Culture

Stories from Ancient China: Le Yangzi Advanced His Studies to Elevate His Moral Character Thanks to his Wife

2007-08-11

During the period of the Eastern Han Dynasty, residing in the Louyang District of Henan Province was a celebrated man named Le Yangzi. He was well respected for his moral integrity and scholarship. His achievement, however, was said to be attributed to his wife's exhortation and help.

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At His Wife's Urging Mr. Le Yangzi Advanced His Studies to Elevate His Moral Character

2007-08-10

One day Le Yangzi found a piece of a gold ingot on the road. (Translator's note: People used silver and gold ingots for trade in the early days.) Elated, he brought it home to his wife, fully expecting her to stare at it, wide-eyed and with enthusiasm. But his wife frowned as if deep in thought, and without even glancing at the gold ingot, said in a serious tone, "I have heard that an incorruptible man does not drink water from the Stolen Spring(1) and an honourable man does not eat the food handed out with spite in the name of charity. Yet, you have found a lost gold ingot, decided to keep it, and have no intention of returning it. Aren't you blemishing your character?"

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Stories from Ancient China: A Person with Great Compassion Has No Enemies

2007-08-09

Meng Ke (also known as "Mencius) who lived between 372 - 289 B.C. was a native of the Zou Kingdom, the modern day Zou County of China. He was a great ancient thinker and educator in China whose memorable quotes include, "A gentleman should be righteous and have dignity;" "Rule with virtue" and "A person with great love has no enemies in the world." The following is a story about him.

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Stories from Ancient China: Selflessly Fulfilling One's Duty

2007-08-06

A friend of Bing Ji was worried about him for speaking his mind and repeatedly told him to stay clear of the storm. "His Majesty himself ruled on the witchcraft plot. Everyone is trying to draw the line with those who are involved in it. Why do you risk your own safety to seek justice for Prince Ju or look after his grandson Bingyi? Did it ever occur to you that you might be accused of being an accomplice to the witchcraft? Is it wise for you to take the risk?"

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Stories from Ancient China: Righteous Historiographers Would Rather Die Than Distort the Truth

2007-08-03

In China today, people have become indifferent to moral integrity due to the Chinese Communist Party's devastation. A famous poem, "Song of Righteousness," by Mr. Wen Tianxiang (1236-1283, a prime minister of the Song Dynasty and one of the most famous patriotic heroes in Chinese history) mentions a story about a historiographer's family. I'd like to share this story here.

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Stories from Ancient China: Chen Shu Gu Interrogates a Thief

2007-08-01

Shu Gu told the alleged culprits: "There is a bell in a certain temple, which can identify thieves very effectively." The bell was transported to the rear of the courtroom and the suspects were put in front of the bell. Shu Gu said: "When the bell is touched, the people who did not steal will not make the bell ring, however the people who did steal will."

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Stories form Ancient China: The Value of Marriage in Ancient China

2007-07-27

Liu Tingshi replied, "When I proposed to her, I had already given her my heart. She may be blind, but her heart is intact. If I could break my promise, then my heart must be warped. Besides, everyone will become old one day. When a man's wife becomes old, he shouldn't replace her with a younger one, should he? A man must be true to his word. I must not have a change of heart."

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Stories from Ancient China: Jiang Heng Flees from Disaster

2007-07-25

After a few days there, Jiang Heng observed general Nian being extremely arrogant and extravagant. He said to a friend: "General Nian's virtue cannot match his power. I am afraid calamity will soon fall upon him. Let us immediately leave." When his friend didn't want to follow his advice, Jiang Heng used the excuse of illness and left.

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Stories from Ancient China: Correcting a King's Faults with Righteousness and Selflessly Serving the People

2007-07-23

Yan Zi was the Prime Minister of the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States (476 B.C. to 221 B.C.). Assisting the king and aristocrats of the State of Qi for dozens of years, Yan Zi did not avoid criticizing the king's faults frankly, and he administrated the country with honesty, uprightness, and selflessness. Free from corruption, he left behind numerous touching and inspiring stories.

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Citations from the Book Role Model to the World by Yuan Cai

2007-07-19

It became the first book to be a compulsory read at many private schools. Intellects throughout history have thought highly of the book. I am citing a part of its contents here to give readers a flavour of the divine culture of China, in which people respect heaven and comply with their fate, and emphasize respect and morality. This way we can understand the standard that ancient people have lived by.

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Stories from Ancient China: Emperor Tang Taizong's Virtuous Sparing

2007-07-17

The main ingredient was the fat from mutton but the process of obtaining it was tricky because it was not supposed to congeal. The emperor asked an imperial official in charge of food at Guanglu Temple on how to obtain the fat. The official was not sure and sought advice from another official by the name of Hao Chujun. Hao Chujun thought about it and remembered that the Emperor could not take an animals life. So he came up with a plan.

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Stories from Ancient China: A Place of Idyllic Beauty

2007-07-13

A fisherman lived in Wu Lin District of Wuhan. One day, he paddled a boat along a river. The boat was floating and floating. He did not know how far and how long he had been floating, until all of a sudden, he found himself going into a paradise full of peach blossoms. Grasslands were situated on both banks of the river, where the fresh green grass was set off by the luxuriant peach blossoms.

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Stories from Ancient China: Four Stories About Tolerance and Forgiveness

2007-07-09

Tang Suei replied: "When someone hates me, this is something I must know. If I owe someone, then I must try to repay him. If someone misunderstands me, then I should kindly clarify myself. I should not harbor hatred toward others, and I must be forgiving in order to dissolve that in my heart. But in the process of dissolving it, I must avoid bringing frustration and anxiety to others."

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Watermelon - The Melon King

2007-07-08

The watermelon is not only a popular fruit in summer, its juice and skin can also be used as medicines. The Ben Cao Gang Mu says that the watermelon "can relieve thirst and heat, cure a dry and painful throat, help urination, is good for constipation and resolves alcoholism". Traditional Chinese medicine calls the watermelon skin the jade cloth with a sweet taste and cold nature, which can cure a swollen throat and apotheosis. The root and leaves of the watermelon can be used to treat diarrhea and intestinal inflammation.

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Stories from Ancient China: Nothing Gained and Nothing Lost

2007-07-05

These two men held different attitudes towards the gifts they received. Li Shiheng took them lightly and didn't pay much attention to them, and he lost nothing. Meanwhile Yu Ying took great care of his possessions and gained nothing.

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