Chinese Fables and Folk Stories

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CHINESE FABLES AND

FOLK STORIES BY

MARY HAYES DAVIS AND

CHOW-LEUNG WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY YIN-CHWANG WANG TSEN-ZAN

NEW YORK

:

CINCINNATI

:

CHICAGO

AMERICAN BOOKCOMPANY

COPYRIGHT,

1908,

BY

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY ENTERED AT STATIONERS' HALL, LONDON COPYRIGHT, 1908, TOKYO CHINESE FABLES w.

r.

13

TO MY FRIEND MARY

F.

NIXON-ROULET

PREFACE IT requires

much

study of the Oriental mind to catch

even brief glimpses of the secret of

An open mind and

the

wisdom

its

mysterious charm.

of great

sympathy are

conditions essential to

making it at all possible. Contemplative, gentle, and metaphysical

in

their

habit of thought, the Chinese have reflected profoundly

and worked out many peculiarly their own.

riddles of the universe in

ways Realization of the value and

a more definite knowledge of the mental processes of our Oriental brothers, increases wonderneed

to us of

fully as

one begins to comprehend the richness, depth,

and beauty

of their thought, ripened as

it

is

by the

hidden processes of evolution throughout the ages.

To

obtain

literal translations

from the mental

store-

house of the Chinese has not been found easy of accomplishment; but it is a more difficult, and a most elusive task to attempt to translate their fancies, to see itself

as

it

life

appears from the Chinese point of view, and

to retell these impressions without losing quite all of

their color

and charm.

The

"impressions," the "airy shapes" formed by the Oriental imagination, the life touches and secret 5

PREFACE

6

fancy are at once the joy and despair

graces of

its

of the one

who

attempts to record them.

In retelling these Chinese stories of life,

the writer has

home and

school

been greatly aided by the Rev.

Chow Leung, whose

evident desire to serve his native

land and have the lives of his people reflected truly,

has

made him an

invaluable collaborator.

With

the

patient courtesy characteristic of the Chinese, he has

much

given

time to explaining obscure points and an-

swering questions innumerable. It

has been an accepted belief of the world's best

scholars that Chinese literature did not possess the

and chapters in interesting books have been written on this subject affirming its absence. Nevertheless, while studying the people, language, and literafable,

ture of

China

it

was the great pleasure

to discover that the

of

Chinese have

which are published

As

in this

fables,

a few

book.

these stories, familiar in the

of the children of China,

many

of the writer

show

home and

school

life

different phases of the

character of a people in the very processes of formation,

it

tion of

is

earnestly

them

hoped that

will help

a

little

this

English presenta-

toward a better under-

standing and appreciation of Chinese character as a whole.

MARY HAYES

DAVIS.

INTRODUCTION To

begin with,

let

me

say that this

of Chinese stories ever printed

in

is

the

first

book

English that will

of some of bring the Western people to the knowledge our fables, which have never been heretofore known to

In this introduction, however, I shall only

the world.

mention a few this

the

facts as to

why

the Chinese fables, before

book was produced, were never found

in

any of

European languages.

First of

all,

our fables were written here and there

in

and

in

the advanced literature, in the historical books, the poems,

which are not

all

read by every literary

except the widely and deeply educated Secondly,

all

man

literati.

the Chinese books, except those which

were provided by missionaries for religious purposes, are in our book language, which is by no means alike to

our spoken language.

excused to say that in

China

it

is

For

in

reason, I shall

In-

impossible for any foreigner

to find the Chinese- fa

never been a foreigner

this

1

ties.

our country

In fact, there has

who was

able to

write or to read our advanced books with a thorough

understanding.

A

few of our foreign friends can read 7

INTRODUCTION

8

some

of our easy literature, such as newspapers, but

even that sort of literature

they are unable to write

These

without the assistance of their native teachers. are facts

which have

not, as yet,

become known

to the

Western people who know not the peculiarity of our its difficulty.

language

This book of fables a

full

is

not of course intended to give

idea of the Chinese literature, but

it

shows the

thinking reader a bird's-eye view of the Chinese thought in this

know,

form of this

literature.

book being the

Furthermore, so far as first

of

its

kind, will

tell

the

world of the new discovery of the Chinese fables.

YIN-CHWANG WANG TSEN-ZAN. The

University of Chicago,

Chicago,

111.,

U.

S.

A.

.

*,

v/

I

CONTENTS PAGE

How

the

Moon became

^

Beautiful

$

The Animals' Peace Party

The Widow and her Son

ifc

^

fiE

Ji

1^1

H

13

li ID

17

%

22

ffl

The Evergreen Tree and the Wilderness Marigold

&4fc**n7*fi* The

Snail and the Bees

J&

it

H

The Lemon Tree and

the

Pumelo

27

31


hundreds in the flock, he was the largest

And

strongest.

them

He

for this reason

he was the leader of

all.

led the flock to

new

He

places for food.

could

crow the loudest, and as he was the strongest, none dared oppose him in any way. One day he said to the flock, "Let us go to the other

mountain near the wilderness to-day, and There wheat, corn, and wild silkworms.

side of the

hunt is

rice,

not enough food here."

But the other chickens far.

"We

There are foxes and eagles .

and they

the old hens

The

are afraid to go so the wilderness,

in

will catch us."

The king

will

said,

of the chickens said, "It

and cowards stay

king's secretary said,

go with you."

Then

at

is

better that

all

home."

"I do not know

they started

away

fear.

I

together.

When

they had gone a little distance, the secretary found a beetle, and just as he was going to swallow it, the king flew at

him

are for kings, not for

not give

in great anger, saying, "Beetles

common

chickens.

Why

did you

me?"

So they fought together, and while they were fighting, the beetle ran away and hid under the grass where he could not be found.

And

it

to

the secretary said,

"I

will not

fight

for you,

THE PROUD CHICKEN

39

And

neither will I go to the wilderness with you."

went home again. At sunset the king came home.

The

he

other chickens

had saved the best roosting place for him; but he was angry because none of them had been willing to go to the wilderness with him,

and he fought

with one

first

and then with another.

He was

a mighty warrior, and therefore none of them

And

could stand up against him. out of

At

many

of the flock.

the

last

We

will not give us

vegetable garden.

and

see

if

"We

chickens said,

king any longer.

Mo

he pulled the feathers

will leave this place.

another home,

We

will not serve this

will

we

If

Hong-

will stay in the

do that two or three

nights,

she will not give us another place to live."

So the next day, when for the chickens to

Hong-Mo

come home,

waited at sunset

the king

was the only

one who came.

And

she

chickens?

'

asked

the

king,

"Where

are

all

my

:

But he was proud and angry, and said, "They are of no use in the world. I would not care if they always stayed away."

Hong-Mo

answered,

in the world.

drive

them

all

I

"You

are not the only chicken

want the others

away, you

to

come back.

will surely see trouble."

If

you

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

40

But the king laughed and jumped up on the fence and crowed Nga-Un- Gan- Yu-Na (coo-ka-doodle-doo' '

' '

oo) in a loud voice.

don't care for you!

''I

I don't

care for

you!" Hong-Mo went out and

called the chickens,

and she

hunted long through the twilight until the dark night came, but she could not find them. The next morning early she

went

to the vegetable garden,

found her chickens.

bowed

their

They were

said,

"What

children stay out here,

The

glad to see her, and

heads and flew to her.

Hong-Mo house

and there she

to live

are you doing?

when

I

Why do

you

have given you a good

in?"

secretary told her

all

about the trouble with the

king.

Hong-Mo said, "Now you must other. Come with me, and I will

be friendly to each bring you and your

We

must have peace here." When the chickens came to where the king was, he walked about, and scraped his wings on the ground, king together.

and sharpened his spurs. His people had come to make peace, and they bowed their heads and looked

happy when they saw their king. about alone and would not bow.

He know

said,

that?

"I

am

a king

But he

still

always a king.

You bow your heads and

walked

Do

you

think that

THE PROUD CHICKEN pleases me. if

there

myself.

And

But what do

I

care?

was never another chicken I

am

I

41

should not care

in the

world but

king."

he hopped up on a tree and sang some war songs.

But suddenly an eagle who heard him, flew down and caught him in his talons and carried him away. And the chickens never

saw

their proud,

quarrelsome king

again.

EE-SzE (Meaning): that

it

No

position in

gives the right to be proud

life

is

so high

and quarrelsome.

THE LEMON TREE AND THE PUMELO

ONCE

a

Lemon Tree and

grew together

When

in

an old orchard.

the springtime came, they opened wide their

beautiful blossoms

And

a Pumelo Tree lived and

all

and were very happy.

the children

came

to visit

them, and their

hearts were glad with the joy of springtime. 42

THE LEilON TREE AM) THE PUMELO

When

warm winds

the

and waved

blossom-covered

their

looked like gay

blew, they

little

43

bowed

their

heads

arms

until

they

llower girls dancing in the sun-

shine.

Then

the birds

came

to the fragrant,

spring until

But once all

happy summer.

in the

trees,

summer time Pumelo

night long, telling the

that

had come

Pumelo Tree,

men do 'The

first

destroyed.

and put

for I

my

the

Lemon Tree

talked

'Free of a great sorrow

she said, "I wish I were a

have learned that the children of children so well as they like yours.

born of

my

The second

in the

are liked.

And

to her.

not like

and sang sweet songs and their joy lasted from

together,

family are thrown

or

away

generation are taken from

me

sunshine for twenty days before they

They

are never seen in the market places

as your children are, for

it

is

said

we

are too bitter

and

sour.

"My wish

I

children are not well thought

were not a

"Why that they

Lemon

of.

Ah me!

I

Tree.

make your have a good name in all the

did the Creator

children so sweet

world, while mine

are sour and bitter?

"My

flowers are the

are liked the despised.

same

same

as your (lowers.

as yours, but

my

fruit

My is

trees

almost

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

44

"When fifteenth

time for

the

day of the eighth month and

feast

day comes, then your children have a happy they are honored in every family. When the

New Year on the

Moon

day comes, your children are placed table and every one says, Oh, how beauti-

feast

'

first

ful!'

"Women

and

your children's sweet Oh, Mrs. Pumelo, I should like to be as great

faces.

girls like to kiss

a blessing to the world as you are." And the Pumelo said, "My dear friend, do not say I feel sure that

some day you

much as I am. "Did you know that the master spoke

of your beauty

these sad words to me. will

be loved as

to-day?"

"What did he say "He said, 'How

?

"

asked the

beautiful the

Lemon Tree. Lemon Tree

think I shall try to graft the branches of the

Tree

Pumelo

on. to the

"Wait

until

is!

I

Lemon

Tree.'

another

springtime

comes and you

how much your children will be honored. How happy we shall be together when you come to

will

see

grow with me and I with you." So the next year the master and sharp knife and cut the fastened

The

them

to the

first fruit

Lemon

his son

brought a

Tree's branches, and

Pumelo Tree.

came and

the children danced for joy.

THE LEMON TREE AND THE PUMELO

"How Tree!

"

And

45

queer to see lemons growing on the Pumelo

they said. the lemons were no longer bitter

were so pleasant to taste and so

fair to

and

look upon that

many were saved for the coming feast day. The Lemon Tree saw that her children were and she was very happy. Her heart was grateful

to the

sour, but

honored,

Pumelo Tree who had

raised her children to honored places.

And from

that time the

Lemon Tree and

the

Pumelo

both had the same body and the same mind, the same happiness and the same friends, through

many

genera-

tions forever.

EE-SZE ^Meaning): When you help another you make two people happy.

WOO

ONE

day

SING AND THE MIRROR

Woo

Sing's father brought

home a mirror

from the great city. Woo Sing had never seen a mirror before.

hung came

in the in

room

while he was out at play, so

he did not understand what

he saw another boy. 46

it

It

was

when he

was, but thought

WOO

SING

AND THE MIRROR

47

This made him very happy, for he thought the boy had come to play with him.

He

spoke to the stranger

in

a very friendly way,

but received no reply.

He glass,

laughed and waved his hand at the boy

who

did the

same

Then Woo Sing

thing, in exactly the

same way.

thought, "I will go closer.

be that he does not hear

me ". But when

in the

It

may

he began to

walk, the other boy imitated him.

Woo

Sing stopped to think about these strange ac-

"This boy mocks me, he does everything that I do;" and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and soon he noticed that the boy became angry too.

tions,

So

and he said

Woo

Sing grew very

boy in the went crying to the

The

to himself,

glass,

struck

but he only hurt his hand and he

his father.

father said,

image.

much enraged and

"The boy you saw was your own

This should teach you an important

lesson,

my son. You ought never to show your anger before other people. You struck the boy in the glass and hurt only yourself.

"Now

remember, that

in

real life

when you

without cause you will hurl yourself most of

all."

strike

TWO MOTHERS AND A CHILD

1

Woo-Liu-MAi's (sweet smelling flower) husband died when her boy baby was just two days old. She was young 1

This story

only fifteen is

and had loved her husband

about two thousand years old and

historical literature.

48

is

found

in

Chinese

TWO MOTHERS AND A CHILD

49

much; and now she felt very lonely and sad. In her heart she wondered why the gods had taken him away from her and the

little

complained

One day about

it

she

so

much

;

and never

patient,

heavens or to her friends.

felt

that she

So she went

all.

who needed him

woman and

but she was a good to the

baby,

must

to her

talk to

somebody

mother-in-law and

"Mother, to-morrow is the New Year Day and we must make merry and buy firecrackers and incense for said,

We

have thirty gods in our house and we They worship often, but they do not help us any. would not keep my husband alive and let us be happy the temple.

together."

Woo-Liu-Mai's mother-in-law answered,

we can

see

many

people worse

off

than

we

"My

child,

are.

Look

and there are many of them. They have no houses to live in. They go around to many at

the

poor

market places, begging walk all the time and i

rough food

to

morning

early

and sweet potatoes.

They

lose their health trying to get

Sometimes they walk from the dark night and get only one little

keep to

rice

alive.

meal.

"And, daughter, do you not know how many people are frozen and die by

the-

wayside

The New Year brings them two

in the cold

or three days of happi-

ness, then all the rest of the year they are Chinese Fables

4

winter?

hungry and sad.

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

50

"You

married

my

You have

yet old.

clothes to wear,

son very young and you are not

a good house to

and a little

son.

plenty of

live in,

I think

you have great the New Year

from the gods. To-morrow is Day, and we will buy some pretty red paper to cut in a thousand pieces and hang on our walls, doors, beds, blessings

and

vases.

"We will make a gods. We will open are

We

happy

come

will

New

Year and worship the our door wide and our friends who

happy

to us

and make the

New Year call.

cook the two sweet potatoes, one one-half for me, and the other half for the will

for

you and

child.

Now

what a happy New Year we shall have." But on the morning of the New Year early, Woo-Liu-

see

Mai awoke and found

her child dead in the bed by her

and she ran sobbing her great despair,

side,

to her

mother-in-law.

"We any

hang up the red paper on the door or mother, for our happiness is all dead now.

will not

place,

We will have a funeral

in three days."

Woo-Liu-Mai's mother then took a piece of blue cloth and nailed it to the door, so that people would

know

that

come near

some one was dead there and would not the house for fear of bad luck.

laid the child

And

she

on a cloth and covered him with another

cloth until the third day,

when he would be

buried.

TWO MOTHERS AND A CHILD

When

51

people passed by and saw the blue cloth on

the door,they thought the mother-in-law,

who was

old,

must be dead.

The second day Woo-Liu-Mai went

to

her

own

mother's home, which was some distance from there,

and

said,

"Mother,

Year Day came,

my

in the

child

is

morning

dead.

