chinese-culture
158 篇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...
29 阅读Having Bamboo in Mind | 胸有成竹
The story of artist Wen Tong illustrates how deep, sustained observation and mental preparation l...
35 阅读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...
32 阅读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...
30 阅读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...
25 阅读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...
29 阅读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 ...
36 阅读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...
35 阅读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...
32 阅读Mutual Respect | 相敬如宾
A Spring and Autumn Period official, inspired by a respectful farming couple, advocated employing...
32 阅读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...
35 阅读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 ...
27 阅读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...
29 阅读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...
31 阅读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 ...
39 阅读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...
33 阅读The Stone Treasure | 视石为宝
A man mistakes an ordinary stone for a priceless treasure, going to extreme lengths to protect it...
30 阅读A Promise of Gold | 一诺千金
To establish credibility for his reforms, Qin Prime Minister Shang Yang publicly and generously r...
33 阅读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...
31 阅读Quenching Thirst with Plums | 望梅止渴
This story recounts how the historical figure Cao Cao cleverly averted a potential mutiny among h...
28 阅读