Chinese Story

Funny Women Fighting Scenes

2018-08-12T22:29:00.003+10:00

Drop The Substance For The Shadow--She Ben Zhu Mo

2018-08-06T13:51:00.001+10:00

This Chinese of Drop The Substance For The Shadow--She Ben Zhu Mo is 舍本逐末, and Pin Yin shě běn zhú mò.

One year during the Warring States period, a messenger was ordered by the king of the state of Qi to deliver gifts and a regarding letter to Empress Dowager Wei, the real ruler of the state of Zhao.

Empress Dowager took the letter but did not open it at once. Letting the messenger sit down, she asked him pleasantly:" Communication has been estranged between us two states for a long time. How are the crops growing this year in your state? How is your people's living? How is your king?"

"Your Highness," said the messenger, offended by the Empress Dowager's "inappropriate" greeting, " It is the king of my state who instructed me to call on you, but you don't asked about my king first, on the contrary, you asked about the crops and the people first, and put my king at the end. The great is after the small. It's obvious wrong. "

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager was not angry. Smiling, she said patiently: " Sir, you are wrong. Without food, how can people survive? Without people's support, how can a king keep his power? It is not the disparity between the great and the small, but the distinction between the substance and the shadow. If one only cares about his king and neglects his people, it is so-called 'drop the substance for the shadow'."

The messenger was fully carried along. In shame, he repeatedly said:" You are right.
You are right."

Background and Writer Comment:

The idiom of "Drop The Substance For The Shadow--She Ben Zhu Mo" now refers to attending to trifles and neglect the essentials.

Beware！ Exploding Tires and Flying Tires Compilation

2018-08-06T13:37:00.000+10:00

Beware！ A Tubby Serial Killer Behind You ！Exploding Tires and Flying Tires Compilation

如果龙真存在，它会怎么飞？（用科学方法，解释龙会飞的物理学和生物学原理）

2018-07-20T14:18:00.001+10:00

震惊！所有男人曾经都是女性

2018-07-20T01:50:00.001+10:00

女人和女孩的十大不同

2018-07-18T11:03:00.000+10:00

文艺青年——李小龙

2018-07-16T15:03:00.002+10:00

Faithful Tiger--Yi Hu

2016-11-03T10:56:00.000+10:00

The Chinese of Faithful Tiger--Yi Hu is 义虎, and Pin Yin yì hǔ.

Once upon a time, there was an old woman at Zhao city, who was more than seventy years old and living with her only son.

One day, unfortunately, her son was killed and eaten by a tiger when he went up to the hills, at which she was so overwhelmed with grief that she hardly wished to live. With tears and lamentations she ran and told her story to the magistrate of the place, who laughed and asked her how she thought the law could be brought to bear on a tiger. But the old woman would not be comforted, and at length the magistrate lost his temper and bade her leave.

However, the old woman took no notice of this at all; and then the magistrate, in compassion for her great age and unwilling to resort to extremities, promised her that he would have the tiger arrested. Even then she would not go until the warrant had been actually issued so the magistrate, at a loss what to do, asked his attendants who would undertake the dangerous job.

One of his attendants, named Li Neng, who happened to be gloriously drunk, stepped forward and said that he would; whereupon the warrant was immediately issued and the old woman went away. When Li Neng, got sober, he was sorry for what he had done; but reflecting that the whole thing was a mere trick of his master’s to get rid of the old woman’s importunities, did not trouble himself much about it, handing in the warrant as if the arrest had been made.

But to his surprise, the magistrate took it very seriously. “Not so,” cried the magistrate, “you said you could do this, and now I shall not let you off.” Li Neng was at his wits’ end, and begged that he might be allowed to impress the hunters of the district. This was conceded; so collecting together these men, he proceeded to spend day and night among the hills in the hope of catching a tiger, and thus making a show of having fulfilled his duty.

Soon, thirty days passed away, during which he was punished by his master for several times because of failure of catching the tiger, and at length, in despair, he betook himself to the Cheng Huang temple in the eastern suburb, where, falling on his knees, he prayed and wept by turns. By-and-by a tiger walked in, and Li Neng, in a great fright, thought he was going to be eaten alive. But the tiger took no notice of anything, remaining seated in the doorway.

Li Neng then addressed the animal as follows:“Tiger, if it was you who killed that old woman’s son, have to bind you with this cord;” and, drawing a rope from his pocket, threw it over the animal’s neck. The tiger drooped its ears, and, allowing itself to be bound, followed Li Neng to the magistrate’s office. The latter then asked it, saying, “Did you eat the old woman’s son?” to which the tiger replied by nodding its head; whereupon the magistrate rejoined, “That murderers should suffer death has ever been the law. Besides, this old woman had but one son, and by killing him you took from her the sole support of her declining years. But if now you will be as a son to her, your crime shall be pardoned.”

The tiger again nodded assent, and accordingly the magistrate gave orders that he should be released, at which the old woman was highly incensed, thinking that the tiger ought to have paid with its life for the destruction of her son. Next morning, however, when she opened the door of her cottage, there lay a dead deer before it; and the old woman, by selling the flesh and skin, was able to purchase food.

From that day this became a common event, and sometimes the tiger would even bring her money and valuables, so that she became quite rich, and was much better cared for than she had been even by her own son. Consequently, she became very well-disposed to the tiger, which often came and slept in the verandah, remaining for a whole day at a time, and giving no cause of fear either to man or beast.

In a few years the old woman died, upon which the tiger walked in and roared its lamentations in the hall. However, with all the money she had saved, she was able to have a splendid funeral and while her relatives were standing round the grave, out rushed a tiger, and sent them all running away in fear. But the tiger merely went up to the mound, and, after roaring like a thunder-peal, disappeared again. Then the people of that place built a shrine in honour of the Faithful Tiger, and it remains there to this day.

Chu Songs On Four Sides--Si Mian Chu Ge

2016-11-01T11:42:00.001+10:00

The Chinese of Chu Songs On Four Sides--Si Mian Chu Ge is 四面楚歌, and Pin Yin sì miàn chǔ gē.

