-
The fraudulent reed-player
When King Xuan of Qi* called for reed pipe music, he would have three hundred men playing at the same time.
-
Why Zengzi slaughtered the pig
Zeng Shen (505–435 BC), also known as Zengzi, was a prominent disciple of Confucius and one of the key figures in Confucianism.
-
Ivory chopsticks
When King Zhou ordered chopsticks made of ivory, Ji Zi was most perturbed. He reasoned: “Ivory chopsticks demand rhino horn cups; rhino cups demand exotic delicacies; delicacies demand silk robes and palace halls. This insatiable chain will end in tyranny and ruin.”
-
Punishing the horse
Because his horse refused to advance, a traveller in the state of Song drove it into a stream, then mounted to set off again. Still the horse refused to go, and he punished it once more in the same way. This happened three times in all.