Just as the

New

early, before the sunrise

so he died."

and neighbors came to comfort her, because they were sorry. She was now both a widow and childless. In China it is bad to be a Woo-Liu-Mai's

widow, but

sisters, cousins,

both widowed and childless makes

to be

i

woman almost an outcast. One favorite cousin, Woo-Lau-Chan, a very good woman who loved Woo-Liu-Mai like a sister, had a baby just the age of the one who had died, and when she of a

heard the news, she thought much

"How

cousin's great sorrow.

can

in

her heart of her

my

cousin find com-

any more?" she' said in her mind. "She her husband when so young and now she has lost

fort in life lost

her only child.

happiness

lost.

to expect in

life.

The

A

first

happiness

lost

the second

widowed woman has nothing more Oh, I want to do something for her.

Clothes, money, bracelets, jewelry, can not comfort her

without her child."

Woo-Lau-Chan then

dressed herself and took

up

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

52

her sleeping child and ran to the house where the dead

baby

She was brave and went

lay.

into the

dark empty

room, and no one saw her.

She never thought or cared about the bad luck it might bring, nor of herself in any way. She thought only of the great sorrow of the dead child's mother.

The

body lay on the floor; she took off its clothes and put them on her own baby, and she waited until he had had milk and slept again then she laid him on the still

;

and took the body of the dead child and went out into the great forest, where she left it. floor

She then went back

to

her cousin with a happy

"

Woo-Liu-Mai, I wish you would come with me to your home." "No," said Woo-Liu-Mai sadly, "I will go to-morrow and bury my child. I will stay here until then." smiling face and said,

"But you can not wait

me

now.

The gods

your child would

told

until to-morrow.

me

live again.

in

a dream

Come

with

last night that

Kwoh-King may now be

Come, go now." But Woo-Liu-Mai said, "No, it can not be. You I go to-morrow to bury my tell me what is not true.

crying for milk.

dead."

word came from the mother-in-law, "Your alive. Come home."

Just then child

is

Woo-Liu-Mai went home and saw

the child sitting

TWO MOTHERS AND A CHILD on the grandmother's

"Three days your His face

is

seems not

Then

lap.

And

child lay

changed, his body

the grandmother said,

on the is

floor as

changed.

same baby, but he

like the

53

is

if

dead.

Strange, he

alive, alive."

they thanked the gods with great joy, and the

boy grew and was wise beyond the number of his years. Woo-Liu-Mai's heart was now filled with great peace,

and she no longer complained even

in secret against the

gods.

Woo-Lau-Chan, well

the real mother,

and no one knew, but

in

kept her secret

her heart she said,

"The time will come, when I must tell my son all. When the years have grown old, Kwoh-King, his children and his children's children will bow in reverence to the ancestors who brought them into life, and it is right that he should know the truth and have his own birthright."

But

ment

in his

youth she

of youth

is

said,

"Not now,

for the judg-

unstable and he -might forsake

Woo-

Liu-Mai, and leave her again sorrowful."

When Kwoh-King was school,

and he learned

seven years old, he began

fast.

But

in

time the

money

was nearly gone and Woo-Liu-Mai was too poor send him longer to the nearest school.

One

of her cousins

who was

to

a teacher sent word that

he would teach the child, so he was sent to the school

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

54

where he need not pay.

When Kwoh-King was

sixteen

with great honor. years old, he finished his studies

He was

still

wiser than his years and went to

work

for

the government, soon being given a high state position. Then his mother, Woo-Lau-Chan, who was also a

widow, wrote the whole truth the government his

home,

And

his

his father's

house

all

to

name,

Kwoh-King and his mother's

to

name,

with great care.

the two mothers, the mother

and the mother who bore him, were

who

called

ernment; and when the Emperor heard

raised

him

by the gov-

this story, they

were given a beautiful house, and Kwoh-King lived near and took loving care of them both as long as they lived.

THE BOY WHO WOULD NOT TELL A

Si-MA-QuoNG

When 1

This

lived in the Province of Sze-Chucn.

he was young (about is

a Chinese

LIE

life

story

and 55

is

six years old)

he played

about twelve hundred years old.

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

56

with a dog and a

cat,

but they hunted

all

night long for

food in the wilderness, and his mother feared he might get the devil-sickness

much

paid

silver for

from them.

So one day his father

Wa-Na-Juch, a bird with a beau-

song, for his son to play with.

tiful

Wa-Na-Juch hopped on Si-Ma-Quong's lap and shoulder and ate from his hand. He was a very handsome

bird,

and he sang

all

day

long.

One day he flew out to the lake to bathe, and Si-MaQuong was very happy watching him. Then he ran and

told his mother,

in the lake.

I

think the water

him a good hot His mother

1

"Mii-Tsing, is

saw the bird bathe

too cold for him.

bath, as you give

said,

1

Give

me."

"In winter you have a warm bath,

but not too hot."

When she the water

bathed Si-Ma-Quong, she showed him

must not be too hot

to understand.

for the bird,

why

and he seemed

But the next day when

his

mother

Si-Ma-Quong said to his bird, "Wa-NaAnd the bird said, Juch, do you want a bath?" "Chi-Chi," which the boy thought meant "Yes, Yes."

went

He

out,

put some clean hot water in a dish, and called

the bird, but

it

would not even go near the water.

This made Si-Ma-Quong angry. "You and that is very bad," he said to the bird. 1

Mandarin

dialect

me a lie, "You said,

tell

word meaning mother.

THE BOY WHO WOULD NOT TELL A LIE

57

you wanted a bath. bathe you as Mii-Tsing bathes me."

Now,

when

'Yes, Yes,' I will

I

asked

if

He

then put the bird in the hot water, but it chirped " Do not cry and be a bad loudly and tried to get away. said

bird,"

"I cry sometimes,

Si-Ma-Quong.

when Mii-Tsing bathes me," but utes, the bird lay still

When bird

some

He

Give him

clothes.

warm,

on the

is

so he will stand

on the table

I think

he wants

and make him

sing."

His mother did not know about the bath, so she

"Oh

He

no jacket.

no, the bird needs

my

Mii-Tsing,

said,

fur jacket

up and

to dry.

"

table.

my

two or three min-

in

it

mother came, he

his

cold.

is

and he put

too,

said,

wears a feather

jacket."

She then went into the room and saw the bird lying

on the

table,

and she

Si-Ma-Quong? I think

you

He

killed

said,

"He

wet.

is

him.

If

Who

dead.

is

Did he go

did

to the

this,

pond?

you did, your father

will

surely beat you, arid he will never bring you another bird."

And Si-Ma-Quong I

cried

put him in hot water.

me.

At

first

I

and

said,

he would not go

in,

cried,

father

think he will forgive me,

He

I

I

did

it.

bathed him just as you bathe

Then he ?

"Yes,

'Chi-Chi-Chee.'

did the last time I did wrong."

if

but I

made him."

Will

you

I tell

him

tell

my

the truth.

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

58

When

time came for the evening meal, his mother

he would not

called him, but

about

Wa-Na- Juch, and

He

eat.

"I

said,

Wait

can not eat food.

I

am sorry until

my father comes, so that I may tell him all I have done."

jfcjfcjisHs****

Once Si-Ma-Quong and two other boys were to peel fruit that

in

grew

peach skins were tight Their task seemed not

and the boys were not

likely to

passing by said, "I will

trying

a neighbor's garden, but the

tell

be finished,

you how

skilled.

when a man

to peel the peaches.

Get boiling water, drop the peaches in and take them out in a very little time, and then you can pull off their skins easily."

The man whose peaches and saw that the task was fruit

and

waste.

they were peeling finished.

"I never saw

said,

How did

He

came

soon,

looked at the

fruit peeled

with so

little

you do it?"

They showed him the hot water and he said, "You are very wise to know first this way of peeling fruit. I will give a piece of silver to each of the boys who made the discovery."

He

asked the other two, "Did you?" and "Did

you?" and they both the silver, but the silver.

said,

"Yes."

Si-Ma-Quong

We

the peach skins.

said,

did not ourselves

He

then gave them

"No,

I

do not want

know how

A strange man showed us."

to

remove

THE BOY WHO WOULD NOT TELL A LIE

Now

59

happened when Si-Ma-Quong was very young; and he lived seventy-two years and served his emperor and his nation wisely. He did many these two things

great things, because he

was

So history says that

this

man, who never spoke

as a child, youth, or

man, was one

in the

Chinese nation.

true in the

little

things. falsely

of the greatest

men

A

GREAT REPENTANCE AND A GREAT FORGIVENESS

LiANG-SHENG-Yu was one China. years,

He had when

of the great generals of

kingdom wisely for many was a war of four nations. Liang-

served his

there

Sheng-Yii conquered the other nations, and put them

under the authority of

his king. 60

GREAT REPENTANCE AND GREAT FORGIVENESS

He was

also called Seung-Foo, or the great

He was

of the King.

given this

honorable

Helper title

cause he had served two generations of kings

and

61

be-

father

son.

One day Liang-Sheng-Yti

in the presence of the king.

Liang-Po,

angry because of Liang-Sheng-Yii these things to

me

this

the

reproved

and said

general,

Liang-Po was

to himself,

"Although

a great general, he should not say in the king's presence. He has found

is

fault before the king.

I will

now

find fault with

him

and accuse him before the king. The king forgave me, only because he knew I had done many good things for the kingdom."

He went

to his

home, but he could not

heart burned with anger. yet cast

down with

In the morning his face was

sorrow, for he could not forget his

great disgrace before the king.

him,

"What

answered,

A him

troubled you last

"Do

sleep, for his

His wife questioned night?" But he only

not ask."

servant brought his morning meal, but as

if

it

had no

taste.

And

it

was

to

the wine-servant gave

him wine, but it tasted as water. Another servant brought him water to bathe, and he said, "It is too cold."

But the water was such as

it

always had been.

Three days passed by and the heart of Liang-Po changed not. Then he went to the house of a friend.

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

62

On

the way, while

some

at

still

distance,

he saw

Liang-Sheng-Yii coming and he tried to meet him

and

But Liang-Sheng-Yii walked by and would not see.

talk with him.

pn the other side

Liang- Po said to himself, "This I

terrible thing.

angry ?

Why

the king

many

was never

will

a strange and

enemy; why is he so long he not face me ? With him I served I

years.

away from me.

is

He

is

He went home and

his

can not see

why he

should turn

wrong, wrong." wrote a

letter to

Liang-Sheng-Yii

saying, "I saw you on the Wun-Chung Street to-day and I desired to meet you and tell you many things. I believe you wished not to see me, for you walked on

the other side, with your face turned from me.

So

would see you tomorrow, soon after the morning meal, and I invite you to come to my house and eat the noon meal with

my

heart has another sorrow.

I

me."

But when the servant had brought Liang-Sheng-Yii the letter and he had read it, he threw it into the fire and said not a word.

The

servant saw and went

home and

told Liang- Po.

Fifty days after this,

Kingdom was about

word came to

that the

make war

Chaa-Kwa

against the

Juo

Kingdom.

The

king, therefore, sent

word

to the general,

Liang-

GREAT REPENTANCE AND GREAT FORGIVENESS

63

Po, and to the great helper, Liang-Sheng-Yii, saying,

"I want you

to

come

at

once to me, your king."

When

he received the word, Liang- Po said, "I think there will be a great war with the Chaa-Kwa Kingdom."

So he waited before going to the king, and gave orders that four thousand soldiers should make ready for battle.

They made

ready,

and

two days Liang-Po de-

for

But Liang-Sheng-Yu was already And in his heart he had fear, for he

layed his going.

with the king. " thought, Liang-Po will not come. feel if

shame before

the king.

he comes not, our nation

I

have made him

have done wrong. But We can not surely lost.

I is

go into battle without him."

The king asked him, "Why has Liang-Po, come into

my

presence

?

not the general,

We

can not have

war without the general. Without him we can not even send an answer to the Chaa-Kwa Kingdom." Liang-Sheng-Yii answered and said, "Before I sleep this night, I will see the general." Then he went to his

home and I

must

told his servants,

"I have not time

see General Liang-Po."

for food.

And he bade them

cut

a bundle of thorn sticks, which he took and carried to

Liang- Po's house.

was the time

of Nyi-Kang (Everything Quiet) when Liang-Sheng-Yii came to General Liang-Po's It

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

64

He knocked on

the door three or four times " before the servants opened it and asked, "Who is here ?

house.

He

master

I

am

"I

answered,

must see

him

your

to-night, or I die."

himself and

Liang- Po dressed

Tell

Liang-Sheng-Yii.

came

to

the door.

There he saw an old man with head so bowed as

He wore

conceal his face.

and he carried

old clothes,

a sword on his back and a bundle of thorn sticks

And he

his hands.

knelt

General Liang- Po

on the

said,

to

in

floor.

"Who

this?"

is

Then

Liang-Sheng-Yii, the great and proud helper of two generations of kings, said, "I wish to

Liang-Po." His face was

still

close to the floor

General

see

and

his voice

"General Liang-Po," he said, "I was against you before the king and I have learned that the fault was mine. I found you right, and I am trembled as he spoke.

have done you great wrong. General sword is on my back and a bundle of

guilty, not you.

Liang-Po,

I

my

my hand. Take the sticks and beat me. Take the sword and cut off my head. We can not make thorn sticks

is

in

war to-morrow,

if

we

Then Liang-Po,

are not at peace to-night."

the great general, helped

Sheng-Yii upon his feet and said, "No,

been friends.

we

will serve

We

will

our king.

Liang-

we have always

be friends forever, and together I

wish you

to forgive

me.

I

GREAT REPENTANCE AND GREAT FORGIVENESS wish the king, too, to forgive me, for I have also mistakes.

we

We

will surely

The two

will all forgive

and be forgiven

65

made then

be friends."

great

men bowed down

together

and wor-

shiped the Creator, and they both swore that from that time they

would have the same mind.

Chinese Fables

$

THE MAN WHO LOVED MONEY BETTER THAN LIFE

IN ancient times there was an old woodcutter who went

mountain almost every day to cut wood. It was said that this old man was a miser who hoarded to the

66

MAN WHO LOVED MONEY BETTER THAN his silver until

more

it

changed

to gold,

and that he cared

off in its

The

mouth.

woodcutter's son saw his father's danger, and

ran to save him

if

to carry,

faster

much

When

his clothes.

to stab the tiger

than the

the old woodcutter

he called out !

If

kill

While the son was

his son

alarm

:

cutting holes in his

silver for

Kill him,

it.

listening to his father's instruc-

the tiger suddenly dashed

carrying the old

saw

in great

him

Do not spoil the tiger's

him without

you can skin we can get many pieces of but do not cut his body."

tions

who had a

tiger,

hurt, for the tiger held

Do not spoil the tiger's skin

skin!

carried a long knife,

he soon overtook them.

His father was not

"

He

possible.

and as he could run

about

him and though tiger carried him

wilderness tiger sprang at

he ran he could not escape, and the

by

67

for gold than anything else in all the world.

One day a

man

LIFE

man where

off

into

the forest,

the son could not reach

him, and he was soon killed.

And

the wise

man who

old man's courage

was stronger than

was

told this story said,

foolishm-ss.

"Ah,

this

His love for money

his love for life itself."

THE HEN AND THE CHINESE MOUNTAIN TURTLE

FOUR hundred and

fifty

years ago in Sze-Cheung

Province, Western China, there lived an old farmer

named Ah-Po.

The young

farmers

all

said 68

Ah-Po knew

everything.

THE HEN AND THE CHINESE MOUNTAIN TURTLE 69 they wanted to

If

know when

Ah-Po, and when he

"You

or

rain, they

said, "It will not rain 1

need your bamboo-hat was as he said. He knew

will

morrow,"

it

of nature

things

would

it

and how

and

best her fruits

make

to

asked

to-morrow,"

this

time

to-

about the

all

earth yield

the

and some said he was a

seeds,

prophet.