Xiang Yu (232–202 BC) was a prominent warlord in the late Qin dynasty(221 - 206 BC). He was a typical aristocrat in his time. He was from a noble family and barve, generous, decent-looking and excellent at martial art. All of these made him the leader of all warlords in China.

But at the time, Xiang Yu possessed almost all shortcomings of his class. He was arrogant and bold, which resulted in his failure in struggle for control of the country.

In 202 BC, Xiang Yu was besieged at a place called Gaixai by his old enemy Liu Bang, the king of Han. Xiang Yu was in a desperate situation, with little food and only a few soldiers. At night, the surrounding Han troops started to sing his hometown, Chu, folk songs.

Xiang Yu was very surprised at this, and said to his consort Yu, "Has Liu Bang occupied the whole of Chu? How can he have drafted so many Chu people into his army?"

Xiang Yu totally lost his will of fighting and decided to flee together with the remainder of his forces, but he worried about his consort Yu, so he drank a lot and sang a song:

力拔山兮气盖世。
My strength plucked up the hills,
My might shadowed the world;
时不利兮骓不逝。
But the times were against me,
And Dapple[10] runs no more;
骓不逝兮可奈何！
When Zhui (Xiang Yu's beloved war horse) runs no more,
What then can I do?
虞兮虞兮奈若何！
Ah, Yu, my Yu,
What will your fate be?

To prevent Xiang Yu from being distracted by his love for her, consort Yu committed suicide with Xiang Yu's sword after performing a sword dance for her husband for the last time. She was buried at Gaixia. The next morning, Xiang Yu led about 800 of his remaining elite cavalry on a desperate attempt to break out of the encirclement, with 5000 enemy troops hot on pursuit.

When he retreated to Wu River, Xiang Yu lost all his men. The ferryman at the ford prepared a boat for him to cross the river, strongly encouraging him to do so because Xiang Yu still had the support of the people from his homeland in the south. Xiang said that he was too ashamed to return home and face his people because none of the first 8,000 young men from his homeland who followed him on his conquests managed to survive. He refused to cross and ordered his remaining men to dismount, asking the ferryman to take his war horse back home.

Xiang Yu then dashed back to Han troops. After killing dozens of enemies, he suffered grave wounds. Before being captured, he committed suicide by slitting his throat with his sword.

Background and Writer Comment:

This Chinese idiom story is from "the Records of the Grand Historian (史记)".

Later people derived the idioms of "Chu Songs On Four Sides--Si Mian Chu Ge" from this story. It refers to a helpless and critical situation.

Exclaim at the Ocean--Wang Yang Xing Tan

2016-10-31T10:45:00.003+10:00

The Chinese of this Chinese fable story "Exclaim at the Ocean--Wang Yang Xing Tan" is 望洋兴叹, and Pin Yin wàng yáng xīng tàn.

According to Chinese mythology, the god in charge of the Yellow River was named He Bo. One year, as the autumn was coming, torrential rain had been falling for days on end, and the hundred streams were all discharging themselves into the Yellow River, which made it even broader.

One, standing on one side of the river, could not distinguish an ox from a horse on the opposite bank. Thus He Bo was even more proud, thinking that all the magnificent sights were accumulated here.

Along the course of the river he walked east till he came to the North Sea, over which he looked, with his face to the east, without being able to see where its waters began.

Then looking across the expanse, He Bo turned his face to the God of North Sea and said with a sigh, " As the vulgar saying goes, some people go so far as to think that they are more knowledgeable than anybody else when they have got some knowledge. Now I know it was surely spoken of me. And moreover, I have heard that some made little of the knowledge of Confucius and the righteousness of Bo Yi (A loyal minister of Shang Dynasty, when Shang was conquered by Zhou Dynasty, Bo Yi considered it unrighteous to eat the grain of Chou and thus fled and hid on Shou Yang Mountain, where he tried to live by gathering ferns to eat.), and at first I did not believe them. Now I behold the all-but-boundless extent of your realms. If I had not come to your gate, I should have been in danger of continuing in my ignorance, and been laughed at for long by sensible people."

Background and Writer Comment:

This Chinese fable story is from "The Floods of Autumn" (秋水), an article of Zhuang Zi.

The Chinese idiom produced by this Chinese fable story was "Wang Yang Xing Tan", which originally meant feeling one's own littleness upon seeing another's might. Now it is mostly used to indicate being able to do nothing but sigh in the face of a huge task.

Like other stories in Zhuang Zi's articles, this one is intended to tell some point of Taoists' theory, that is, there is always someone better. Besides, Zhuang Zi used this story to criticize Confucius for showing off his knowledge just like He Bo proud of his greatness.

A Charming Face Among Peach Blossoms--Ren Mian Tao Hua

2016-10-30T08:48:00.002+10:00

The Chinese of this Chinese story "A Charming Face Among Peach Blossoms--Ren Mian Tao Hua" is 人面桃花, and Pin Yin rén miàn táo huā.

During Tang Dynasty in Chinese Bao Lin City, there lived a young nobleman named Cui Hu who was renown for his literal talents.

One year, he went to Chang An, the capital of Tang, to participate in the imperial examination, but the result was quite disappointing: he failed to pass it, which made him very depressed. To alleviate boredom, he went to the suburbs for an outing on the following Pure Bright Festival.

In early spring, the scenery of the countryside was beautiful, but Cui Hu was not in the mood to appreciate it, and just followed his nose, wandering around. A few hours later, he found himself in front of a yard located at the edge of a small and quiet village. The gate was closed; near it was a peach trees in full bloom, and the pink flowers stood out brightly, set against the white yard wall.

Being tired and thirsty, Cui Hu knocked at the gate, which was opened after a little while, and a girl came forth. Although plainly dressed, she was as pretty as a flower. Cui Hu, shocked by her beauty, was at a loss for words for a moment. Being amused by his silly look, the girl, smiling, asked Cui Hu how she could help him.

