Fables

  • Ancient Books for Ancient Bronze

    A scholar, hard-pressed for money, listed a few hundred of his books, packed them up, and set out for the capital, intending to sell them.

  • A new lake for an old

    Wang Anshi, prime minister of the Song Dynasty, was fond of public utility projects.

  • The wild goose sentry

    The smallest and the most alert of a flock of wild geese is often chosen to keep vigil for the others during the night. At the slightest untoward sound it raises the alarm and the flock start from their sleep and make off.

  • The recycled flattery

    The local gentry are holding a grand banquet for a newly appointed prefect, and many musicians are here to entertain the party.

  • The Doomed Fawn of Linjiang

    A man in Linjiang captured a fawn. When it was brought home, the dogs came licking their chops and wagging their tails. The man angrily drove them off. Afterwards, he took the fawn among the dogs, warning them to keep their peace, and making them frolic with it. In time, the dogs learned their…

  • The Chu hunter’s bamboo flute

    The deer is afraid of the wolf; the wolf of the tiger; and the tiger of the wild bear, the most ferocious and powerful of all animals, walking erect, with long hair hanging from its head.

  • Donkey of Guizhou exhausts its tricks

    There were no donkeys in Guizhou until an eccentric took one there by boat; but finding no use for it he set it loose in the hills.

  • The Drowning Miser

    In Yongzhou there were many good swimmers. One day, the river swelled suddenly. Braving the danger, about half a dozen people started across in a small boat.

  • The Zhen and the Snake

    The Zhen bird (a mythical poisonous bird)) met a venomous snake on the road and advanced to peck at it.