One day Ah-Po caught a was

so large that

home.

it

mountain

turtle.

It

took both of Ah-Po's sons to carry

and hung it on a and each son put an end of the stick on tied its legs together

They

strong stick,

it

fine

his shoulder.

Ah-Po

"We

said,

we

old to eat, and I think the rings

grow around

gave him a corner

He

will not kill the turtle.

will

his legs

in the

is

too

keep him and watch each year."

So they

barnyard and fed him

rice

and water.

Ah-Po had many

chickens, and for three

and chickens

turtle

But one day

the

all

laughed at the

do you

live

own

lived

months

the

peace with each other.

in

young chickens came together and

turtle.

Then

here so long?

they said to him,

Why

"Why

do you not go back

to

This small barnyard corner is not so good as your cave in the wilderness. You have only a your

1

place

Bamboo-hat:

worn by

?

A

large umbrella-shaped hat,

the Chinese to keep off the rain.

made

of

bamboo, and

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

7O little

sand and grass to

live

on

here.

you, but she never gives you

You

We

are very large,

need

thing,

No.

all

there

any wilderness

fruits.

is

here.

You

foolish old

do you think our fathers and mothers want you ? There is not one of our people who likes you.

You make

Besides, you are not clean.

The

servant feeds

and you take up too much room.

room

the

The

too

much

dirt.

servant girl gave you this water to drink, and your

water bowl

on our

is

floor.

even

now

upside down.

Too many

we do not like flies." The turtle waited until

flies

You

come here

they had

all

scatter rice

to see you,

and

finished scolding.

"Do

you think I came here myself? Who put me here, do you know? Do you suppose I I never like to be in jail? You need not be jealous.

Then he

ate

any

said,

rice that

belonged to you or your family.

I

am not living in your house. What are you complaining about?

and

sell

If it,

our master should take your whole family he would only get one piece of

and what are you day

I

may have

Some

of the

to talk so

silver.

much? Wait and

see;

Who some

the honored place."

chickens went

home and

told

their

"We

had an argument with the turtle to-day and he had the last word. To-morrow we want you

mother,

to

go with us and show him that a chicken can argue,

as well as a turtle."

THE HEN AND THE CHINESE MOUNTAIN TURTLE

The

next day

all

came here

the chickens of the barnyard went

And

to see the turtle.

71

the old hen said,

"My

children

drove them away.

and you scolded them and You said all my family were not

worth one piece of

silver.

many

to play yesterday,

You

pieces of gold, I suppose.

Your own master would not

think you are worth

No

one

And

eat you.

likes you.

the market

people would never buy a thing so old and tough as

you

But

are.

I

will

suppose you

in

you die. Then the wilderness and throw you into

our yard a thousand years or they will carry you to

have to stay here

so, until

Nobody-Knows Lake." Then the turtle answered and

the

come from a wise

tain turtle.

I

easy for even

man

know

that I

knew

the

am

to catch

many ways

and

know

my

family,

that

forefeet

am

a moun-

and

it

is

not

Educated men, doctors,

useful for sickness, but

if all

the people

they could use me, I think there

would soon be no more Chinese

me.

"I

said,

my

are

turtles in the world.

skin

is

good

Many

for skin disease,

for the devil-sickness

good

in

away; and then my and my stomach is good

children, as they drive the devil shells are

good

for sore throat,

for stomach-ache,

ache.

Do

and

my

bones are good for tooth-

you remember that not long ago our master

brought three turtle eggs to feed your children?

heard him say, 'Those

little

chickens caught cold

I in

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

72

must give them some turtle I saw your children eat those three eggs, and in eggs.' two or three days they were well. that

"

damp

place,

So you see the

and so

I

turtle

a useful creature in the world,

Why

even to chickens.

As

I

is

me

do you not leave

must stay here against

my

will,

it is

in

peace?

not right that

Sometimes they take

your children should trouble me.

go hungry, for our master will not allow me to go outside of this fence to hunt food for myself. I never come to your house and bother you,

my

all

and

rice

I

but your children will not even the

me

corner our master gave me.

little

my own

of

let

live in

peace in

had a few

If I

people here with me, as you have, I think

you would not trouble me.

But

have only myself,

I

while you are many.

"Yesterday your children scolded

me and

disturbed

To-day you come again; and to-morrow and many to-morrows will see generations and still more unhatched generations of chickens coming here

my

peace.

to scold

hen

is

me,

as a

heaven

is

a cackling

I fear; for the length of life of

day

me

to

large, I

know

know

the

and made

for

a mountain

turtle.

the earth

large

is

I

But you think the heavens and the earth were both made for you and your chickens only. all

creatures alike.

If

you could drive

morrow

me away

to drive the

to-day,

dog away, and

you would in

try to-

time you would

THE HEN AND THE CHINESE MOUNTAIN TURTLE

73

think the master himself ought not to have enough of

your earth and

enough It

for

birds,

chickens went

other about foolish

must

to

have us

is

all

away ashamed.

they said,

"The

turtle

We

want everything.

live at

barnyard

it,

to

we use

it

large pigs,

here."

Talking is

to each

right.

It

is

barnyard creatures

peace with each other until not ours;

is

and

chickens, ducks, geese,

makes our master happy

The

This barnyard

air to live in.

only a

we

little

die.

The

while."

EE-SZE (Meaning): The Creator made the world for all to use, and, while using try to drive out the

weak.

it,

the strong should not

THE BOY OF PERFECT DISPOSITION

THE STORY OF TSEN-TSZE, A PUPIL OF CONFUCIUS

ABOUT two thousand 1

The

four hundred and twenty years

Chinese idea of perfection of character is based on the three fifty laws of Confucius, the first law requiring honor and

hundred and

74

THE BOY OF PERFECT DISPOSITION ago, Tsen-Tsze

l

was a

child

and

lived

in

75

San-Szi

For twenty-one years he studied many

Province.

things with the great teacher, Confucius.

And

the

first

his great moral law of Confucius he obeyed, not only in acts,

but in his heart, even

did not understand. other

man

2

And

has ever done

when beaten it

is

for a thing

he

not on record that any

this.

In earliest childhood, he always loved and reverenced his father

In the morning when he arose

and mother.

he went to see his parents before he would have the

morning meal.

One day Tsen-Tsze's mother went away to his grandparents. When she left, she said, "Dear for a his

son,

You and your father will be 3 day without me." And he knelt and

I will return in

happy bowed

visit

head

one day.

to

worship his mother at parting.

The second law reperfect obedience to parents even in thought. So when own of one's to think one every day. wrongdoing quires hard to do right that each day he asked his parents I done anything wrong to-day?" he fulfilled the two in spirit and in letter. laws of Confucius highest 1 Tsen-Tsze was one of the seventy-two most faithful pupils of Con-

Tsen-Tsze

tried so

and teacher, "Have

fucius,

chosen from

among

this great

man's three thousand students

because of his nearness to perfection in character. Most of the seventytwo students began studying with Confucius when they were children. 2 That he did not show or even feel a spirit of resentment when his father beat

him

is

considered a remarkable instance of honor and trust

in parents. 3

In worshiping, the Chinese bow a given number of limes for each act and mother.

of reverence to grandparents or dead ancestors, or to father

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

76

The evening came and

she did not return, and Tsen-

Tsze could not eat food or sleep that night from anxiety

And when

for his mother. for the

the

maid servant

until I see

my

"You must

eat

mother's face."

and go

But

said,

"You

mother should I

to school."

and went

When

die,

to school

he came

where

my

mother

his teacher

are not quite wise, Tsen-Tsze.

If

your

would you then no longer study?

hope to see you soon at school." At midday his mother came.

see

him

his father said,

"I can not eat food or study books until comes," said Tsen-Tsze, and word was sent

who

called

morning meal, he said, "No; I can not eat food

and studied

home from

his parents

Then he had

food,

his lessons.

school, he always

were before going

meal time he would not take food

went

to play.

until

his

to

At

father

and mother began eating. When he met an old person on the street, he uncovered his head and stood aside

respectfully to

let

him pass

before he went

on.

These and served

all

other customs of courtesy were ob-

and honored by Tsen-Tsze.

studied his lessons faithfully, and never

At school he left

tasks un-

Every day he asked his teacher, "Have I done any wrong to-day?" -so great was his desire to know finished.

the right

and

to

do

all

that he knew.

THE BOY OF PERFECT DISPOSITION

77

him with a long When he got up from the floor he Kia-Tsa (stick). came and took his father's hand and asked, "Father,

One day Tsen-Tsze's

father beat

1

did I do wrong ?

Tell

me what

it

was.

' '

But his

father's

was red with anger, and he would not explain. Tsen-Tsze went out to the schoolroom and took

fare

music box and came again before sat

down on

He

sang,

his father's face,

and played and sang

the floor

his

and

to him.

"Every father loves his son, Of this all men are sure.

Each

child will need the stick sometimes,

" keep his nature pure.'

To

And he said, "I read in history about many famous }nen who were great because they were gentle. I hope I shall

be

them the

like

stick

all left his

tea

and

them.

when young."

father's face,

" said,

But the anger had not and he brought him a cup of

Father, are you thirsty?"

Then he took

.

History says their fathers gave

his father's

hand and went

to the gar-

1 In some parts of China this story is told the children to teach them not to resent punishment from parents. They are taught that whatever a parent does is for their good, and they must believe it unques-

tionably.

could feel

When

feel that

told this

story

way toward your

they are asked,

"Do

father after a whipping

angry or sorry for yourself?"

you think you or would you

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

78

den where the birds were singing. He put a flower on his father's breast and asked, "Father, do you like that?

I do."

All this caused Tsen-Tsze's father to think,

heart he said,

age."

And

"This boy

is

so long as he

and

in his

not like other children of his

had

life,

he never beat his

son again.

Tsen-Tsze became a great scholar and finished all his studies when he was only twenty-five years old.

And he was a wise and good man. His own generation and all the that have

come

have wished

to

after

generations of

man

him have studied about him, and

be as he was.

WHAT THE YEN TZI TAUGHT THE HUNTER xAv ^

ONE ness, 1

day a hunter was looking for a fox in the wilderwhen suddenly he saw thousands of birds coming

The Yen

found

in

Tzi, or

China.

Kind

Bird,

They migrate

is

a species of the fly-catcher family and fall, and never winter

in the spring

is very cold. They are very tame, sometimes even building nests in the houses of the Chinese, and eating with the chickens at feeding time. They are very gentle, never fight among themselves or

where the weather

79

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

8o

towards the

them

all to

The Yen

river,

and he

lay quite

still

and waited

for

come. Tzi, or

Kind

Birds, were talking together,

listened.

One

pany here?" And the Leader Bird

said,

and the hunter

our com-

asked, "Is

all

"No,

One-Month-

little

Old and Two-Month and Mrs. This- Year are not here yet."

And the Leader Bird said to the Lookout Birds, "You must go after them and help them to the river before five days. Our boats are dried and ready to sail. It is

growing cold and we must

So the Lookout Birds flew hunt the

lost birds.

wing, and a to fly far,

all

go south together."

around the country to They found one with a broken all

one with not enough wing feathers and one with a wound in his leg made by a little

hunter, and others that were tired or very hungry.

They found every missing

bird,

and

this great family

of friends were soon all together again.

But while the Lookout Birds were seeking the lost ones from their own family, they heard another bird

"Save me! save me, too!" And they stopped and said, "Who is calling? Some one must be in trouble."

cry,

with others, share their nests with each other or even with other birds.

Hence the name "Kind Birds." ciable Birds," because they

alone.

They

always go

are also sometimes called "Soin flocks

and are never found

WHAT THE YEN flew to a

They

her leg

all

TAUGHT THE HUNTER

TZI

lemon

81

and saw a Tailor Bird with

tree

covered with blood.

The Kind

Birds said,

how came you in such trouble? What is your name and where do you live ?" The Tailor Bird said, "I live in the South Provincej "Friend,

hundred miles away. I came here to see my Three of my children are with friends and relatives. eight

me, and we were on our way home to the south. We had gone sixty miles, when I asked my children to stop

and

rest in this

lemon

and now

tree,

I

do not even know

where they are. I fear the hunter got them. I am hurt, too, and I do not think I shall ever see my home I shall lose

again.

my life

The Yen Tzi heard talked together

the Tailor Bird said.

all

and were sorry

to care for her, for they

killed

here, I fear."

knew her

"If

by the hunter.

for her

They who had no one

children had been

we do not

save her

life,

she

will surely die," they said.

So they asked, "Would you

know you

eat different food.

and a few bugs.

we

do.

We

like to

We

live

go with us?

We

and

fruit

on

rice

do not know that you can

And we must

ride

live as

on our boats, many, many

hours."

The

Tailor Bird answered, "Yes, I will go gladly,

what you have and cause you no trouble." The Kind Birds helped the Tailor Bird to their

and

will eat

Chinese Fables

6

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

82

company and put her three birds fed her

The hunter who

many the

things

Kind

in

one of their boats, and two or

and cared

for her until she

told this story said,

well.

"I have learned

by watching and studying the habits

Birds.

of

I will never kill birds again."

EE-SzE (Meaning): In time of Jielp

was

not only his own, but others.

trouble,

man

should

A LESSON FROM CONFUCIUS

CONFUCIUS once heard two

One was

of a gentle nature

students a peaceful man.

and a kind wished vent;

if

to

heart, but

do a

thing,

any one

sudden and

of his pupils quarreling.

and was

The

called

by

all

the

other had a good brain

was given to great anger. If he he did it, and no man could pre-

tried to hinder

terrible rage. 83

him, he would show

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

84

One

day, after one of these

of temper, the blood

fits

he went to

came from

his

Confucius.

"What shall I do with my body ? " he asked.

"I fear

me

may be better that I am your pupil and you

I shall not live long.

no longer study and work. love

in great fear,

mouth, and,

as a father.

It

I

me what

Tell

to

do

for

my

body."

Confucius answered, "Tsze-Lu, you have a wrong idea about your body.

work

in school,

It

not the study, not the

is

but your great anger that causes the

trouble.

"I

will help

you

He was

you and Nou-Wui quarreled.

happy again

in

a

You remember when

to see this.

little

at peace

and

time, but you were very long

overcoming your anger. You can not expect to live long if you do that way. Every time one of the pupils says a thing you do not like, you are greatly enraged. in

There are a thousand you only once, you times this year.

use

more

tions

will

in this school.

have a

And you

self-control.

I

fit

will surely die,

want

teeth have

to ask

you?"

"I have thirty-two, teacher."

"How many "

tongues?"

Just one."

"How many

teeth have

each offends

of temper a thousand

:

"How many

If

you lost?"

if

you do not

you some ques-

A LESSON FROM CONFUCIUS "I

when

one when

lost

I

was nine years

85

and four

old,

was about twenty-six years old."

I

"And your "Oh,

tongue

is it still

perfect?"

yes."

"You know Mun-Gun, who "Yes, I know him well."

"How many

teeth

is

old?"

quite

do you think he had

at

your

age?" "I do not know."

"How many "Two, is

has he

now?"

But

I think.

his tongue

is

perfect,

though he

very old."

"You

see the teeth are lost because they are strong,

and determined are hard

to

have everything they

and hurt the tongue many

tongue never hurts the teeth. end, while the teeth are the

tongue

is

Yet,

first

of

it

desire.

times,

man

to decay. It

The never

them, even when they are

in

always helps them do their work,

in

grows angry and It

but the

endures until the

peaceful and gentle with the teeth.

the wrong.