Cui Hu, in fact, was good at speaking and extremely wanted to talk with the girl, but at that time he was so nervous that he only said he wanted some water. The girl walked back to the yard and returned with a big bowl full of water.

Cui Hu, took the the bowl and gulped down the water which immediately quench his thirst, but he could not tear himself from the pretty girl and thus asked for another, which he gulped down as well. Unfortunately, he could not yet work out how to start a talk with her, so he had to ask for the third.

After stuffing himself with it, Cui Hu had neither any room for more water nor any excuse to stay longer. The breeze was playing on the peach flowers, and a petal fluttered onto his shoulder, seeming to remind him that it was time to leave. As he was walking away from the small village, he felt something lost to him and could not help looking back, seeing the girl still standing under the blooming peach flowers with the empty bowl in her both hands.

After encountering the girl, Cui Hu soon went back to his home town and began to prepare for the next imperial examination. He thought that he would forget the girl just as quickly as he did others who he met by chance. He was wrong, however, and instead he got lovesick for the girl who he met only once. Finally, he made up his mind to tell his parents the story and that he would go to the small village and offer marriage to the village girl. Seeing their son was pining away for love, his parents gave him their permission.

When he agitatedly came to the village again, it was a whole year later. The peach tree was still in full bloom with beautiful pink flowers fluttering in the spring breeze. He knocked at the gate thousands of times, but no one answered. A villager told him that the girl had married and her family had moved.

Cui Hu felt that his heart had disappeared and left a hole, and with no tears, he just impassively stood under the peach tree gazing at the flowers for hours until a petal drifted down to his face. Taking out his writing-brush, he wrote a poem on the yard wall and then left with immeasurable melancholy and loneliness.

Today of last year, I met you in this gate,
Your face was extremely charming against the flowers' beauties.
Now you are no longer here in this gate,
Only the peach flowers smiling in gentle breeze.

Background and Comment:

This love story is from a book called "Story Poems (Ben Shi Shi)", a Poems Collection book written in Tang Dynasty.

The idiom "A Charming Face Among Peach Blossoms--Ren Mian Tao Hua" now is used to describe young ladies' beauty or those women who are beautiful but beyond reach.

Chinese Fairy Tale--Mr Hu

2016-10-28T10:54:00.004+10:00

This Chinese of Mr Hu is 胡先生, and Pin Yin hú xiān sheng.

Once upon a time , in the province of Zhili, there was a wealthy family in want of a tutor.

One day a graduate presented himself at the door, and was asked by the master of the house to walk in; and he conversed so pleasantly that in a short time it was clear to both sides that they were mutually pleased with each other.

The tutor said his name was Hu; and when the usual present had been made to him, he was forthwith provided with apartments, and entered very energetically upon his duties, proving himself a scholar of no mean order.

He was, however, very fond of roaming, and generally came back in the middle of the night, not troubling himself to knock if the door was locked, but suddenly appearing on the inside. It was therefore suspected that he was a fox, though as his intentions seemed to be harmless, he was treated extremely well, and not with any want of courtesy as if he had been something uncanny.

By-and-by he discovered that his master had a daughter, and being desirous of securing the match he was always dropping hints to that effect, which his master, on the other hand, invariably pretended not to understand.

One day he went off for a holiday, and on the next day a stranger called; who, tying a black mule at the door, accepted the invitation of the master to take a seat within. He was about fifty years of age, very neat and clean in his dress, and gentlemanly in his manners.

When they were seated, the stranger began by saying that he was come with proposals of marriage on behalf of Mr. Hu; to which his host, after some consideration, replied that he and Mr. Hu got along excellently well as friends, and there was no object in bringing about a closer connection. “Besides,” added he, “my daughter is already betrothed, and I beg you, therefore, to ask Mr. Hu to excuse me.”

The stranger said he was quite sure the young lady was not engaged, and inquired what might be the objection to the match: but it was all of no avail, until at length he remarked, “Mr. Hu is of a good family; I see no reason why you should have such an aversion to him.” “Well, then,” replied the other, “I will tell you what it is. We don’t like his species.”

The stranger here got very angry, and his host also lost his temper, so that they came to high words, and were already on the way to blows, when the latter bade his servants give the stranger a beating and turn him out. The stranger then retired, leaving his mule behind him; and when they drew near to look at it they found a huge creature with black hair, drooping ears, and a long tail.

They tried to lead it away, but it would not move; and on giving it a shove with the hand from behind, it toppled over and was discovered to be only of straw. In consequence of the angry words that had been said, the master of the house felt sure that there would be an attempt at revenge, and accordingly made all preparations; and sure enough the next day a whole host of fox-soldiers arrived, some on horseback, some on foot, some with spears, and others with cross-bows, men and horses trampling along with an indescribable din.

The family were afraid to leave the house, and the foxes shouted out to set the place on fire, at which the inmates were dreadfully alarmed; but just then one of the bravest of them rushed forth with a number of the servants to engage the foxes. Stones and arrows flew about in all directions, and many on both sides were wounded; at length, however, the foxes drew off, leaving their swords on the field.

These glittered like frost or snow, but when picked up turned out to be only millet-stalks. “Is this all their cunning?” cried their adversary, laughing, at the same time making still more careful preparations in case the foxes should come again. Next day they were deliberating together, when suddenly a giant descended upon them from the sky.

He was over ten feet in height by several feet in breadth, and brandished a sword as broad as half a door; but they attacked him so vigorously with arrows and stones that he was soon stretched dead upon the ground, when they saw that he was made of grass. Our friends now began to make light of their fox-foes, and as they saw nothing more of them for three days their precautions were somewhat relaxed.

The foxes, however, soon reappeared, armed with bows and arrows, and succeeded in shooting the master of the house in the back, disappearing when he summoned his servants and proceeded to attack them. Then, drawing the arrow from his back, he found it was a long thorn; and thus the foxes went on for a month or so, coming and going, and making it necessary to take precautions, though not really inflicting any serious injury. This annoyed the master of the family very much, until one day Mr. Hu himself appeared with a troop of soldiers at his back, and he immediately went out to meet him. Mr. Hu withdrew among his men, but the master called to him to come forth, and then asked him what he had done that soldiers should be thus brought against his family.

