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.”
(more…)Category: Fables
Ancient Chinese Fables, Legends, Stories, Tales
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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.
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The bell thief who covered his ears
After the fall of the house of Fan, a man got hold of a bronze bell. It was too big to carry away on his back, and when he tried to break it with a hammer it made such a din that he feared others might hear and take it away from him. So he hastily stopped his ears instead of silencing the bell.
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The son of a good swimmer
A man walking along the river bank saw someone about to throw a small boy into the water. The child was screaming with terror.
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Marking the boat to locate the sword
A man of the state of Chu was ferrying across a river when his sword fell into the water. He lost no time in marking the hull.
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Doctor and Patient: Trust in Healing
Dr. Ju was a famous physician of the state of Qin. He had cut a tumour for Emperor Xuan and healed haemorrhoids for Emperor Hui.
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