They

fights

preparing man's food for him, although the teeth never help the tongue, and they always resist everything.

"And

so

it

is

with man.

The

strongest to resist,

decay; and you, Tsze-Lu, will be even so

is

the

if

you learn not the great lesson of self-control."

first to

THE WIND, THE CLOUDS, AND THE SNOW

ONCE

was a great quarrel between the winds, and the snow.

there

the clouds, 1

This story was told

(Canton

1

dialect),

who

to his people

lived

about

Confucius.

86

by that good man Mong-Fu-Tsi hundred years later than

five

THE WIND, THE CLOUDS, AND THE SNOW

And

suddenly, without any warning, there

87

came

the

angry roar of the thunder and the sharp cracking of the forked lightning as it separated the heavens.

Then

the north winds, the south winds, the east

winds, and the west winds

came together a thousand

and a thousand strong. And the sun was no longer

seen, for the earth

was

covered with a deep blackness as of the night. The clouds were coming to the east, but the wind drove

them

all

finally

back

much

to the

hail

west side of the heavens and

and snow were thrown down

to the

earth.

The

clouds said to the snow,

You

earth ?

"Why

are not wanted there.

do you go

In the

warm

to

south

Your people would be they went there. Even here you are

land you are never welcomed. killed at

once

if

allowed to stay only for a short time." " We do not come to this earth for our

answered the snow.

this the clouds

black and they said,

"It

is

its

we

were.

people."

frowned until their faces became

"We can

not believe that."

true," answered the snow.

time you will see

pleasure,"

"It was pleasanter where

We came to earth to help At

own

how

"In the summer

the people cry for pressed snow.

They pay three pennies we have made cold.

for

one

little

cup of water that

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

"You

say

we

are not liked in the south land, but

we

you that the south-land people send many oxen, horses, and men to the north to find the snow. tell

last until the

comes

we may summer fever

us in the storehouses so that

"They pack

hot weather, and

when

the

people need us."

all

"You have been

studying this one great need of

man

a long time, we think," and the clouds bowed in scornful

mock sympathy.

"We

do many good things for man," continued the "Thunder and lightning do him much harm

snow.

and he

fears

comfort him.

greatly; but the Creator sends us to

The

when

for a time

"You

them

lightning disappears from the earth

the season of our appearance comes."

should wear a crown," suggested the clouds

sneeringly.

"A

king

who wore one

once said of are.

It is

trees that

us,

good

King Dai-Sung

'Oh, snow, snow, how beautiful you

for flowers,

you are

the old

good for

grass,

and good

for

here.'

"And he said to the rose bushes, shrubs, and trees who were asleep, 'If you wish beauty in the spring you must have our friend the snow in the winter.' "He laid his hand gently on his horses' necks and

time,

'True helpers that are both

said, it

will

feet

soon be time for the green grass

and

legs to

to appear.

me,

You

THE WIND, THE CLOUDS, AND THE SNOW will

have plenty

snow "

this year, for

we had a

89

thick cover of

this winter.

'

soon be hot weather, but

It will

do not fear

I

the heat, for I have plenty of hard snow, pressed

packed for the summer time.' " So you see the snow is useful

to

man.

We

and

could

have stayed where we were in the sky and kept clean, and we need not have worked hard flying all the way

down

to the

"We

ground.

never hear that the clouds do any good thing,"

said the snow.

"The talking,"

some

may come when you will "Then we said the clouds.

time

have finished can

tell

you

things."

"We

saw the big Ti-San Mountain to-day," con-

tinued the snow,

playing around

"and many

its

of the cloud children were

summit, but what good did they do ?

None.

"A

hunter was looking for wild beasts and your children were naughty and covered his eyes so that he could not

see.

Do

children and said, '

days

you remember how he scolded your 'I do not like these cloudy, foggy

?

"Once

the General

San Chi

against his nation's enemy, to learn

how many

of the

led his soldiers to fight

and one night he went out

enemy could be

seen.

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

90

"The moon and

stars tried to help him, but

and covered them and

you came

grew so dark that he lost his Then the enemy took his horse and gun and he

way.

nearly lost his

"He caused

it

life.

hid in a cave and said, 'Those clouds have

my death,

He

I fear.'

lay in the dark cave until

morning came and he could see to find his way. "We do not see why the Creator made clouds

the

hang around

in the

to west," said the

to

sky from north to south, and east

snow, angrily.

n

Just then the clouds' lawyer, the wind,

fend them.

"You

"Whom

are you scolding?

think the Creator should have

"

came

to de-

he asked.

made

king of a world, I suppose, and that there

is

the

snow

no place

or use for the clouds.

"You

talk so

much

that

we can

not find opportunity

what we are good for. You are not the only helper of man and of growing things in the hot sumto tell

mer

time.

"Do

you remember when the great General Dhi-Sing led five thousand soldiers to battle? They traveled

THE WIND, THE CLOUDS, AND THE SNOW

91

over mountains and through wild places until they were

worn and weary.

"They found water to drink by the Gold Mine Mounand stopped there to rest; but there were no trees or growing things on that mountain and they could tain

find

no shade.

"The sun

down

sent

that they could not to

heaven and

in

rest.

great heat

Then

and they

suffered so

they held their faces up

anguish they cried, 'Oh, sun,

why

shine so hot to-day?'

Then

they looked to the east and saw our brother,

the cloud, beginning to appear.

" of

'Why do you not come to us, and cover the the sun that we may have shade and rest?'

pleaded of the cloud;

face

they

and so our brother came and

stood between the earth and the sun. "

'Oh,

relief.

this is rest, rest,'

'How we wish

shield us

"And

said the soldiers in great

that the cloud might always

from the burning

fire

of the sun.'

not only the soldiers, but

all

the farmers and

woodcutters ask us to help them in the time

when

the

sun comes close."

"Can you do

only this one thing?" asked the snow,

coldly.

"Who

carries

the rain

sky?" asked the wind.

and the snow through the

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

)2

you there would be no rain nor snow but for the help of the wind and the clouds. "You know well that the rain is made from the ocean

"I

tell

water.

"One day

the water said to the cloud, 'Friend, I

should like to journey around and around the sky,

but I have no wings, and can not

heavy that

I

can not move

take this trip unless you,

"And so we until

we

lifted the

floated

it

my

it,

fly.

and

My

is

body

so

I never expect to

friend, help me.'

water and helped

through the

air.

step

Our

we had

faces were very light, but after

it

by step

first

cloud

traveled

five

or six miles through the sky our faces changed to gray,

and when we had gone one thousand miles our faces became black and the farmers said, 'We shall soon have

rain.'

"Do you know why the

faces of clouds

grow black?"

asked the wind.

"Anger makes things black,"

why should we know,

said the snow,

for of ourselves

"but

we never change

color."

"It was because great strength was being put forth the sky," argued the wind, "for soon to travel

through

the drops of water said,

'We

are tired and

want

to

go

back to earth again.'

"Then we

said to the- water,

'The earth people need

THE WIND, THE CLOUDS, AND THE SNOW you and

you

all

growing things need you.

93

good that

It is

go.'

"And on

the place where that water

there

fell

had

been no rain for three years.

"The

king had bowed his head a thousand times

before our father rain cloud,

"We

why

and mother and had

are you so long in

to earth

So we called

same

coming?

heard the earth king's cry, and that night the

mother of clouds said

down

'Oh,

cried, '

time,

to us,

and help

all

its

children,

you must go

people or they will perish.'

our brothers and

and we went

and a million

'My

to earth

go at the

sisters to

and saved a million

lives.

wrong you have done is to forget who helped you when you were needy," continued the

"The

greatest

wind.

"Do river,

you remember that you once lived in the ocean, or lake ? At that time I do believe that you were

not well liked.

In the sea you were in the lowest class

and worked hard every day and night. "When the wind came and blew you would always

call

you.

waves you

out in a big rough voice, 'Muh;

Muh; Spsh; Sph -s -s.' "You were restless and unhappy, and to escape

into

tried

and

from that place, and the cloud mother

tried

pitied

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

94

"She

said, 'I

am

very sorry.

We

them up do it.

will bring

and she asked the sun's help to "For a day and a day, a night and a night, you were But you were not carried up, up to the first section. here with

us,'

and you were taken to very high seats. "You wanted the best places and would do no work

satisfied then,

and the clouds carried you. So we took you up high where we lived and had a happy

unless the winds pushed

time.

"Now you have forgotten all up? Who made you pure?"

Who

this.

helped you But the snow did not

answer. Finally the rivers

and

thought,

snow

seas.

said,

We

"Yes, our family

had

forgotten.

we should have been more

from the

we had

only

grateful."

judge, and he said, "We decide the wind and the clouds."

The sun was case in favor of

If

is

this

THE FISH AND THE FLOWERS

ONCE and

there

fish.

was a Chinese merchant who

In the winter time the flowers and

had a separate house to winter the merchant said

must put the is

warmer

sold flowers

lily

live

in,

"I think we

bulbs in the house with the

95

each

but one very cold

to his servants,

there."

fish

fish.

It

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

g6

And

a thousand and a thousand narcissus bulbs

which were growing

for the great feast of the

were moved into the house with the

This made

the, fish

New

Year

fish.

angry and that night they scolded

the narcissus.

"Friends," said the

and we

will not

"We

do not

is

not your place

have you here. like

When men

people.

"this

fishes,

your odor. You will spoil our pass by our door they will see only

you.

"They

will

never see our family.

or do any good here; so you

must

You can

not help

go.

"Every day a hundred and a hundred merchants and students come

to visit us.

they will surely think the fish is

nothing but flowers

"We flowers.

you stand by our door are all gone and there

If

left.

do not want our place We do not like it. It

to smell so strongly of is

very bad and makes

us sick."

The

narcissus

answered,

we were

"Strange, but

thinking of that same thing.

"Some I never

people say that fishes have a bad odor, but

heard

said of

it

our flowers.

I think I will '''

say no more about

it.

ft

Let others decide." ;

Then another

"

'

'.

had been

who

flower spoke and said to the one

talking,

"Hush,

sister, this is

'

'~

.."'""','

l

'.V-'

r^

not our house".

THE FISH AND THE FLOWERS

We

Let the

go to-morrow.

will

97

fishes say

what they

and do not quarrel with them. All people know we are not bad and that our fragrance is sweet."

will

about

When

us,

morning sunshine came, the doors were opened, and a thousand and a thousand flowers had blossomed in the night, and the people said, "Oh, how

Even a

sweet!

wish

it

the

house can be made pleasant.

fish

could be like this

And one

visitor said,

fishes or flowers live

said, "It

too

is

bad

to

all

We

the time."

"How

here?"

sweet this place

And when

is!

Do

he saw, he

put delicate flowers in

evil smell-

came

The

ing places."

Then

three students

to

buy

flowers.

serv-

ants brought three pots from the fish house, and the

house.

"We

do not want pots from the fish Give us others. These have a disagreeable

students said,

smell, like the fishes."

The

fishes

the flowers.

and were even more angry at But the flow ers heard and were happy,

heard

all

r

and they said, "How evil on others."

foolish to quarrel

and

EE-SzE (Meaning): The good need Their best defense

Chinese Fables

7

lies

within themselves.

try to put

no defense.

THE HEN, THE

CAT,

AND THE BIRDS

ONCE a farmer's boy caught three young wood larks. He took them home and gave them his best and largest cage to

live in.

all

long.

day

Soon they were happy and sang almost

Every one liked the birds -very much, excepting cat and the hen.

the

THE HEN, THE

One day *

CAT,

AND THE BIRDS

the sun shone very hot

to get out of the cage.

99

and the birds

They wanted

tried

to fly in the trees

and bushes.

The

farmer's boy

knew what they wanted and hung

their cage in the tree.

He

said to himself,

"I think

That

birds should go with birds.

An little

The

wood

the

were glad

birds will like this.

get acquainted with other birds.

They can

Then

my

to

larks sang loud

be in the

old hen

was

is

I

know

their happiness."

and

long, for they

trees.

sitting

on some eggs near by, and her

ones were just beginning to come out of the shells. singing of the birds, made her angry and she said

them, "Will you stop that noise for a time so that I may hear my little ones call ? I can not hear a word to

my

children say.

When

That

not a pretty song, anyway.

is

other birds sing, their songs are sweet; but your

noise hurts

No one

my

likes to

ears.

Why

do you sing

all

the time?

hear you.

boy did not know much about birds, There are plenty or he would not have caught you. The thrush and the of other birds in the mountain.

"That

foolish

kind-birds are good, with fine voices and clean and beautiful feathers.

"Why

could not that foolish boy catch them?

are the birds I like.

They

They

arc kind to chickens and like

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

100

with us, but you wood larks are our enemies, and our children fear to come near you." to live

The

birds

made no

reply to the hen's scolding.

They

sang and were happy and did not seem to notice her.

This only made the hen more angry, and when the

"Good morning, Do you know we have much trouble since by her door, she

cat passed

Mrs. Cat.

said,

our enemies, the wood larks, came here to

live ?

are always trying to get out of the cage.

I think they

want

to hurt

my children

or yours," she added

They

slyly.

"Do you hear their harsh ugly voices all the day? I can not sleep, I can not find any comfort here since those birds have come."

"Our master's son brought them," said the cat, "and we can not help ourselves. What would you do about it?"

"I

told you," said the hen, "that I

birds.

They should be

killed or driven

do not

like those

away."

them very well either," replied the "Cats and birds do not go well together. Cats "I do not

like

know, but then men you do not want them here, we can do

cat.

like

birds to eat you

like chickens.

If

this.

day,

they

when sit

At mid-

the master's son lets the birds out for a bath,

a while in the sun to dry their feathers. '

you see them come out, call Cluck, cluck,' and come and catch them or drive them away."

When I will

THE HEN, THE

When

the time

was

the cat

came

asleep.

AND THE BIRDS

CAT,

IO1

for the birds to take their bath,

The hen

The

called loudly.

cat

heard her and crept quietly to the place where the birds were bathing.

But one of the birds saw the

cat

and said

to her,

"Mrs. Cat, what are you trying to do? We know what the hen said to you about us last night. I heard her advise you to

"The

kill

us or drive us away.

Is this not true ?

old hen does not wish us to live here; but then

the rats

and mice do not

you to live here either. I warn you not to put your paws on us. If you kill us, the master's boy will kill you, and he will kill and cook like

Do you know how much he loves us ?

the hen.

"Every morning before the sun shines, he is up; and do you know where he goes? He goes to the river to catch the baby swims (little fish) for us. He goes to the mountain the fields

and catches grasshoppers he brings us seeds and rice.

"He works

hard for

us.

for

my

spent

much

his son,

'How

are your

son?'

"One day boy said

He

our cage and our gem-stone water dishes.

"Every day the master asks birds,

and from

Sometimes he brings other

boys here just to hear our songs.

money

for us,

our brother would not eat food and the

to his father,

'What

ails

my

bird, father?

the foods are here, but he will not eat.'

All

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

102

"The "And

father answered, 'I will call a doctor.'

the doctor

came and

'The bird has

said,

fever.

Give him some Da*-Wong-Sai and Tseng-Chu-Mi and he will be well soon.' so you see

how

The boy

not like to stay in the house he hangs

us out in the trees so that

for? us.

we can

Cat, do you see

talk with other birds.

how

well

Go back and tell the old hen not Do not notice what she says against

kill us,

as the

hen wishes you

have no

life left

in the world.

"You

see

how cunning

to do,

the hen

is.

the thing herself, but wants you to do that she

your enemy as well as ours. "Oh, Mrs. Cat, do not be foolish.

little

doit?

we

to talk

about

us, for

if

She

you

will surely

you

it.

are cared

will not

do

That proves

is

ones to care

ours,

this;

well he loves us.