The foxes were now on the point of discharging their arrows; Mr. Hu, however, stopped them; whereupon he and his old master shook hands, and the latter invited him to walk into his old room. Wine being served, his host observed, “You, Mr. Hu, are a man of intelligence, and I trust you will make allowances for me. Friends as we were, I should naturally have been glad to form a connection with you; your carriages, however, horses, houses, etc., are not those of ordinary mortals; and even had my daughter consented, you must know the thing would have been impossible, she being still a great deal too young.”

Mr. Hu was somewhat disconcerted at this, but his host continued, “It’s of no consequence; we can still be friends as before, and if you do not despise us earthly creatures, there is my son whom you have taught; he is fifteen years old, and I should be proud to see him connected with you if such an arrangement should be feasible.”

Mr. Hu was delighted, and said, “I have a daughter one year younger than your son; she is neither ugly nor stupid. How would she do?” His host got up and made a low bow, which Mr. Hu forthwith returned, and they then became the best of friends, forgetting all about the former unpleasantness. Wine was given to Mr. Hu’s attendants, and everyone was made happy. The host now inquired where Mr. Hu lived, that the ceremony of pouring out a libation to the geese might be performed; but Mr. Hu said this would not be necessary, and remained drinking till night, when he went away again.

From this time there was no more trouble and a year passed without any news of Mr. Hu, so that it seemed as if he wished to get out of his bargain. The family, however, went on waiting, and in months more Mr. Hu reappeared, when, after a few general remarks, he declared that his daughter was ready, and requested that an auspicious day might be fixed for her to come to her husband’s home.

This being arranged, the young lady arrived with a retinue of sedan-chairs, and horses, and a beautiful trousseau that nearly filled a room. She was unusually respectful to her father and mother-in-law, and the former was much pleased with the match. Her father and a younger brother of his had escorted her to the house, and conversing away in a most refined style they sat drinking till daybreak before they went away.

The bride herself had the gift of foreknowing whether the harvest would be good or bad, and her advice was always taken in such matters. Mr. Hu and his brother, and also their mother, often came to visit her in her new home, and were then very frequently seen by people.

A Snipe And A Clam Locked In Combat--Yu Bang Xiang Zheng

2016-10-26T11:12:00.002+10:00

The Chinese of A Snipe And A Clam Locked In Combat--Yu Bang Xiang Zheng is 鹬蚌相争, and Pin Yin yù bàng xiāng zhēng.

At the end of the Warring States period, Qin, the strongest state, was ambitious to unite China, while the other six states, to protect themselves, tended to ally to fight against Qin, but sometimes for various reasons, they fought with each other as well.

One year, the king of State Zhao planed to attack the state of Yan. Hearing this, the king of Yan sent his adviser, Su Dai, to speak to the king of Zhao.

After greeting, Su Dai said the king, "Your Majesty, on my way to your kingdom, I saw a big clam sunning itself at the bank of the river Yi, and a snipe took this occasion to peck the clam's flesh, but no sooner had its long beak reached into the clam's shell, than the clam snapped his shell shut very hard, trapping the snipe's beak inside.

The snipe threaten the clam, 'You fool, By holding me like this, you can't go anywhere, either! If today it doesn't rain, and tomorrow it doesn't rain, you will be a dead clam.'

The clam wasn't scared at all and said, "If today you cannot get out, and tomorrow you cannot get out, you will be a dead snipe."

So although the two both knew they would die, if they continued like that, but each was unwilling to let its opponent go until a fisherman came by and snatched up the both of them.

Now Zhao is attacking Yan. It will certainly cause a long war between Zhao and Yan, in which the soldiers of both sides will be killed, and people exhausted. Zhao and Yan are just like the clam and snipe in the story. Your Majesty, I'm afraid the strong Qin will act as the fisherman. I wish Your Majesty could think twice before you act."

The king of Zhao was fully convinced and gave up his plan.

Background And Writer Comment:

This story is from Intrigues of the Warring States (战国策Zhan Guo Ce)

The idiom of A Snipe And A Clam Locked In Combat--Yu Bang Xiang Zheng has the same meaning and usage as his English counterpart "Two dogs strive for a bone, and a third runs away with it" or "When shepherds quarrel, the wolf has a winning game".

The Pen Producing Flowers--Miao Bi Sheng Hua

2016-10-25T11:01:00.001+10:00

The Chinese of The Pen Producing Flowers--Miao Bi Sheng Hua is 妙笔生花, and Pin Yin miào bǐ shēng huā.

Ji Shao Yu(纪少瑜) was a poet and writer in the Liang dynasty of the Northern and Southern Dynasties Period.

Legend has it that When he was very young, in order to be a good writer, Ji Shao Yu studied very hard, but disappointedly, he made little progress until one day he was catnapping at his desk, he dreamed that his ideal--Lu Chui (a famous writer contemporary with Ji Shao Yu) came into his room with a green-jade pen in his hand, saying, "This is a magic pen, please make good use of it."

Since then, his writing skill had improved by leaps and bounds and he eventually became an outstanding litterateur. Those who liked his works said that Ji Shao Yu wrote his articles with a magic pen producing flowers.

Background And Writer Comment:

The idiom of is now used to praise someone for his/her excellent writing skill.

There is another idiom--Jiang Yan Used Up His Talents--Jiang Lang Cai Jin with similar plot with this one, but with different meaning.

Jiang Yan Used Up His Talents--Jiang Lang Cai Jin

2016-10-24T10:54:00.003+10:00

The Chinese of Jiang Yan Used Up His Talents--Jiang Lang Cai Jin is 江郎才尽, and Pin Yin jiāng láng cái jìn.

During the Northern and Southern Dynasties Period, there lived a famous poet and writer named Jiang Yan (江淹) in Liang dynasty.

