that e...
The Gold Grabber of Qi | 齐人攫金
A man obsessed with gold steals it openly from a market, claiming he saw only the gold and not th...
The Leaf That Blinds | 一叶障目
A poor man in Chu, believing a leaf can make him invisible after misreading a text, embarks on a ...
The Mantis Stops the Chariot | 螳臂当车
King Zhuang Gong of Qi encounters a mantis attempting to stop his chariot, prompting a reflection...
The Imperial Consort's Homecoming | 元妃省亲
This passage from *A Dream of Red Mansions* describes Imperial Consort Yuanchun's rare, state-san...
Mutual Respect | 相敬如宾
A Spring and Autumn Period official, inspired by a respectful farming couple, advocated employing...
The Foolish Old Man Who Moved the Mountains | 愚公移山
The story of Yu Gong, who, despite his age and others' doubts, resolved to move two mountains wit...
Working with a Farrier | 岂辱马医
A poor man in Qi, once a beggar, takes a job with a farrier after being shunned. When mocked for ...
A Broken Mirror Joined Together | 破镜重圆
This story tells of Princess Lechang and Xu Deyan, who broke a mirror as a pledge before being se...
Su Qin's Awl | 苏秦刺股
The story of Su Qin, a poor scholar who, after initial failure and family ridicule, disciplined h...
The King Who Cried Drum | 楚王击鼓
King Li of Chu foolishly beats the emergency drum as a drunken prank, causing his people to lose ...
Leaving the Net Open on Three Sides | 网开三面
King Tang of Shang demonstrates benevolence by modifying a hunter's prayer and removing three sid...
The Stone Treasure | 视石为宝
A man mistakes an ordinary stone for a priceless treasure, going to extreme lengths to protect it...
A Promise of Gold | 一诺千金
To establish credibility for his reforms, Qin Prime Minister Shang Yang publicly and generously r...
Concealing One's Illness and Avoiding Treatment | 讳疾忌医
Bian Que repeatedly warned Duke Huan of his progressing illness, but the Duke, in denial, refused...
Quenching Thirst with Plums | 望梅止渴
This story recounts how the historical figure Cao Cao cleverly averted a potential mutiny among h...