"When we do "Now, Mrs.

paid the doctor for

who

for.

will care for

If

you

lose

You have

your

your children?

three

life

by taking Will the hen

I think not."

When

the cat heard such

wisdom from a

little

bird

she said, "Well! Well! Well! I think you are right,"

and went away. EE-SzE (Meaning): True friends will not ask you do things they would not do themselves.

to

THE BOY WHO WANTED THE IMPOSSIBLE

TsiN(;-CiiL\G (Pure Gold) was four years old his parents sent

1

The

little

him

to a

"baby school"

l

when

for the first

children of China from three to six years of age are often

sent to a subscription school to learn to talk, write characters, etc. 10.1

The

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

104

time and told him that the teacher could thing he would

When

like to

him

every-

know.

he saw a queer bird flying around he asked

his teacher,

"What

kind of thing

"A

His teacher told him,

meant

tell

to fly

bird,"

around and sing

is

that in the air?"

and that

be a bird

to

in every place

and make

music for the people.

The boy

said,

"Can

I not

do it?"

His teacher

said,

"Yes, you can sing music for the people, but you can not fly

unless you get wings."

Tsing-Ching

replied,

told

grandmother His teacher

me

about a "

said,

you can try and l wings sometime." that,

"Yes,

If

I

can do

spirit

that, too.

My

with wings."

your grandmother told you

see.

You may

be a

man

with

teachers of these schools are required to be men of very exemplary character. They must be gentle and kind and, above all, have no bad habits. 1

"A man with wings."

This can not be translated

into the

word

angel.

This story from the "Chinese History," or life stories from the actual lives of the people, was taken from a district of China where Budprevails. Tsing-Ching's idea of a man spirit with wings after death was based on the belief taught by the Buddhist priests that man might live again, but that no one could attain again a state of con-

dhism

sciousness

if

he

killed,

spilled blood, or ate flesh.

Meat-eaters were

consequently barred from ever wearing wings. The idea of wings was not general, as the Buddhist

spirit

was never

pictured as having wings, though being able to float through the air. The hope of a future life was a little brighter for the Buddhist, however,

than for the follower of Confucius.

That great and good man's

THE BOY WHO WANTED THE IMPOSSIBLE Just then the servant

came

Ching

that his

him home from

to fetch

When

girl,

105

mother had

sent,

school.

they reached the park by his home, Tsing-

said,

want that long ladder and a The nurse-girl did not know what he I

"Lau-Mai,

long stick."

would do with them, but she

finally

had

him

to give

She was afraid

both to keep him from crying.

his

mother would hear him cry and that she would come out and scold her for not taking better care of the child.

As he took

the long ladder he said,

going to be a bird."

His nurse

be a bird, Tsing-Ching.

Why

Birds

are you trying to climb

way to be a bird." Lau-Mai helped him up two

am

I

"You can You can not

said,

fly.

up

"Now

the ladder?

not fly.

That

is

not the

mother called her a

to

come

in

or three steps,

and she

left

him

when

his

there for

time.

little

He

climbed up, up, nine steps by himself and fell down. But he was not hurt, nor did he cry; he had no

he thought of but one thing

fear

he was going

to be

a bird.

Suddenly his mother came and saw him again trying law of

life

gave three hundred and

basis for a

keep life.

all

fifty

precepts,

and man by following

though they were a good moral character, they were the despair of those who tried tc three hundred and fifty of them in the hope of winning eternal

them might hope

for eternal consciousness; but

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

106

climb up the ladder and asked,

to

"What

are you

:

doing, Tsing-Ching?'

He again.

answered, "I want to be a bird; wait, I will try I know that birds fly in the air, not on the I can not fly

ground. the

air,

then I

know

I

on

can

earth.

If I get

up high

in

fly."

His mother thought he wanted to climb up and get a bird; she looked all around and said, "There is no

up there now." 1 "But, Ah-Ma, 1 want

bird

The to his

to

be a bird."

Lau-Mai came

servant

just then

and explained

His mother said he was a foolish boy,

mother.

and gave him food and sent him to school again. In two hours the teacher sent all the boys out

They ran

to play.

pond where the gold-fish were, watch them swim in the water.

to the

they liked to

After exercise, they

all

went

into the

foi

schoolroom and

Tsing-Ching told his teacher, "I saw

many

goldfish

swimming in the pond. Did you know that, teacher? A man fed them rice and they all came out for him. They seemed so happy, they shook their tails and waved their fins

and swam up and down and

all

Oh, I should like to be a His teacher said, "Learn lessons now."

the cool water.

around

in

fish."

But Tsing-

think Ching could not study; he could only think, 1

Canton

dialect

word meaning mother.

THE BOY WHO WANTED THE IMPOSSIBLE

Soon he asked that he might go out Then he went, to the pond and took off his

about the

fish.

to drink.

clothes, but the

are you doing,

"I want

to

gardener saw him and asked,

boy?

This

is

Do

"What

school-time."

be a fish," said Tsing-Ching.

The gardener thought he wanted to catch and said, "The fish are for your eyes and not hands.

107

the fish for

your

not disturb them."

Tsing-Ching sat down and waited until the gardener went away. Then he stepped into the water and talked to the fish.

" to all

I

am

going to be one of you now," he said.

me and show me how

swim with you."

to

"

Come

But they

hurried away. in the shallow water,

For half an hour he splashed

trying to swim, until the teacher thought, ''\Yhcre

is

Tsing-Ching?" and sent a boy to see. He found him in the pond and asked him to come into the schoolroom, saying the teacher would punish him if lie did not.

"No,"

said Tsing-Ching,

the teacher I

was

went back and

ijoin^ to

"I

shall be a fish; I told

be a

told the teacher,

fish."

who

And

so the

boy

hardly knew what

to think.

Finally be went out with a stick and asked,

Ching, what are YOU doing here? school-time?

Do

Do

"

you know

Tsingthis

is

you know that you were allowed only

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

I08

go out for a drink and not to stay here and play? You have done wrong." to

"

Why,

you that I wanted to be a fish," "I do not want books or exercises.

teacher, I told

said Tsing-Ching.

am

I

going to be a

Mother

said

fish

and

I will not

go

to school.

you teach everything; now teach

me

to be

a fish."

His teacher

said,

"How

you are a boy, a man. better than to be a fish.

foolish

you are, Tsing-Ching; You can learn many things

Come

with

me now."

That night when Tsing-Ching was walking with his mother and nurse out by the water, he saw the summer

moon

shining in the lake.

"How it

See, it.

strange,

Ah-Ma,

raises the lake

What Then his mother

moon

the

and shakes

kind of a white ball told

him

is

it

is

under the lake!

the time.

all

I

want

it?"

that the

moon was

in the

and she explained and showed And when he saw the moon in the sky, he said,

sky, not in the lake,

him. "

I

know

shakes.

a

that It is

silver ball, I

He

it

not the

in the lake, for

it

It is

know."

many

questions that his mother grew

answering and

he wandered away a in the water.

moon

not quiet like that one in the sky.

asked so

tired of

is

And

let

little

him ask unnoticed. distance

the waters

Then

and threw stones

waved and

the white ball

THE BOY WHO WANTED THE IMPOSSIBLE danced so

waded

prettily that

he wanted

it

1 09

very much.

into the lake, deeper, deeper, until he fell

He screamed and long time to

swallowed the water, and

make him

it

alive again, after his

He

down. took a

mothei

took him out of the lake.

When

the neighbors heard about

it,

they said, "Fool-

do the things he can he always wanting things he can not have." Many people in this world are like Tsing-Ching. ish boy; not satisfied to

is

THE BOY WHO BECAME A HSAO-TSZE

3:

* * A*

THIS all

is

the true story of a boy

his life the

who obeyed

perfectly

law of Confucius concerning honor to

parents.

Few have been 1

A

title

of great

honor given

known from childhood this

able to do

law of Confucius

Among

a people of

to followers of Confucius

who have been

to maturity

this.

by many people as having observed

faithfully.

no

THE BOY WHO BECAME A HSAO-TSZE

many

III

who have kept record over four thousand twenty-four men have been found worthy

millions

years, only

of the great honor of being called Hsao-Tsze.

Twelve hundred years ago, in Che-Kiong Province, widow and her son, Wong Ziang.

there lived a poor

The

had died when Wong-Ziang was a baby, and came when they had only their little home left

father

the time

and not even one piece of silver to buy food with. So the mother went to many places daily and asked food for herself and child.

day

in

the

cold

ram

For seven long

years, every

or in the sunshine, this

widow begged food and kept

herself

and

poor

frcm

child

starving.

She was a good woman and never complained even to the heavens, and in her heart she said many times,

"No

mother should be sorrowful when she has a good

My

boy is true without being taught. mothers have sons, but they arc not as this one." son.

When Wong-Ziang was to his' mother, "Ah Ma, I have food.

You must

rest

Many

fourteen years old, he said will

seek work and

we

will

now."

In the morning early he went to the market place and asked work of many people. At midday, when the laljorers left the

young

to

market place, they

said,

"You

are too

work here."

As he was hungry,

lie

went

to

a merchant's house and

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

112

asked food and because he was a gentle boy and pleaded ;

so earnestly, the merchant told his cook to give

Wong-Ziang would not

him

eat the food, but took

food.

home

it

to his mother.

Ninety times Wong-Ziang sought work

He

at sunrise.

day, and every night he took food

mother and comforted her with, "I soon One man says he will want find work, Ah Ma.

home will

me

all

home

left

to his

soon; or, a

man

seek work," and in

told

many

me

of yet another place to

other ways he comforted his

mother.

When

he gave her the food he brought, she would But he would always answer, "I say, "You eat, too." have had mine; you eat first." And when she had ished eating, he would eat of what was left.

One "I

time Wong-Ziang's mother

will

have no

go

for the doctor."

But

Wait and you

silver.

will

He

fell sick.

mother

fin-

said,

said,

"I

soon have work.

I

his

think I shall be well then."

But Wong-Ziang ran to the city of Nim-Chu and asked the doctor to come to his mother. He said to

him

as they went to his mother's house:

"My mother and

sick

did not get

and can not

when I

at sunrise.

eat food.

a doctor, as we have no wait and,

up

silver,

get work, I will

She

is

weak

She does not want but I believe you will

pay you."

The

doctor

THE BOY WHO BECAME A HSAO-TSZE said,

"I always help the poor when

made

He

then said, "She

medicine, but

it

Twice

likes.

frozen.

in five

wine.

know

I

is

very weak.

and the

I will leave

good food that days, she should have a carp But it is winter and the river

better that she eat

is

fish boiled in rice is

will not

they reached the widow's home, the doctor

the examination of the tongue, the eyes,

pulse.

she

and

this time."

charge you

When

I can,

113

not

how you

and

will get that fish,"

then he went away.

asked,

"What

"He

said

so that

"It

did the doctor say about

you needed a carp

you

fish

me?"

cooked

in rice

wine

be strong," answered Wong-Ziang.

may

me

very easy for

is

mother the medicine, and she

his

Wong-Ziang gave

to find one.

I

am

going

now

Wait

until

to the river."

But the mother spring.

"I

The

said,

river

is

will see," said

fishing clothes.

"Not now, my

son.

covered with ice."

Wong-Ziang; and he put on

his

1

His mother said, "I fear you will

die,

if

you go

into

the water."

"I

will see first

if

there are any fish," said he.

Tn China the country boys go in the water to fish with hand nets and become experts in diving and swimming under water. The hand nets :irv about two feet wide and three feet Icng. 1

Chinese Fables

8

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

114

When Wong-Ziang reached the river, he saw it was covered with ice. He made a great hole in the ice and went

in,

and

he caught a

But

after

swimming and diving

fish for his

some

time,

mother.

his breath almost left

and when he came

for

out, he

him

the cold water,

in

could not stand on the

ice.

He

fell

the net

down, and

and the

"He

is

fish

he had caught.

if

will

She

gone a long time," thought his mother.

called a servant girl

Moi,

his clothes froze to the ice with

who was

you go down

to the

passing,

and

"Ah

said,

River Ching-Ki, and see

"

my boy is there ? Ah Moi went and

saw

the boy

and the

fish in the

net lying frozen on the ice together.

She

called,

came back

to

"Wong-Ziang," but when- no answer her, she thought, "He is dead," and

But she met a farmer who was riding a cow and she told him, "Wong-Ziang is dead on the

ran in

fear.

ice."

The farmer left

his

cow and went with her

to

see.

The farmer took

off his

own

coat and

wrapped it arms and said

around the boy. He carried him in his Take the to the servant, "I think he is not dead.

and net

at once to

fish

Wong-Ziang's mother."

In an hour Wong-Ziang came to

life

again.

He

arose

THE BOY WHO BECAME A HSAO-TSZE and cooked the

mother.

fish for his

And

115

in fifteen

days she was well.

Soon

Wong-Ziang was given work in the cook for a rich professor who had many

after this,

next village as pupils.

One day he went to the wilderness His mother knew that her boy worked she went with

him

to help

to cut

wood.

hard, and so

and they worked

until sunset.

Suddenly a small tiger came out of the forest towards the mother, and from fear she became as one dead.

Wong-Ziang screamed and made a great noise. He threw his clothes at the beast and it ran away. Then he carried his mother home, and the neighbors

watched him

all his life said,

a Hsao-Tsze

if

he

is

always

"Wong-Ziang

who had

will

become

like this."

Wong-Ziang had seen twenty-one years when his mother died, and he had never left her for one day in all his life.

He was

and neighbors,

liked

by

his teachers, schoolmates,

for they said,

"We

can learn a great

from Wong-Ziang who has loved and honored mother perfectly."

lesson his

While for her after

his

mother was

and spent

little

living,

time or

she died, he studied hard.

Wong-Ziang worked

money

in study;

When

his

work

but in

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

Il6

was done each day, he always outside the schoolroom door where he heard the

the professor's kitchen sat

teacher giving lessons to his pupils.

For seven years he studied

1

in this

way

before the

knew; but one day he found out what Wong-Ziang had been doing. In time he came " to love him as his own son and he asked him, Would teacher, Liao-Tsai,

you

like to

be

my Chi-tsze

(son by adoption) ?"

"I would, but I am poor and It could unlearned, and you are rich and honored.

And Wong-Ziang

said,

not be."

But

his teacher said,

have had

many

pupils,

learned as you have.

"I want you in my school. I but none that have worked and I

have known

none of them served and honored fully.

me

Think about

this

many

his parents so faith-

two or three days and then give

your answer."

After three days

Wong-Ziang decided and he came :

to Liao-Tsai, his teacher, and, kneeling

him, he bowed his head low.

was

sons, but

as the professor's

own

And

down

before

after this time

he

son.

In sixteen years, Wong-Ziang graduated from 4he He had studied great University with highest honors. 1

Pupils.

Chinese school children in small country places

long table to study. table.

Sometimes there are from

sit

forty to sixty at

at a

one

THE BOY WHO BECAME A HSAO-TSZE all

the books of the Chinese schools

117

and was now a

Han-Ling (Ph.D.).

He

served his nation and emperor wisely and had a

high state position for more than twenty years.

The

people called him Zien-Zan before the emperor.

But

when he came home had known low

his

to his native province

deeds

in affection,

and

all his life,

called him,

they

where people

bowed

their

"Hsao-Tsze."

heads

THE HUNTER, THE

SNIPE,

AND THE

BIVALVE

YuNG-Moi was one of the very wise men of China. He had lived in the mountains and studied the books of Confucius for twenty years, and afterwards he taught others. 118

THE HUNTER, THE

He

SNIPE,

AND THE BIVALVE

1

19

taught school for ten years, and because of his

wisdom had many pupils over two thousand in all. He was now sixty years old and greatly respected by

many people. One day he scholars.

thought he would give a party for his So he sent them all word and asked that each

one repeat a story at the party. After he had invited his guests, he thought, "I, too, must have a story ready for to-morrow night. What shall

be?"

it

And

he walked

down

to

the river,

thinking.