When Jiang Yan was young, he was very brilliant in the area of literature. His poems and his essays were both outstanding, and thus he not only won the popularity among all the scholars of his time but also found himself an important position in the history of the Southern Dynasty literature.

However, his talent seemed to wear off with the increasing of his age. After entering his forties, he could no longer write poems as fast as he did before, moreover, what he wrote was often tedious and lacked literary grace. People said that it was because his literary talent had already been used up.

Legend has it that someday Jiang Yang had a dream, in which he saw a handsome man came to him and said: "I'm Guo Pu (An outstanding Poet in Jin dynasty, more than one hundred years earlier than Liang Dynasty, and he was the ideal of Jiang Yan). My five-color pen has been with you for years; it is time to get it back." Before Jiang Yang said anything, the man reached his hand into Jiang Yan's pocket, taking out a colorful pen, and then disappeared. From then on, Jiang Yan lost his inspiration.

Background And Writer Comment:

The idiom of is now used to describe the case in which someone at the end of one's wits.

There is another idiom--The Pen Producing Flowers--Miao Bi Sheng Hua with similar plot with this one, but with different meaning.

Honey-Mouthed And Dagger-Hearted--Kou Mi Fu Jian

2016-10-21T22:52:00.001+10:00

The Chinese of Honey-Mouthed And Dagger-Hearted--Kou Mi Fu Jian is 口蜜腹剑, and Pin Yin kǒu mì fù jiàn.

During the Tang dynasty, there was a treacherous court official named Li Lin Fu. He was known for his flattery of the Emperor and skill in the political scene, which enabled him to remain powerful throughout his lengthy duration as the prime minister.

To secure his power, he cut off all routes for all potential political challengers, including false accusations against other officials and the granting of key military commands to non-Han commanders. He did all these underneath a mask of friendliness.

In 742 AD., a capable minister called Li Shi Zhi was favored by the Emperor of Tang. Li Lin Fu pretended not to care, but in fact was trying to find ways to damage him. One day, Li Lin Fu told Li Shi Zhi about some gold that was hidden over in Hua Mountain, and Li Shi Zhi, as Li Lin Fu expected, soon proposed to the Emperor worried about the decrease of the state revenue to mine the gold deposits.

The Emperor then asked Li Lin Fu for his opinion, Li Lin-fu acted very indifferently, saying "I knew about the gold mine a long time ago, and I didn't tell it to your Majesty on purpose."

"Why?" said the king in surprise.

"According to Taoist principles, Hua Mountain is in the place where all of Your Majesty's auspicious aurora are gathered. Any damage to that area will certainly be harmful to your health and state. Who is it that brings out such a foolish idea? "

Hearing this, the Emperor thought that Li Shi Zhi was not as considerate as Li Lin Fu, and later demoted the former to remote area.

Background and Writer Comment:

Now the idiom of Honey-Mouthed And Dagger-Hearted--Kou Mi Fu Jian is often refer to those with an honey tongue and a heart of gall.

This idiom has quite a few English counterpart, such as "a fox in a lamb's skin", "treachery lying underneath a mask of friendliness" and "Bees that have honey in their mouths have stings in their tails"

Three People Make A Tiger--San Ren Cheng Hu

2016-10-20T23:26:00.001+10:00

The Chinese of this Chinese idiom "Three People Make A Tiger--San Ren Cheng Hu" is 三人成虎, and Pin Yin sān rén chéng hǔ.

By the end of 5th century BC, China was in the Warring States period in which seven prominent states sometimes battles each other and sometimes made alliance.

One year, the state of Wei allied with the state of Zhao. According to the then custom, the two states had to exchange princes as hostages. Pang Cong, the minister of Wei, was ordered to accompany the prince of Wei to go to Zhao. He was worried that his political opponents would speak ill of him while he was away.

So he came to the king of Wei, saying, "Your Majesty, if someone were to tell you that there was a tiger running in the street, would you believe it?"

"Of course not" The king replied.

"If two people were to tell you there was a tiger running in the street, would Your Majesty believe it? "

"I might suspect it, " the king said hesitatingly, "but normally I wouldn't believe it. "

"What if three people were to tell you that?"

After thinking for a while, the king said, "Yes, I would."

Pang Cong said, "Your Majesty, it is for sure no tiger is running in the street. But after being told by three people that there was one, you would believe it was so. Now I'm going to Han Dan (the capital of Zhao) far away from Da Liang (the capital of Wei). There will certainly be more than three people speaking ill of me in front of you, I wish Your Majesty would give it your mature consideration."

The king said, "Good, I would."

However, after Pang Cong leaving, the king believed the slanderous gossips about him and no longer trusted him.

Background and Writer Comment:

This Chinese idiom story is from "This story is from Intrigues of the Warring States" (战国策, Zhan Guo Ce).

The idiom of Three People Make A Tiger--San Ren Cheng Hu is used to describe the case in which a lie, if repeated often enough, will be accepted as truth. Its English counterpart is "It must be true that all men say".

The Chinese Shoe Salesmen Story--Lu Ren Xi Yue

2016-10-18T23:20:00.002+10:00

The Chinese of this Chinese story "The Chinese Shoe Salesmen Story--Lu Ren Xi Yue" is 鲁人徙越, and Pin Yin lǔ rén xǐ yuè.

I bet you have heard of the story of two shoe salesmen selling shoes in Africa, in which one salesman reports back, "This is a terrible business opportunity, no-one wears shoes." But the other says,"There is so much opportunity. No-one wears shoes.I can sell to the whole country!"

In China,there is a very similar but much earlier story.

During the Spring and Autumn period, there was a craftsman in the state of Lu, who was skilled in weaving hemp sandals, and his wife was good at weaving fine white silk.

One day the couple thought of moving to the state of Yue in the south.

"You will be in dire straits," one of their friends warned them.

"Why?" asked the man of Lu.

"Hemp sandals are for walking but the people of Yue walk barefoot. White silk is for making hats but the people of Yue go about bare-headed. If you go to a place where your skills are utterly useless, how can you hope to do well?"

