Culture

Stories from Ancient China: Dealing with People by Being Trustworthy

2006-10-30

Confucianism teaches that people should deal with each other with good faith, respect, understanding and trust instead of suspicion. Only then can people get along with each other harmoniously.

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Stories from Ancient China: Cheng Hao the Thoughtful Scholar

2006-10-29

Cheng Hao wrote to a friend, "I believe in using humanity to educate the citizens." Once a thief was arrested, Cheng Hao said to the thief, "If you promise to mend your behaviour, I will settle your case with leniency." The thief promised that he would change and Cheng Hao released him. When the thief committed another crime, a county officer arrested him. The thief felt so ashamed to see Cheng Hao again that he killed himself.

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Stories from Ancient China: An Emperor with Integrity, Frugality, and Tolerance

2006-10-23

Emperor Song Renzong, who was born Zhao Zhen (1010-1063), was the fourth Emperor of the Song Dynasty (960-1279). He ruled the country for 41 years, the longest reign in the Song Dynasty. He was a very good man, acting with tolerance and altruism. He was good at taking people's suggestions and being self-disciplined. During his rule, the country was peaceful, prosperous, and full of culture. He was referred to by people as the "Emperor with Integrity," and "King of Wisdom and Holiness."

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Stories from Ancient China: Adversities Build Success Stories

2006-10-22

Many of those in ancient times who had ambitions made great achievements after having learnt tenacity and perseverance through adversities. Though they suffered in poor and tough environments, they upheld their unshakable beliefs with great willpower and perseverance. They became models for later generations. Their stories are remembered, encouraging people to conquer all difficulties and hardships to succeed.

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Stories from Ancient China: Zengzi and Parenting

2006-10-21

Zengzi replied in a serious tone, "Children should not be played with like that. They are too young to know any principles; they rely on parents to teach them and will learn from their parents. If you lie to him today, you will teach him to lie. If a mother lies to her son, the son would not believe in the mother and could not be educated."

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A Mongolian Tale: Hailibu, The Kindhearted Hunter

2006-10-20

Hunter Hailibu had no interest in any treasure, but being able to understand the languages of animals had great appeal to him. He asked the dragon's daughter, "Is there really such a precious stone?" She replied, "Yes. But whatever you hear from animals, you have to keep it to yourself. If you tell it to others, you will turn into a rock."

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Stories from Ancient China: Pursuing an Unfair Advantage Leads to Trouble; Life Without Virtue Is Lost

2006-10-18

In the era of Kang Xi Xinhai during the Qing Dynasty, a married couple was irrigating the fields at the foot of Mt. Xielu in the Kunshan Mountains. Without warning, a thunderstorm started. There was a sudden clap of thunder, and the husband was struck by lightening and killed. People who knew him said that he had been a fairly honest person, and they did not understand why this had happened to him.

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Stories from Ancient China: Accumulating Virtue Brings Blessings While Losing Virtue Brings Misfortune

2006-10-17

After waking up, he felt puzzled, so he told other people about this dream. One person said, "Isn't the (Chinese) character 'drunk' made up of two parts, Xin and You, and when combined, Xin and You indicate a specific year in the Chinese Lunar Calendar? It probably means that you will become the Number-One Scholar on the highest imperial exam in the year of Xinyou."

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The Chinese Idiom: Good Advice Jars the Ear

2006-10-16

The meaning of the Chinese idiom "Good Advice Jars the Ear" is that a piece of sincere advice is often different from one's own ideas and thus one might find it difficult to accept it. This idiom came from Historical Records - Old and Well-known Families. The whole sentence reads, "Good advice jars the ear yet benefits one's action; poisonous (effective) medicine tastes bitter yet is good for curing one's illness. I hope you will listen to what Fan Kuai had said."

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Pursuit of Comfort: A Taboo for the Ancient Chinese People

2006-10-12

Tao Kang, an official during the Jin Dynasty, moved 100 ceramic containers outside every morning and carried them back to the house every night. Others were curious and asked him why. He said, "I'm trying my best to work for the country. If I'm too comfortable, I'm afraid I cannot fulfil my responsibility well. Therefore I work out often." Later, he became governor of eight states and was very famous

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Stories from Ancient China: True Friendship Requires Righteousness

2006-10-09

When Kublai Khan (1215 – 1294), grandson of Genghis Khan and Khagan of the Mongol Empire, led the Mongol army to invade Song, Wen led the Song forces in defense. When Wen was captured by Kublai Khan and was faced with imminent danger; Zhang did what he could to help. Wen was escorted to Jizhou City, and Zhang secretly visited him. In tears, he told him, "Prime Minister, you will be sent to Yanjing City (present Beijing). I will go with you."

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Stories from Ancient China: Changing One's Fate by Accumulating Virtue

2006-10-08

He thought, "I'm decreed by fate to be poor. I sought refuge with the Wang family, but was driven out because I would bring bad luck to the household. How could I have the good luck to enjoy this good fortune? Also, the owner of the the silver might have needed it in case of an emergency and might have left it here by accident. This silver may have a bearing on several lives. If I take it, I could be something that damages my virtue. I'd better wait here, so that if someone comes back to look for it, I will give them back." Having had these thoughts, he just waited there for the owner

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Stories from Ancient China: The Heavens Protect Those Who Are Good

2006-10-07

"... Other pawn shops buy items at less than their value and sell them at high prices, but Mr. Jin is always very fair, gives a good price, and lets you keep your items in the shop longer. If the customers are old, weak, or poor, he forgoes the interest. He chooses not to mark-up winter clothes in the winter, nor summer clothes in the summer. He does this every year. The heavens protect good people, so the spirit of good fortune is guarding him!"

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Stories from Ancient China: Good and Evil Comes from One's Spontaneous Thought; Karmic Retribution is Always Just

2006-09-30

Yuan gave up on the thought of getting the 300 pieces of silver back. It was close to the Chinese New Year. He begged Miu to loan him some money so that he could get through the Chinese New Year. In order to get rid of Yuan, Miu promised to deliver some money to his home on New Year's Eve. The day before the Chinese New Year, Yuan waited at home from dawn to evening, but Miu did not show up. All the neighbours lit their lanterns and were excitedly preparing for the New Year. But Yuan's family had nothing. His wife wept. They were in misery.

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Stories from Ancient China: Filial Piety Fosters Kindness

2006-09-28

When he heard this, Li Gao was furious. He said, "When a person is home, he should be obedient and kind to his family. When he is away, he should be respectful to the elderly. If he has extra time and energy, he could pursue more achievements. How could these two brothers with such low morals be government officials?" He wrote a letter to the emperor about the matter. As a result, Li Jun and Li E were both fired from their official posts and banned from serving in the government.

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