There he saw two creatures river

fighting.

One was

the

in

the edge of the 1

great

bivalve;

the

other was a snipe that had been hunting for fish in the river.

They fought long and

hard, until a hunter with a gun

and net passed by and saw them. He made no noise and came close, close, but they were so busy trying to kill

each other that they could not see him.

them both and took them home

So he caught

in his net.

Yung-Moi, the wise teacher, thought deeply and said " to himself, There is meaning in all this," and he walked slowly back 1

A

which

to his schoolroom.

huge oyster about three feet square and writhing twenty pounds, is said to have existed at that time (about one thousand years

ago), but

is

now

extinct.

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

120

desk and thought, and he stirred the ink in his ink-dish, not knowing what he did.

He

down

sat

at his

Then he wrote is

this story

The

a strange thing.

air.

He

and

snipe

said:

my mind

"In

this

a fine creature in the

is

has two wings and has great power to do for

himself.

"Small

fishes

swim

in the

water and the snipe can

take any one he wants, but he can not live in the

home

away from him

with-

of the bivalve, or try to take

life

out perishing himself.

"If he had power to go under the water and there

were

would be no small

fishes in the river,

big, like the eagle or bear, there

fishes in the world.

am

I

and

live, if

he

would soon be no

glad the Creator

made him a

small creature and not too powerful.

"The

bivalve

he has great power

to live

under the

Small swimming things can not escape if they pass by his door, but if he could move about like other fishes with his great power and his appetite for many

water.

fish, I

enough all

think the mother of for his greedy

mouth,

all fishes

for

could not

now he opens

make

his doors

day long and takes in the creatures that swim by. "I had fish from the river last night for my evening

meal, but I think they never passed the bivalve's house or he would have had

"When

them

the bivalve

for his supper.

and snipe fought

together, each

THE HUNTER, THE one thought, have, "

and

The

AND THE BIVALVE

SNIPE,

have great power;

'I

I will kill

you and get

121

want what you

I

for myself.'

it

snipe saw the bivalve's door open and he

'What

thought,

picked at

it.

nice white meat; I will have

The

it,'

bivalve shut his doors tight

and he

and held

the snipe so that he could not get away.

"And

they fought; each one trying to

until the

and the bivalve home and

'We

will

The hunter

savory things at one time. bivalve well done,

and we

2 and Cho-Chen-Cho with

will

'

put some

Save the

it.

"

'The pearls that were in much sriver from the jeweler.

come here and

for supper.

my mother

will

eaten of a bivalve. "

'The

to

1

2

my A A

much

son and nephew.

I will

shells

bivalve

is

x

and put

them

to the

tables.

me

mother

my

enough

to

for us

She has never before

be glad.

kill.

ask

the

Tung-Ku

this bivalve v/ill bring

The

snipe, I will not

Cook

said,

them away carefully to dry, and I will sell man who makes furniture, for inlaying his

all,

Then

have a good supper to-night.' wife looked and was very glad to have two such

said to his wife, his

the other,

hunter came and caught them both.

the hunter took the snipe

And

kill

I will

Give him

keep him

rice to eat

to

show

and some

Chinese sauce. Chinese mushroom which grows in the larger than the ordinary variety.

forests.

It is

very rare and

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

122

water to drink, and keep him in the cage. I will give

him

him some

and

much

him

in

a few days

Then, when

to the school teacher.

sing, I will take

for

fish

to the

To-morrow I will take

I train

market place and

him

sell

to

him

:

silver.'

At the party on the evening of the next day, all the At last the teacher repeated the pupils told stories. story of the fight between the

swimming and

flying

creatures. I will ask

you a question," he said to the "If the snipe flies in the air, can man catch

"Now, pupils.

And if the bivalve stays under the river, can man injure him?" And the pupils all said, "No, teacher." him?

"Well,

it

cave in the

was sad that the snipe and the bivalve

were caught yesterday. Can you tell me why?" "We do not know," said the scholars.

And

"They are happy and powerful do no harm to each other. The

the teacher said,

creatures

when they

flies

in the air, the bivalve

swims

in his

home, and each has happiness according to his kind. "Now you see these two creatures fought together,

snipe

the sea,

the snipe

and the

fighting.

The hunter

"It

is

bivalve, is

and they did not succeed by

the only one that succeeded.

so with the three nations

now

at war.

They

THE HUNTER, THE

SNIPE,

and the

are like the hunter, the snipe,

ought

to live in peace.

AND THE BIVALVE bivalve.

They

are lost

when they

picture

of

They

123

fight

themselves."

among Then Yung-Moi drew a

the

warring

countries for his pupils.

(YOT)

ONE

(YEE)

TWO

(SARM) THREE*

"One and Three represent two nations at war with each other. One asks Two's permission to pass an army through

his country that

While the army of One

he

may

fight

Three.

get in a fight

away from home, the people among themselves and civil war follows.

Number Two

takes advantage of the situation and in

is

Number One's army (who is trying to overpower Three), conquers Number One easily. Number Two then owns the nations One and Two, and with this added strength goes to the land of Numabsence of

the

ber Three and conquers him, so that

now belong 1

to

all

three countries

Number Two."

Yot, yee, sarm are Canton dialect words for one, two, three.

THE MULE AND THE LION (LII-TSZE

ONE

night the lion

AND

SII-TSZE)

was very hungry, but as the creaknew and feared him even from

tures of the wilderness afar,

he could not find food.

young mule that

So he went

to visit the

lived near the farmer's house, 124

and when

THE MULE AND THE LION

125

"What do and fat? What

he saw her he smiled blandly and asked,

make you

eat, fair Lii, to

you

makes your hair

so

so sleek

smooth and beautiful?

your master gives you tender fresh grass and

I think fat

young

pig to eat."

The mule answered, "No,

My

gentle.

hair

with other creatures.

The

lion said,

walk around is

night

with

I believe

am

do not

am

fight

here, Sii

not hungry.

to get the cool, fresh air.

to visit you.

because I

?

you are seeking for food."

no, I

"Oh,

very beautiful.

me?

fat

But why do you come

clear sky with the stars

came

am

beautiful because I

is

Are you hungry?

I

And

I only

then the

The moon hangs up

and makes a

Would you

soft light,

in the

and

so I

not like to take a walk

I will take

you to visit my friend, the pig. I never go to his house alone; I always take a friend with me."

The mule

asked, "Shall

"Yes," answered the visit

me

lion,

another friend of mine

Then to

mule asked

the

go with

"Who "The

is

Sii to

we go

any other place?" "I think we will go to

who

to

lives

his mother,

not far away."

"Will you allow

see his friend ?"

his friend?" asked the mother.

farmer's pig," said the mule.

"I think

it

mother mule.

is

no harm

you go only there," said the "But you must not go anywhere else if

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

126

with

The hunter

Sii.

you must be

is

Do

careful.

looking for him, I hear, and not trust

him

fully, for I fear

he will tempt you to go to some other place or into

some wrong

home

If I allow

thing.

you

to go,

The moon

before midnight.

you must come be gone

will not

then and you can see to find your way."

So the lion and the mule went lived in a

house

saw the

the pig

to visit the pig

in the farmer's yard.

he called out

lion,

in

who

But as soon as

a loud voice to his

mother.

The

lion said,

may go When the

you

the lion

"He

is

afraid of me.

pig

saw

mule was alone, he thought He opened his door wide and was

that the

very friendly to the mule, saying,

the pig as

saying,

"Let the poor lion said,

house.

Then the

And little

"No,

It is better for

the

mule begged the

hay behind a

to

net.

where a

The

indeed, I have

him

to

fine

many

pigs at

go with me."

mule followed.

looking dog lay on some

lion did not

dropped the pig and tried

cried loudly for mercy.

lion,

creature go free."

lion carried the pig, while the

Soon they came for he

in."

jumped from his hiding place and caught he came to the door. The pig called to his

in great fear.

my

"Come

lion

mother

But the

hide and

in first."

had gone.

But the

I will

seem

to see the net,

to catch the

dog who

THE MULE AND THE LION But the the

dog

loud noise and

We came I

here, Lii-Tsze, at

The mule went

once and help me!' to the lion

and

Set

said,

me

The hunter

to the

my is

it

free,

said,

oh hunter,

"No,

brings.

I

am

your business.

I will

a hunter. If I

set

me

I will not set

market place and

right.

and the net

man

you

free.

You

bad company and must take you and the lion both

sell

If

you

for silver.

you get

catch you, that

or beast.

free!"

in

is

EE-SZE (Meaning): Bad company thing for

fell

The mule begged "Hunter, you know me and you We are your friends and we do no

be good, but you are

take what

Come

1

lion in his net.

know my mother.

may

the hunter so that he will

have never been so insulted.

mule and the

wrong.

him and he makes a

and caught At sunrise the hunter came and found

them both.

earnestly

to visit

tries to call

drive us away.

the

"See how rude

lion said to the foolish mule, to us.

is

127

in

my

That

net, that

my business. is

is

'

a dangerous

THE FA-NIEN-TS'ING AND THE MON-TIENSING

CONFUCIUS had labored teaching the people eousness for

many forgotten moons.

right-

One day he

said

to himself:

"I have taught many years and taS

1 will

now

rest a

THE FA-NIEN-TS'ING AND THE MON-TIEN-SING I2Q

He

while." shall I

thought for a few days and said,

go to find rest?"

Then he spoke

Yen- Yuen, and Tsze-Kong, "I have been thinking that

moons and

visit

Tsze-Lu,

his faithful pupils, saying, I

would now

rest for three

the Tai-San Mountain, but I

wish to go alone.

Where on

to

"Where

I

do not

should like you to go with me.

the mountain

is

the best

place,

do you

think?"

"On

the southwest side where the sun shines

warm

and the wind does not blow cold," answered Tsze-Kong. And Tsze-Lu, Tsze-Kong, and Yen- Yuen went to their

own rooms and planned

the journey.

After ten days Confucius and his pupils went to the

Tai-San Mountain

moons; but even they took their books with

to rest for the three

there his pupils studied, for

them.

As Confucius walked on

"How

the Tai-San

Mountain he

and beautiful are the things made by the Creator; even the trees, bushes, and flowers are beyond man's understanding." Then he went to the

said,

great

temple and saw the images of honored men, and when he looked at the face of Dai-Yee, the Just, he said,

"You

are very great.

We

and other generations yet honor you."

When

remember and honor you, to come will remember and

he had walked another half-mile, he grew tired

Chinese Fables

9

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

130

and he

down under

sat

the Fa-Nien-Ts'ing tree,

and soon

slept.

Suddenly he heard a noise. pupils had come, but seeing no

Once more he heard

to sleep.

looking

He awoke thinking his man he lay down again

upward he saw

same

the

noise,

and

Mon-Tien-Sing and the Fa-

the

Nien-Ts'ing trees looking into each other's faces; but they were

was

not

The Mon-Tien-Sing's

happy.

distorted with anger,

to the Fa-Nien-Ts'ing,

not allow you to

live.

and

face

wrath she said

in great

"If I were the Creator, I would

A

year and a year passes by

and you do not grow. You eat much food and you have more earth than I, and still you do not grow. I never heard that you did any good thing since you

were born, and dred years. is

it is

said you have lived here five hun-

Your branches

are crooked

and your bark

rough.

"You

Do

are not even good to look upon.

the children of

men

care for

neither flowers nor fruit.

shade when

you?

If

people

the wind blows hard,

your sharp, ugly leaves

would

for

No,

fall

sit

I

you think you have

under your

should

think

on them and

stick them.

"It

is

a strange thing that the woodcutter does not

chop you down useless thing. If I were the Creator, I would not allow the sun to shine on you, nor would I

THE FA-NIEN-TS'lNG AND THE MON-TIEN-SING give

you rain

to drink.

hard until you

I

down

fell

would cause the wind

to

131

blow

dead.

"You see I have the sweetest of flowers and the people all like me. One day two women passed by here and one of them said, 'Mon-Tien-Sing, how I wish that I might take you with me. You are so beautiful, but I fear

you do not

your flowers for

by a bush and

my

my

me.

Three times

hair, but I

was

fell

to the earth.

I

and passed

when

their lovely

wish that

your beautiful flowers every third

If

every-three-moons. it

has, I will

"When

tell

you look

I

moon

"My name is Mon-Tien-Sing which ing

have gathered

careless

did but touch them

it

I

might take you garden, and that you would grow there and open

petals all to

like

forever.'

means Flowers-

you do not know another mean-

you. in the

sky on a

summer

you know how many stars are there ? Even count a clear sky Tien-Sing.

Mon

filled

with shining

means

full;

Tien

man can I

stars.

night do

not

am Mon-

means heaven;

and Sing means stars: 'sky filled with stars'- that is my name. I grow very fast. Every three moons I bear a thousand and a thousand flowers.

I

do not need

grow everywhere. Even me. They come to me and

servants to care for me, for I

and birds

like

seeds and grow

fat.

the chickens eat

my

"If I were the Creator, the Mon-Tien-Sing would

CHINESE TABLES AND FOLK STORIES

132

grow everywhere with

its

you.

I

in all the world,

do not

Your branches

me and

wind blows, they come

the

spoil

my

beautiful flowers.

the Creator to bring a woodcutter

to-day

head

and that

are too

close

and

I will pray

and cut you down

useless, evil thing."

The Fa-Nien-Ts'ing did his

away from

even to see you, and here I must

like

when

strong; for

the earth

fill

sweetness, but oh, I wish I could go

stand always by your side.

hurt

and

He knew

shame.

in

his leaves

will like

well that he

was ugly

were sharp and his bark rough, but

he said to himself, "I

some one

not answer, though he bowed

know

me,

and he surely made and wait."

in

some day,

heart that

For the Creator made me

too.

me

my

for good.

I will keep patient

In about three moons the cold days came and things were frozen.

The

rivers stood

were no longer seen, the

trees

still,

all

the flowers

and shrubs threw

all

But the Fa-Nien-Ts'ing held his head up and smiled bravely, and he kept his leaves and they grew green and green. Then he said

their leaves to the ground.

to himself,

does

"The

me no

cool

harm.

wind

I feel

good for me. This is better. is

The

my

frost

happy

have green in their houses now. To-day they came to the mountain and they found no other thing that was yet green but my leaves.

time, for the people like to

THE FA-NIEN-TS'lNG AND THE MON-TIEN-SING 133 young man was about to be married. He could no flowers. So he took some of my leaves and

"A find

branches to put in his house.

the Fa-Nien-Ts'ing

"The

birds

come

from the cold wind and snow.

shelter

for

The

winter

is

greener. side

grow

The woodcutter comes and

and says that I

They say

cold every day, but I

cold,

stands by

away from him.

me

a good home for them.

is

greener and

my

to

know

I

keep the cold wind

the Creator

made me

for

good."

Then Confucius awoke. He looked up, and he looked down, and he looked living thing

about him.

all

There was no

near except the Fa-Nien-Ts'ing and the

Mon-Tien-Sing, and he said: "It was a dream, but surely I heard the Mon-TienSing trying to quarrel with

know and

the Fa-Nien-Ts'ing.

I

that the things of the world have deep meaning,

this is

my lesson

:

I

would not be as the Mon-Tien-

Sing, but I wish to be like the Fa-Nien-Ts'ing."