"I'm on the contrary opinion," said the man of Lu. " I think I will make a fortune in Yue. All I have to do is to let people there know the benefits of wearing shoes and hats."

Background and Comment:

This Chines idiom story is from "Huai Nan Zi", a Taoist book written in Han Dynasty.

In the past,this story was often used to show the Taoist wisdom: what looks like a setback, may actually be a gift in disguise.

Now, however, this story becomes a classic sample to teach marketing dudes to keep positive and identify hidden bussiness opportunities.

The Reflection Of A Bow In The Goblet As A Snake--Bei Gong She Ying

2016-10-16T22:52:00.000+10:00

The Chinese of this Chines idiom story "The Reflection Of A Bow In The Goblet As A Snake--Bei Gong She Ying" is 杯弓蛇影, and Pin Yin bēi gōng shé yǐng.

In Jin Dynasty there was a nobleman named Yue Guang who was a descendant of the famous general Yue Jin in the three kingdoms period.

When Yue Guang governed He Nan province, a friend visited him one day. Yue Guang was very glad and invited him to have dinner together. However, after that, Yue Guang had not seen him for a long time, and thus sent a servant to call on him.

The friend said to his visitor, "Last time when I was drinking with your master, I suddenly saw a snake swimming in my goblet. I was frightened, and barely finished the wine. Ever since I got home that day I've got sick, and neither any doctor or any medicine could cure my illness."

Having been told this, Yue Guang himself went to the friend's house and took him back home with his carriage.

Yue Guang made the friend sit where he did last time, pouring a goblet of wine for him, and asked him," Is there any snake swimming in the goblet?"

"Yes, there is." the friend said nervously.

"What if I remove this?" Yue Guang said with a smile, as he was casually taking away a bow hanging on the wall.

"It is gone! How do you do that? " the friend said in surprise.

"My friend, " Yur Guang said with the bow in his hand, "what you see is not a snake but a reflection of this bow which resembles a small snake especially when the wine is moving. So after I remove it, the reflection is gone."

The friend was relieved at Yue Guang's words and his illness disappears accordingly.

Background and Writer Comment:

Now the idiom of "The Reflection Of A Bow In The Goblet As A Snake--Bei Gong She Ying" is often used to refer to a false alarm (self-created suspicion) or being jittery with imaginary fear.

The similar story happened to Hua Tuo, a renowned doctor of China. Read the story--Hua Tuo--A Fly In Stomach

Go South By Driving The Carriage North--Nan Yuan Bei Zhe（Video）

2016-10-14T13:07:00.001+10:00

The Chinese of This Chinese Idiom "Go South By Driving The Carriage North--Nan Yuan Bei Zhe" is 南辕北辙, and Pin Yin nán yuán běi zhé.

At the end of the Warring States period, the state of Wei, once the strongest state at the beginning of the period, had crumbled and fallen. Yet, the king of Wei did not realize that, and still frequently launched wars against neighboring states.

One year, he planed to attack the state of Zhao. Ji Liang, a minister of Wei, heard of this and turned back in the middle of his journey. He was in such a hurry that he did not even straighten out the crease in his garments and removed the dust from his head.

Seeing the king, he said, " Your Majesty, on my way to your palace, I met a friend who told me that he was going to the state of Chu in south. But I saw his carriage was heading for the north. So I asked, 'If you, Sir, are going to the south, why is your carriage heading north？'

He answered, ' My horse is good at running.'

I said, ' Though your horse is good, but it is not the road to Chu.'

He said, ' I have plenty of money for the trip.'

I said, ' Though you plenty of money, but it is not the road to Chu,'

He said, ' My driver is highly skilled at driving a carriage.'

The man didn't know the better his conditions were, the further he was away from his destination. Now Your Majesty want to became the hegemony and expand your territory, but you are trying to do these by military force. Your Majesty, it is just like traveling northwards to get to the state Chu."

Background and Writer Comment:

This idiom story is from Intrigues of the Warring States (战国策Zhan Guo Ce)

The idiom of Go South By Driving The Carriage North--Nan Yuan Bei Zhe is now used to describe the case in which one's actions hinder, rather than help, the completion of his/her goal .

Watch the Catoon of Go South By Driving The Carriage North--Nan Yuan Bei Zhe。

The Old Man Under the Moon--Yue Xia Lao Ren

2016-10-13T11:26:00.003+10:00

The Chinese of this Chinese Story "The Old Man Under the Moon--Yue Xia Lao Ren" is 月下老人 and Pin Yin yuè xià lǎo rén.

The other name of this story is "The Engaging Inn"--Ding Hun Dian(订婚店)。

During Tang Dynasty in China, there lived a young man named Wei Gu (韦固) who lost his parents at his early age. As a bankrupt nobleman, he had been trying to improve his situation through marriage, but he failed every time because no officials were willing to marry their daughter to a poor man like him.snowy hair

One year, when he traveled to Song city, a friend suggested that he would introduce him to the daughter of the deputy mayor of the Qing He County and made an appointment with him at the forecourt of Lung Xing Temple (龙兴寺) at daybreak next morning. Wei Gu was very anxious and woke up far before daybreak.

When he arrived at the temple, nobody was there but an old man with snowy hair and beard leaning against a large cloth bag, sitting on the step, and reading a thick book in the bright moonlight. Curious about what he is reading, Wei Gu approached the old man and took a look at the book, but to his surprise, he could not know a single character on it.

Wei Gu could not help asking the old man, “Sir, what is the book that you are reading? Why does it have so many strange characters?”

"It is a Heavenly Book. How can you read it?" the old man replied with a smile.

"Really? what is it about?"

"This is the marriage record of all the people in the world.”

Overjoyed at what he heard, Wei Gu wasted no time to ask about his marriage with the daughter of the deputy mayor of the Qing He County.

