Zhang Baozang
Zhang Baozang was a low-ranking government official in Jinwu during the Tang Dynasty. One day on his way home, he saw a young man who had been out hunting. The young man was having a picnic with fresh meat. Zhang Baozang, leaning against a tree, sighed deeply, “I, Zhang Baozhang, am already 70 years old. [...]
Yearn Not For Vanity
Today we have a story about the Chinese Military General Qi Jiguang (戚繼光) of the Ming Dynasty, who was taught by his father from a young age not to indulge in opulence or develop vanity.
Qi Jiguang (November 12, 1528 – January 5, 1588) was a national hero during the Ming Dynasty. He was best remembered [...]
Respect Your Teachers
Explainations about why Ancient Chinese taught respecting your teacher, and a short story for example.
Weichi Jingde’s Money
Near the end of Sui Dynasty there was a poor scholar who lived in Taiyuan City. This scholar earned his meager income from teaching. His home was near an official storehouse. One day he went into it and found several thousand strings of cash. He could not help taking some of the cash.
Putting Yourself in Other’s Shoes
Once in the Chunqiu Dynasty (770 B.C. - 476 B.C.), a winter was very cold. There was a huge snowfall in the Qi State that had continued for three days already. People were very tired of it and wished it would stop soon.
The Qi King, Qi Jinggong (547 B. C. - 490 B. C.) was [...]
The Farmer’s Donkey
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out a way to get him out. Finally he decided it was probably impossible and the animal was old and the well was dry anyway, so it just wasn’t worth it to [...]
Excessive Tax Collection Leads to an Earthquake in the Capital
During the Yuan Dynasty, in the spring of the 24th year of Emperor Ziyuan (A.D. 1287), Hu Bilie entrusted authority to his minister Shang Ge. However, Shang Ge was autocratic and cruel in his politics. He favored members of his own party and at the same time, rebuked and attacked politicians from other parties who [...]
How Virtuous Mothers Educated Their Children
There were many good mothers in ancient China who paid special attention to their children’s education. The following are inspirational stories of two mothers who taught their children to be pure and honest.
Tian Ji’s Mother Refuses to Accept a Bribe of Gold
During the Warring States Period (453–221 B.C.), Tian Ji was the prime minister [...]
Qin Hui the Stinker
There is a shrine dedicated to Yue Fei on the bank of West Lake in Hangzhou City. [General Yue Fei is a much-celebrated hero of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127 – 1279 A.D.) He is known for his courage and patriotism, and credited with defending China against northern invaders. He died a tragic death at [...]
The Mad Goose and The Tiger Forest
Hu-lin was a little slave girl. She had been sold by her father when she was scarcely more than a baby, and had lived for five years with a number of other children in a wretched houseboat. Her cruel master treated her very badly. He made her go out upon the street, with the other [...]