He

arose and laid his

Ts'ing and said, patient one.

"The

The

hand gently on the Fa-Nien-

time

is

long that you stand here,

cold heart of winter does not change

your nature more than

it

does that of birds, beasts,

men, or even your enemy, the Mon-Tien-Sing. "The cold weather makes you better, for you grow

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

134

green as the springtime, and there

which can do

or flower

this.

no other

is

When

tree,

bush,

the frost of winter

comes, where are the flowers, where are the leaves,

where are

all

the grass, where

gone.

The

Where

the growing things of beauty?

first

is

the green of the field?

cold wintry

They

is

are

wind of adversity takes

them one by one, but you alone can withstand sorrow and grow even more beautiful.

"Your

life is

a lesson to me.

I

am

serving the king

and serving the people, but there are few who like now. Three kings have tried to kill me, though doctrine

is

to serve the

"But kings

world and

will not listen to

brothers try to drive

me

me

my

help every one.

my

teaching,

and

my

away, as the Mon-Tien-Sing

wished to drive away the Fa-Nien-Ts'ing. For four days I went without food, and many were the enemies

around and against me at that time when the king banished me. But I know that it is my duty to live

and teach

in the world,

although

it

is

winter for

me

and the cold winds of adversity blow and the hearts my people seem hard and cold like rocks of ice.

of I

hope I will be as the Fa-Nien-Ts'ing, and stand firmly on the mountain of righteousness forever, that I, Confucius,

may do good

"I would not be

to a wintry world.

as the Mon-Tien-Sing.

It

is

cov-

ered in the morning with the flowers of beauty which

THE FA-NIEN-TS'lNG AND THE MON-TIEN-SING 135 it

drops before the evening.

but its

is frail

beyond

all

of

its

It is beautiful, for

kind.

It

an hour,

bears no fruit and

flowers last but a day, while the Fa-Nien-Ts'ing

strong of heart and mind, though a world

him."

is

is

against

THE BODY THAT DESERTED THE STOMACH

MAN'S body

is

a perfect and wonderful thing.

His

hands are strong to do; his feet are strong to walk; his nose judges whether things are good to eat; his ears hear clearly; his eyes help him to see the world

and

to

all

the things of

study books; his brain can think great 1

16

THE BODY THAT DESERTED THE STOMACH

And

thoughts.

we

so

call the

man

body of

a

137 perfect

thing.

man's body quarreled among themselves about the work. Many comThe hands plaints were brought against the stomach.

But one day the

and ing.

"We

work

you know

whom

feet said,

Do

The

different parts of

eyes said,

and much

rice

"We

and

find

many

chickens,

tea for the stomach.

and does no work

And though

day and yet we are nothwe work for ?" all

for

He

it.

fish, eggs,

He

takes

all

does not even think.

he never does anything for us,

we

are

always working for him."

Then the

they

all

stomach.

the heart

agreed to refuse to work longer for

They

said,

"To-morrow we

and have him judge

l

who

is

to

will

be blamed."

So the next day the tongue told the brain about

and the brain

When

said,

"I

will see the

tell

it,

judge to-night."

the heart heard the story he said, "Yes, you

you lie down and refuse to help the stomach; if you do not give him any rice or meat for food, or any tea for drink, he will learn then that are right.

If all of

he can not

live

1

without you."

The Chinese

picture the heart thus, with two sides: the larger side, everything is brought by the brain for the heart-judge, or conscience, to pass judgment on.

To If

he pronounces the thought or feeling worthy, it goes memory, where it stays; otherwise it is rejected.

into the

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

138

In a

time the stomach wanted food and said to

little

the hands,

cup of

"

a piece of

The hands were

tea."

Then

me

Give

l

The

quiet

some

and a

and said nothing.

me

I

feet

am

a bowl of chop-suey-

hungry."

answered, "No,

we

sir,

not work for

will

you any more." And they lay down. The stomach cried for food, but all said, care;

rice,

the stomach said to the feet, "Will you go out

and have Men- Yen bring

meen?

fish,

we

will not

work

for

"We do

not

him."

After a while the eyes found they could not see well

and

in the theater hall next

but

hard,

the

could

ears

door the drums not

The

hear.

;

drummed heart-

"How is it now with the stomach?" The answered, "We are not working for him, nor

judge said, brain

helping

him any more, and

I fear that I, too, will die die.

I

If

and that

he

is

all

the others will

do not believe we have done right

going to

die.

in deserting

Do

you not think it best to tell the feet go out and bring the stomach some chop-suey-meen ? he had that, he might help us again. We shall all

the stomach. to

I believe

surely die unless

we have

But the unwise judge food; let him do his work

"He

his aid."

said,

"Let him

own

for himself."

can not do that," said the brain. 1

get his

Canton

dialect.

"He

lives in

THE BODY THAT DESERTED THE STOMACH

139

a place with great walls around him, so he can not get out. The hands and the feet have always brought his food to him."

The judge said, "Has he spoken about And the brain answered, "No." So they agreed

to leave the

day longer. But that night they were

stomach

all

for they could not live without

it

to-day?"

to himself

one

found dead together,

each other.

This fable was told by the Chinese general, Tsii, to the Chinese emperor, about twelve hundred years ago. his

The emperor had been angry at a province of own people and wished to send this general, with to kill

soldiers,

go,

and

show

fable

was

Japanese

the general

would not

argument with the emperor he used illustrate his reasons for objection and

this fable to

to

But

them.

his

in

the

necessity

of

each part

translated into Japanese

have added

the

in

to

all.

This

1891 and the

following Ee-sze (mean-

ing):

The stomach means feet, all

the emperor.

The

hands, eyes,

parts of the body, represent the people.

the stomach

is

like

Again,

a mother, the other parts being the

children.

So each one of the people must do something

for his

140

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

nation and Emperor. for the family if

the nation

is

Each

must do something These things must be,

child

and the mother.

to be powerful, or mf

strong and united.

if

the family

is

to

be

THE PROUD FOX AND THE CRAB

ONE day

a fox said to a crab, ''Crawling thing, did

you ever run

in all

your life?"

"Yes," said the crab, "I run very often from the to the grass

and back

"Oh, shame," run.

How many

to the river."

said the fox, "that feet

mud

and

legs 141

is

have you

no distance to ?

I

have only

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

142

had as many

I

feet as

four.

Why,

run at

least six times as fast as

if

1

you have,

would

Did you know

you do.

you are really a very slow, stupid creature? Though I have only four feet I run ten times as far as you do. I never heard of any one with so many feet as that

you have, running so slowly."

The

"Would you like to run a race with a like me? I will try to run as fast as

crab said,

stupid creature you.

I

and

see

know

I

am

how much

times larger than

we go to the scales you are. As you are ten

small, so suppose

heavier

I,

of course

will

you

have to run ten

times faster.

"Another reason why you can run so fast is because you have such a fine tail and hold it so high. If you would allow me to put it down, I do not think you could run any faster than I."

"Oh, very as you like,

well," said the fox, contemptuously,

and

I will not even

still

the race will be so easy for

need to

try.

Your many

had

my

sense and

forest could

outrun me.

can outwit me.

Even man

I

As

it

is,

am known

'

will,

will let

no creature

if

I

in the

as the sharp-witted.

Qui-kwat-wui-lai

says,

Now,

there are none that

'

So do what you "If you

of your legs,

all

that'

and your

legs

stupid head do not go very well together.

me

"do

(sly

as a fox).

stupid one."

me

tie

your beautiful

tail

down

so

THE PROUD FOX AND THE CRAB will stay," said the crab,

it

am

"I

143

sure I can win the

race."

"But

no, you can not," said the fox.

"Oh,

prove to even your stupid, slow brain that

no

Now, how do you wish

difference.

hold

my

it

I will

will

make

that I should

tail?"

me to hang somedown, I am sure you can

Said the crab, "If you will allow thing on your

tail to

hold

it

not run faster than I."

"Do

as

you

"Allow

me

when

I

have

Then you

like," said the fox.

it

to

come nearer,"

fastened to your

said the crab,

tail, I

will

"and

say 'Ready!'

are to start."

So the crab crawled behind and caught the fox's tail with his pincers and said, "Ready!" The fox ran and ran until he was

tired.

And when

he stopped, there

was the crab beside him. "

Where

are you

now?

"

said the crab.

you were to run ten times faster than I. even ahead of me with all your boasting."

"I thought

You

are not

panting for breath, hung his head in shame and went away where he might never see the crab

The

fox,

again.

is

Es-SzE (Meaning):

A

a worse thing for a

man

big,

proud, boastful

than

it is

for

a fox.

mouth

A LITTLE CHINESE ROSE

home angry to day Mai-Qwai (Little Rose) ran her mother saying, "Mii-Tsing, I do not want my name

ONE

be Rose any longer. I was in Dun-Qure's garden she asked me, 'Which flower do you like just now, and

to

best of

all in

our garden?' and I said I liked

flower best. 144

my name-

A LITTLE CHINESE ROSE

"Then

they

laughed and said,

all

145

'We do

not.

Do

you not see the thorns on the roses? When we pass near we tear our dresses. When we touch them the

No, we do not

blood flows from our hands.

like the

The baby cow does not like them either. They her nose when she tries to eat, and even mother

roses.

stick

can not pick them without

scissors.

Once when she

had a

large

and

stuck her hands and face so that she cried

it

bunch

and we do not think

it

named and

little sister

tried to get

Other flowers do not make trouble

hours.

"

of roses,

see

likes the rose best.

We

and be

it.'

I

do not

I

do not want

will tell

many

like that,

very foolish to like a trouble flower

for

"Do

why any one

one

my name-flower any more,

like

to

bear

its

Mii-Tsing,

name."

not cry, dear child," said her mother,

you some things about the

rose.

Do

"and you

I

like

rose sugar?"

"Yes, very much," Rose answered, her face growing bright.

"And "Oh,

rose oil?" yes,

Mii-Tsing."

"I thought you did not not to like the good things

"But, Mii-Tsing, 1

Chinese Fables

A 10

tell

like the rose. it

So you ought

makes."

me why

did the rose god

choice Chinese candy.

make

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

146

the rose grow with so

many

thorns?

Other flowers

are not like that."

"Listen, dear child. trees

and

still

had

its

If the rose tree

like other

beautiful flowers, I think

snould never have any for ourselves. too easily gathered.

were

The

rose god

we

They would be

was very wise and

When he his beautiful flower. put thorns all around made it, he gave it an odor so sweet that all the gods stopped working on the day

it

was

finished.

The

mean, Honor the rose which grows forever. The cows can not touch it, and the pigs never go near thorns

u,

and

destroy

careless children or wasteful people can not it.

Do

you

see, dear,

why

the rose

must have

thorns?"

The next morning Rose found in her room a ful new rose pillow made of the sweet-smelling

petals.

she laid her head on this fragrant pillow she

When said,

beauti-

"Mii-Tsing, I do not wish to change

my

name."

THE EAGLE AND THE RICE BIRDS

ONCE

a mother eagle had a nest with three eggs

in

it

and she was very happy while waiting for her thive But one day, two children to come from the eggs. schoolboys,

named Jeung-Po and Hui-Yin, who knew

of her nest,

talked

together and one of them said, 147

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

148

"Did you know

And

that the eagle likes the rice birds?"

"No, she does

the other boy replied,

not, for I

have seen her drive them away."

But the one named Jeung-Po said, "Not only can I make an eagle like a rice bird, but I can make them change natures and live with each other." u You can not do that," answered Hui-Yin. :

(I :

Will you give

me

a piece of silver

the eagle like the rice birds

And Hui-Yin silver

you do

if

said, that,

so they clapped hands.

I

can

make

and take them as friends?"

"Yes, but I

if

you a piece of know you can not." And I will give

1

So Jeung-Po went his way hunting, hunting many birds, until finally he found a rice bird's nest with five

eggs in

them

it.

He

took three of the eggs and put

the mother eagle's

in

nest

and then he took

the three eggs from the eagle's nest to the nest of the rice bird.

In twenty-five days the eagle's nest had three baby birds in

it

and Jeung-Po was

glad.

One day he heard

mother eagle saying to her three babies "I do not know why your feathers are not as mine, and your voices are so different and you are such very

the

:

little

1

things.

This

is

agreement.

I will

go and ask

similar to the Occidental

my

oldest son to

come

custom of shaking hands on an

THE EAGLE AND THE RICE BIRDS here to-morrow, and see

if

he can

tell

149

me why you

are

so.'

On

the next

mother, and he said, three

little

eagle's son

day the

I

"Ah-Ma,

came

am

to visit his

glad to see

my

brothers, but their faces are not like yours

or mine.' tt

;

I

know

mother.

that

what you say

"I wished you

of this strange thing.

to

You

is

true," said the eagle

come, so that we might talk are

my

child,

and they are

mine, but they are not like you and me."

what they eat," said the eagle son. Then he gave them a piece of meat, but they could "I

will

not eat

see

it.

"They want rice all the time," the eagle mother told " him. They will not eat meat." The mystery was so great that the eagles could not understand.

Soon the strange nestlings were flying with the eagle mother. One day she took them to a pleasant place to play,

who

way home they passed a rice bird them. The mother eagle said, "Do not

and on

called to

their

Come with me." And when the listen.

go with him.

would not

Chi," and flew left

down

the eagle mother

The

eagle

mother

children would not

But the

little

rice bird said,

"Chi-

to a rice field, the three little

and went called

come

ones

ones

with the rice bird.

many

to her.

times, but her strange

Then

she said to the

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

150

"Why did my children mine? How did you teach

rice bird,

follow your call

not

them

what

I have not been able to teach

and

in

one breath

them

in all their

lives?"

And

the rice-bird father said,

children. is

They belong

coming now; Soon sixteen

see for yourself." rice

birds flew

"You

see,

"But they must be mother.

me and

them

it is

my

before.

the

eagle

her children.

The

as I told you."

children,"

said the eagle

this, for I

home

never had

My other children were like But

they never behaved in this way.

take them

again and feed them, and

grow older they may become

my

near and

all like

"I can not understand

children like

She

mother.

to the rice-bird

mother saw that they were rice bird said,

are not your

"They

like

me and

I will

when they

the others of

family."

"It will never be so," said the rice bird. of that.

ever be rice.

am

sure

You need not hope that these children will eagles. You see they do not eat meat, they eat

They know

taught.

"I

They do

the rice bird's call without being

not speak the same dialect that you

speak, nor sing the same songs.

They

are surely rice

and you can not keep them longer in your home." The eagle mother tried again and again to call her

birds

children and they only said, "Chic, chic," which meant

THE EAGLE AND THE RICE BIRDS would not come.

that they

refused

go with her.

to

and

birds

said,

have tempted not If

them

tell

"You

151

She waited long, but they

Then

she chided the rice

are a bad company,

my

children to join you.

to

come home with me,

you do not cease your

and you Why do you

their

mother?

evil actions, I shall eat

you or

drive you away."

The tain,

eagle mother flew

and she

moun-

on a great rock and waited long come home.

night came, but her

little

In her heart the eagle mother her.

alone to the

sat

her children to

The

away

for

ones did not return.

knew they were

lost to

All the dark night she cried aloud in her grief.

In the morning she hunted long, but she could not find them.

She said

"This to

me.

a strange and dreadful thing that has come

is

I

to herself:

remember

that I once heard a quarrel-bird

say that some of her children had

left

her in this same

way, and she believed some bad boy had changed her eggs.

For she had

when they could

six yellow children in

fly

they went

her nest, and

away with

the yellow

She found her own children one day camphor tree. I wish that I might find my own

song birds.

in

a

chil-

dren." Just then she

asked her,

"How

met the quarrel-bird mother, and she did you find your

own children?"