After checking his book, the old man said, "I'm afraid it won't woke out. It is not your time. Your wife now is only three years old, and she will marry you in fourteen years." He turned around, patting the cloth bag, and continued, "see, inside are red strings which will tie up the feet of future couples as soon as they are born. So no matter how far they are apart, or no matter how different in position, they will finally be drawn together by the red string and get married. Young man, your feet have been tied, why take all the trouble to seek your match? "

Wei Gu was very disappointed, but he was still curious about his would-be wife's family.

The old man said, "She is the daughter of an elderly woman by the name Chen selling vegetables next to your inn. Let me show you."

Following the old man, Wei Gu reached a shabby hut, inside which he saw that an old woman blind in one eye was carrying a little girl in her arms, and that both of them were in dirty rags.

Shocked by this, Wei Gu begged the old man, "Sir, are there any way to change my marriage?"

"I'm afraid not. It is a fate match which no one is able to change."

"What if I kill her!" shouted Wei Gu.

The old man shook his head, "She is destined to marry you. How can you kill her", and then he disappeared.

Wei Gu was so furious from shame that he lost his mind. Running back to his inn, taking his sword, breaking into the shabby hut, Wei Gu stabbed the little girl and then fled in the cries of the old woman.

Wei Gu did not dare to go back to his hometown, instead, he joined the army under a false name. Fourteen years later, he was appointed as a high ranking official for gallantry in combat and won recognition from the provincial governor who gave his daughter to him as a wife.

The bride was extremely beautiful and docile, thus Wei Gu loved her very much. Yet, after a few days, he found that his bride had a strange habit that she always wore a head ornament between her brows and would not take it off even when she washed her face. After his repeated requests, his bride told him the reason:

She was, in fact, not the real daughter of the governor but his niece. When she was very young, her parents passed away one after the other, and her nanny a half blind old woman raised her until his uncle adopted her. During she living with her nanny, someday a crazy man broke in and stabbed her at the middle of her brows, which did not cause bad wound but made a scar. So she had to use the ornament to cover it.

Hearing this, Wei Gu finally believed what the old man had said.

He sighed, "Everything is the result of destiny. You cannot fight it."

The Background and Comment:

This Chinese story is from "The Other Record of Spirit and Devil Stories", a book written in Tang dynasty which collected many Chinese tales and ghost stories.

In the past,this story was often used to prove the power of fate and that marriage comes by destiny，but now rare people really believe that.

This story. however,is still told from time to time , and the word of "The Old Man Under the Moon" is also used to refer to anyone who acts as matchmaker between a man and a woman.

An Old Man Lost His Horse--Sai Weng Shi Ma

2016-10-12T10:47:00.002+10:00

The Chinese of This Chinese Idiom "An Old Man Lost His Horse--Sai Weng Shi Ma" is 塞翁失马, and Pin Yin sài wēng shī mǎ.

Long long time ago, there was an old man of foresight at the border of the state, who made a living by raising horses.

One day, one of his horses bolted away and run into the hostile neighboring state. Hearing of this, all his friends felt sorry for his loss and came to comfort him. But to their their surprise, the old man was not bothered at all by the loss. In fact, he said, "losing a horse, of course, is a bad thing, but who knows! It will not bring good results?"

Just as he had expected, a couple of months later, the missing horse return home safely, and also brought back with it a fine horse from the neighboring state.

"What a lucky man!" everyone who learned of this admired his good fortune. But the old man was totally insensible to the windfall, and said with worry, "Who knows! This may bring disaster to us then?!"

Sure enough, later in the year, the farmer's young boy fell and broke his leg while riding the fine horse out. His friends and neighbors came again to comfort the old man, but he was still very calm in the face of the accident and reassured these kind people with his pet phrase, "Who knows! This may bring us good fortune after all!"
Although his friends and neighbors were used to his unexpected talks and knew most of them had been proved to be correct, they highly doubted it this time, because they could not see any good thing that might be brought by his son's disability.

However, soon the prophecy of the old man was fulfilled again. A year later, when the neighboring state sent troops across the border, all the young and strong men were drafted to fight the invaders, and most of them died in the battlefield. The old man's son was not drafted because he was crippled. Thus, the old man and his son both survived through the war.

Background and Writer Comment:

This idiom story is from The Huai Nan Zi (淮南子) is a second century BC Chinese philosophical classic from the Han dynasty that blends Taoist, Confucianist, and Legalist concepts, including theories such as Yin-Yang and the Five Phases.

This idiom story is actually a sample that the author used to illustrate the basic principle of Taoism: "Misfortune, that is where happiness depends; happiness, that is where misfortune underlies"

Moral of this story: There's no use in overreacting to the events and circumstances of our everyday lives. Many times what looks like a setback, may actually be a gift in disguise. And when our hearts are in the right place, all events and circumstances are gifts that we can learn valuable lessons from.

The English counterpart of the idiom of is "Nothing so Bad, as not to be good for something".

The 10,000-Li Flying Range Of The Roc--Peng Cheng Wan Li

2016-10-11T10:36:00.001+10:00

The Chinese of this Chinese Idiom “The 10,000-Li Flying Range Of The Roc--Peng Cheng Wan Li“ is 鹏程万里, and Pin Yin péng　chéng　wàn　lǐ.

According to Zhuang Zi, one of the most influential Chinese philosophers and the main co-founders of Taoism, there was a gigantic fish named Kun in the northern ocean, whose size was too huge to be counted.

This fish could turn into a bird with the name of Roc, whose back was thousands of li (half of Kilometer) in width. When it spread its wings and flew, it seemed like clouds all round the sky.

When the bird was moving to the Southern Ocean its wings flapped the surface of water with more than a 3000-li high slash. Then it soared on the whirlwind up to 90,000 li in the sky. It seemed to bear the blue sky on its back, and there was nothing to obstruct or arrest its course. It could easily pursue its way to the South without rest.

A little sparrow laughed at the bird Roc, saying, "I make an effort and fly towards an elm or sapanwood tree; and sometimes before I reach it, I can do no more but drop to the ground. Of what use is it for this (creature) to rise 90,000 li, and make for the South?"

The knowledge of that which is small does not reach to that which is great; the experience of a few years does not reach to that of many. The mushroom of a morning does not know what takes place between the beginning and end of a month; the short-lived cicada does not know what takes place between the spring and autumn. These are instances of a short term of life.

In the same way, what should the small sparrow know about the matter of the Roc?

Background and Writer Comment:

This idiom story is from "Enjoyment in Untroubled Ease (逍遥游)", an article of Zhuang Zi, in which he used this story to illustrate his theory, that is as mentioned above, "The knowledge of that which is small does not reach to that which is great".

Later generations use this idiom "The 10,000-Li Flying Range Of The Roc" to describes a bright future, or wish someone success in his or her endeavor.

Shoot A Willow Leaf A Hundred Paces Away--Bai Bu Chuan Yang

2016-10-10T10:54:00.005+10:00

The Chinese of this Chinese Idiom Story "Shoot A Willow Leaf A Hundred Paces Away--Bai Bu Chuan Yang" is 百步穿杨, and Pin Yin bǎi bù chuān yáng.

The other name of this Chinese Idiom Story "Every Shot Hits The Target--Bai Fa Bai Zhong is 百发百中， pin Yin bǎi fā bǎi zhòng.

In 575 BC in the Spring and Autumn Period, state Jin invaded state Zheng, an ally of state Chu. So state Chu sent its troops to aid Zheng, and fought with Jin at Yan Ling (鄢陵), that is the famous battle of Yan Ling.

During the battle, Jin chariots charged both Chu flanks, scattering the enemy. They then proceeded to attack the center, which contained the Chu King commanding his troops. Although the Chu King's life was endangered a couple of times, Jin officers let him escape as a sign of respect. However, he was shot in the eye by Wei Qi (魏錡), a good archer of Jin.

The king of Chu hated Wei Qi guts and thus recruited many skillful archers at a high price, hoping they would revenge for him.

In 574 BC, Chu and Jin fought again. The king of Chu gave his best archer named Yang You Jin (养由基) two arrows, ordering him to challenge Wei Qi. Yang You Ji used only one arrow to kill Wei Qi in the following duel and then returned the other to the king. From then on, he was called "One Arrow Yang".

After coming back to Chu, Yang You Ji soon became the state hero and very famed. Many young men asked to be his students, but at the same time some expert archers came to challenge to his shooting skill from time to time. One of them named Pan Dang chose three leaves at different heights on a willow tree, and challenged him to hit them in order. Yang You Ji, standing more than one hundred paces away, took a quick look and then without another word lodged three arrows in the the leaves in order.

When recording this story in his book-- "The Records of the Grand Historian", the first systematic Chinese historical text which profoundly influenced Chinese historiography and prose, Si Ma Qian commented: "The shooting skill of Yang You Ji had reached the level that every shot hits the target."

Background and Writer Comment:

This idiom story“Shoot A Willow Leaf A Hundred Paces Away--Bai Bu Chuan Yang” is from The Records of the Grand Historian.

Another Chinese idiom from this story is “Every shot hits the target--Bai Fa Bai Zhong（百发百中） pinyin bǎi fā bǎi zhòng”

This idiom describes excellent marksmanship. Later it became used to indicate great assurance.

The Thief Plugged His Ears While Stealing a Bell--Yan Er Dao Ling

2016-10-05T21:30:00.002+10:00

The Chinese of this Chinese idiom "The Thief Plugged His Ears While Stealing a Bell--Yan Er Dao Ling" is 掩耳盗铃, and Pin Yin yǎn ěr dào líng.

At the end of the Chinese Spring and Autumn period, the state of Jin(晋) was actually controlled by five powerful families, among which Zhi family was the strongest one, and Fan family was its main political opponent.

In 458BC, Zhi family defeated Fan family with the help of the other three families. Like Tywin Lannister destroying the House Reyne of Castamere in the song "The Rains of Castamere", Zhi family almost killed all members of Fan and left nothing but ruins.

A man with sticky fingers, taking advantage of this occasion, sneaked into the house of Fan at night, hoping to steal something. No sooner had he entered the gate, than he saw a huge bronze bell hanging in the front yard.

Since bronze could be directly used as cash at that time, the man was very excited about his finding. He lost no time trying to carry this bell back home, however, which was too heavy to be moved a little.

After looking at the bell for a good while, the man believed the only one way to solve the problem was to break the bell into pieces so that he could separately carry them back to home.

So the man fetched a big hammer, with which he struck the bell with all his strength.

"Dang!...." the striking made a enormously loud noise which scared the thief terribly. To stop the crashing sound, the man threw himself over the bell and held it tightly with his two arms. But how could the sound of the bell be muffled? The noise still kept drifting melodiously to distant places.

Being tortured by the sound, the man unconsciously shrank back, and stuffed up his ears with his hands. As a result, the frightening sound soon became fainter and fainter and finally died out in darkness. The man became cheerful at once. "Great." he said to himself " The sound of the bell can not be heard when the ears are covered."

He immediately ripped off two pieces of cloth from his shirt and scrolled them into two earplugs. Wearing them, he felt much relieved, then he to strike the bell without any scruples, one blow after another. The resounding sound of the bell woke up all neighbors and was even heard by soldiers patrolling in the distant street. Chasing the sound, they caught him in the act.

The foolish man did not know that the only one who could not hear the sound of the bell was himself when he stuffed his own ears.

Background and Writer Comment:

This idiom story is from "Knowing Yourself (Zi Zhi 自知)", an article of Lu Shi Chun Qiu 《吕氏春秋》, in which the author highlighted that the rulers should know their own shortcomings and errors, and he used this story as a metaphor to criticize some of them who refused to listen to anything negative just like the man in the story blocking his ears from the sound of bell.

Later, people have used the set phrase "plugging one's ears while stealing a bell--Yan Er Dao Ling" to refer to the ignorance and foolishness of the person who deceives himself as well as others.

Its English counterpart is the phrase -- "Cat shuts its eyes while it steals cream".