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

152

And

the quarrel-bird mother said,

"I was passing

by the camphor tree when I saw the little ones alone, and I asked, 'What are you doing here?' And they 'Eating nuts!'

said,

" " ((

(I

'Do you like nuts?' I asked. 'Oh yes, very well.' 'Where did you come from?' '

We

came from

I said.

the yellow-bird family.'

"

'But you do not look

"

'No, and

"

'Where

"

'We have no home.'

"

'Why do you not live with the yellow-bird mother?' 'We were not happy there. The others do not eat drink, nor sing as we do. We are not fond of

"

nor

we

is

'You

yellow birds.'

did not talk nor eat as they did.'

your home now?'

them, nor they of "

like the

arc like

us.'

me and

mine,' I told them.

And we

looked at each other and saw the same feathers and the

same and

Then

color.

I told

me where my home was rock of the Wu-Toa Moun-

they asked

them under a

So they went with me, and my house and my food were pleasant to them. In some way though we tain.

could not

tell

how

we knew

longed to each other.

The

in

our hearts that

we

be-

And we were happy, happy."

eagle mother thought long about the story of

the quarrel-bird, and the next

morning she

left

her nest

THE EAGLE AND THE RICE BIRDS early

and went

153

to the wilderness to seek her lost chil-

met a cousin eagle who asked her, ''Why are you crying and crying?" The eagle mother answered and said, "I have lost

On

dren.

the way, she

Have you seen any

three children.

ness ?

could not sleep

I

all last

lost in the wilder-

night, for a great trouble

has come to me."

The

eagle cousin said,

They went

pass here.

They were

its fruit.

to

"I saw three eagle children the Fah-Nim tree and ate of

playing there, and seemed to be

happy."

The three

mother went

eagle

little

eagles;

to the

and she

Fah-Nim

tree

and saw

how

said, "Children,

did

you come here?"

The

eagles answered her,

little

"We We

are not your

have had no do you call us? mother since we were born. The rice bird left us when

Why

children.

we were

small.

Then an

eagle

could

eagle

children,

and

go with

Then is

came along and gave us food

until

we

fly."

The to

She said we were not her children.

me

the

mother

said,

"You

look like

you are mine. and see our home ?" I believe

little

eagles talked together

very kind to us.

we might go and

Of

course

see her

we do

home."

my

older

Would you and

not

said,

know

like

"She

her, but

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

154

So they went, and in that eagle mother's house, they soon knew her for their mother and she knew her own children.

And Jeung-Po

lost the

he could not change nature.

own

kind.

bird

is

The

always a

eagle

is

was proved that Each bird went back to its

money,

for

it

always an eagle, and the

rice

rice bird.

EE-SZE (Meaning): The good can not stay with the evil; light can not be changed into darkness, nor

darkness into is

light.

always black.

and the eagle his

own

is

White

The

is

always white and black

rice bird is

always an eagle.

nature and kind.

Man

those things which the Creator

always a

Each

is

according to

need not try

made

rice bird

to

changeless.

change

THE CHILDREN AND THE DOG

Woo-HsiNG

market place and the children thought him a very wonderful man. trained fine dogs to do almost everything but talk. lived

near

the

one wanted a dog educated, Woo-Hsing was the to take

him

to.

Whether

for hunting, for '55

all

He If

man

performing

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

156 tricks

public places or from door to door

in

thing, all

This It

is

Woo-Hsing could teach his dogs. children thought him a wonderful man.

things,

the

why

came time

to teach dogs.

Woo-Hsing's little boy to learn how So one day he brought his son a very

for

young one from the market

how

any-

Then he

place.

told

him

years to

dog should be taught. It would take three teach him all: to play soldier with a gun, to

dance, to

bow

the

swim

to

his head, to kneel, to play

churn the

water with a boy on his back, or

in

1

rice,

to take a

basket and go from door to door and beg rice and

money

Even then

for his master.

complete until he could

hunt the

his training

was not

fox, the gibbon, the

mouse-deer, and other animals.

Woo-Hsing's Yueng, which

little

in

boy had

been named Yiong-

Chinese means

name was

"

Forever."

The

Woo-Hsing had been given many sons, but they had all died young, so when the last one came he named him Forever, for he reason for the

said,

"He

will then live

this:

a long time and

I shall not

be

childless."

Yiong-Yueng 1

The Chinese

much

farmers have a rice churn which takes the final husk

holds about two bushels and works with treadle very like our old-fashioned dog churns. It takes the women about

off the rice.

half

dog Hsi-Long, which means a very wise dog and learned so

called his

He was

"for fun."

an hour

It

to

churn (or thresh) one churnful of

rice.

THE CHILDREN AND THE DOG

157

he was

known and

tricks in a short time, that

many

admired by

One day

all

the boys in the country around.

a crowd of children coming

met Hsi-Long

school

in the road.

home from

They all shouted, we will have some

Yiong-Yueng's dog. Now fun and make him do all his tricks for us."

"Here

is

"Here, Hsi-Long! Come here," but Then another the dog would not even notice him. boy pulled his tail because he would not obey; and HsiLong bit the boy's finger and growled, and the boy ran So one boy

home

said,

crying.

Another boy said, "Now see me. I will make him take me on his back for a swim in the water as he takes

Yiong-Yueng;" and he caught Hsi-Long roughly and But the dog pulled his tried to pull him in the water.

and growled so and ran home. clothes

One

fiercely that the

Ah-Gum, told happened, and how angry they of the boys,

his

mother what had

all

were at the dog,

-who needed a beating, as they thought.

Yueng has

boys scattered

visitors, Hsi-Long kneels and

"When

Yiong-

bows and does

him; why would he not do them for us, How can we make him do the tricks for

all his tricks for

Ah-Ma ? us?" "Well,

dog

to

my

"you wanted the Have you ever done

son," said his mother,

do many things

for you.

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

158

anything for the dog?

Did you ever

"Try

give

this,"

take a bowl of

and give him.

it

Do

and

trust you.

how

to do.

"You

my

son.

to eat or drink ?

continued the mother. rice,

put a

"To-morrow, meat and gravy with it, Speak kindly to him and pet little

two or three times and he

Then he

will

will find people in the

Do

are a stranger to him.

him anything

to the dog.

this

You

do

for

will surely like

you

all

he knows

world are just the same,

not expect people to do things for you

when you do nothing for them, for that is not You must give, if you expect to receive, and it is to give first."

right.

better

THE TWO MOUNTAINS

THE Kwung-Lun Mountain sand

feet or

more.

Most

is

very high

of the time his head

with the clouds and, since he was born, no

found the way

to

ten thouis

man

covered has ever

climb where he might look in the face 159

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

l6o

of the great

Chi

l

Kwung-Lun. And

the eagles

and the San-

birds live always with him.

One day Kwung-Lun spoke to the Tai-San Mountain who lived near, and said, "I am the highest mountain

in the world.

honorable of

come

all

I

am

the steepest

and most

The

the mountains here.

farmers

me; from the morning until the evening sun they come and cut the great rocks from my base. And from the earliest light, until the darkness gathers about

my

to

head, the birds sing for me.

They wear

birds.

world.

I

have the San-Chi

the most beautiful feather in the

sun and has a different glory gives more gold for this than for

It shines in the

for the

Man

moon.

any other feather that is on the earth. The San-Chi is mine. I feed him and he lives always with me. ''Yesterday, a teacher I

heard him

tell

them

and

his scholars

this story

"

'One day, Confucius was King Loa-Bai, and he asked ever been to the 1

San Chi:

A

rarest loveliness.

some

of

its

large

came here and

about Confucius talking to the

:

young

"Have you Kwung-Lun Mountain?" And the

and

beautiful

This feather

is

the king,

mountain bird with one feather of

blue, of a peculiar iridescence,

long, curly fronds are white.

The Chinese

and

are superstitious

about this feather and think it has healing qualities. They sometimes trap the San-Chi bird and pull its one beautiful feather, letting the bird go free. It is six years, the hunters say, until the lost feather is replaced.

The San-Chi

valued for fans.

is

very long lived, and

its

feathers are greatly

THE TWO MOUNTAINS

Then Confucius showed him

king answered, "No."

made

beautiful fan "

a

birds.

"

'

l6l

of feathers

from the San-Chi

Did you ever see feathers like these ?" he asked. "I am a king and I have seen many things," "

but never have I beheld colors young king, such wondrous beauty. I will give you one thousand

said the of

you will bring me a fan like this one." 'And Confucius answered, "If I can persuade you to do one thing that I desire greatly I will give you the pieces of silver "

if

fan, for I should not like to sell

exchange for

silver in

ancestor, if

said,

my

you

it,

as

it

it.

I

could not well take

was given

great-great-grandfather.

will take

my

to

my honored

But as

have

I

advice concerning a certain

matter, you shall have the fan." " "I will be advised by you," said the '

young

king.

"What do you wish me to do?" " "You are a king of great strength," said Con"You have more soldiers than any other fucius. 1

'

\

king. all

But

if

you were a

lion,

you would not

the other animals in the wilderness to

kill

show your

you were the greatest fish in the waters, you would not swallow all the weaker

great strength.

Or,

if

fish." 1

At that time several nations were at war, and Confucius went to the king of each nation, trying to persuade him that it was better to be at peace. He went to the est of the kingdoms.

Chinese Fables

young King Loa-Bai

n

first,

as his

was the strong-

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

62

1

"

I

'The young king answered, "No, I would not! If were a lion, I would let all the weaker creatures dance

before " '

me in happiness and safety." "You are a strong, great king,"

said Confucius.

"Other kingdoms are weaker than your own. kings do not wish to fight, unless they must. will take six years,

my

have

shall

you

You

doms.

advice and will not force

shall

have

many

this

gifts

them

to

Their If

you

war

for

from these king-

wonderful fan made of the

from one hundred and twenty San-Chi birds, and gold and ivory, with beautiful carving; and you

feathers

have gems of

shall

bears' feet.

1

If

many

you

will

colors

and battle-horses and

be advised by me, the other

nations will give you these things." " "How soon shall I have these things? " the young '

king asked. "

"In one year," Confucius replied, "you shall have them. I must have time to go again to the rulers '

of these kingdoms." " 'So the king agreed to do as Confucius desired;

and Confucius one year

it is

said,

"I now give you

as I say, the fan

warring with any

yours.

fan,

But

if

other nation in that time,

return the gift to me." "

'Then Confucius went 1

is

my

to see

and

if

in

you begin you must

the rulers of the

Bears' feet are considered a great delicacy by the Chinese.

THE TWO MOUNTAINS

163

weaker kingdoms, and four gave promises of peace and But one of the kings sent gifts to the young king.

would not give tribute, neither would he say when he would begin war. "

'When a year had almost passed, the young king reported to Confucius, "Four kings only have sent me Does the other nation wish war, or send me a gift as the others have done ?" gifts.

" let

'

"Will you not take

my fan

as a gift

king

from me, and

the small weak nation go?" said Confucius. " 'Then the king became very angry. He tore his

long robe and said, "I will swallow is

will its

up

the nation that

my enemy. We will have war now." "

'

"The

Confucius.

year of your promise

is

not yet gone," said

"If you do that, you must return the

priceless fan."

And

the

young king gave Confucius

and went away. 'The king gave his general the order to make ready for war. But in a few hours he repented of what he had done, for he prized the fan of Confucius above

his fan

"

all

gold or jewels, and he ordered his general to cease

preparing for battle.

Jeh-Shung

And

good talker

he further ordered that a

be sent with this message

to Confucius.

"

'

come

"I, the king, to

me and

am

sick at heart.

I

wish you to

bring with you the fan which I prize

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

164

above

all

I will not

gems.

battle with the

weaker

kingdom." " "I have important work and can not come today," answered Confucius, "but in one more day I will '

see the king."

"

'Then the king was very happy again, heart was set on possessing the fan. "

'When

his

for

day came, the king sent the most honorable chair (carried by eight men), and went himself to

the next

meet Confucius, who held

less fan, for well

"

hand the

He saw

fan he so desired.

near, the king could not see

only the sparkling colors of the

And

Confucius said, "I thought

you were going to destroy the weaker nation. " you wish me to come here ? "

'Then the king bowed

am

in the

and

I will take

you give "

'

wrong.

me

I

to Confucius

and

Why

do

said,

"I

have thought deeply about

your advice and keep peace. the fan?"

"No, you

price-

he knew the heart of the young king.

'And when he drew

Confucius.

in his

are not to have the fan

Now,

this,

will

on the agree-

ment which you broke, for when you sent me away you prepared to make war on the weaker nation," said Confucius. "

'And

and

his

young King fell with his face attendants came to care for him. the

to the

ground

THE TWO MOUNTAINS "

'

"If you will

fucius,

make a new agreement,"

"and promise

said

that you will never be the

I will give

go to war,

to

165

you

this fan that

Confirst

you so de-

sire.'

"

'The young king made the agreement. And the fan was given him by Confucius. And the king said to himself, "This fan is more than many kingdoms to me.

In

the world of

all

beautiful.

My

man, there

is

nothing else so

heart has desired above

all

things this

wonderful fan of the San-Chi feathers and the rare carving."

When to the

the

Kwung-Lun Mountain had

Tai-San Mountain, he

said,

told this story

"Although

the San-Chi birds, the most beautiful of yet

it

is

to

me

all

I

have

creation,

a strange thing that a thousand and a

thousand people bow their heads and worship you, while I stand here and

"You

give

no beauty.

am

hardly noticed.

no great thing

You

are not

tall

not higher than the clouds.

and

and grand.

You can

secret caves of the thunder,

of the beginning of the storm.

You have

to the people.

Your head

is

not see the dark

and the hidden places

You

never gave feathers,

more beautiful even than flowers, to a king. the people worship you instead of

me ?

Why

do

The hunter

1

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

66

comes forget

to

me and

me, the

the farmer takes

giver.

Now,

my

stones, but they

me truly, why do of me?"

tell

and worship you instead And the Tai-San Mountain answered, "I

love

people

will tell

you why. You are very haughty. You are stiff and stony and proud, from your base to your summit. Your nature is not kind. The children can not play in your

lap.

In the summer time when the people come

for the fruit

and grain harvest, you give them nothing;

and they can not come to you to choose the San-Da. It hurts their feet to walk among your rocks and stones.

No

one can

visit

You do

you.

not welcome them.

How

can they worship you? "I am lower and of a gentler nature.

come

to

me

gather about

to

make

me

their nests,

in the

open and every one knows

summer

me

well

The

birds

and people always time.

and

My

loves

heart

is

me."

EE-SZE (Meaning): The proud and the gentle live in the world together. But the gentle and loving have happiness that the proud can not understand.

A CHINESE PRODIGAL SON

KONG-HWA'S

father

and mother were farmers.

They

had a pleasant home and would have been very happy together, but after

Kong-Hwa was

was a bad, disobedient boy. 167

four years old, he

1

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

68

He would not listen to his mother's teachings. She was a good woman and tried by different ways to make him do

In school he was considered a very bright

right.

boy and learned fast, but he would not obey his teacher. Kong-Hwa was only seven years old when he came

home one day with

his books.

He had

run away from

school.

As he came

room where

into the

working, he cried out, "Mu-Ts'ing,

his

mother was

why do you do

that?"

She was cutting into cloth that she 11

little

had woven

to

bits

make

a

fine large piece of

the family clothes

Why do you spoil the cloth, mother?" is true I "Yes, my son, spoil the cloth.

It is

it

good for nothing.

It will

not

father, clothes for yourself,

make

now

clothes for your

nor clothes for me.

It is

wasted, and will not be of use even for dust cloths. is

not good for anything.

Do

of.

you know why

It

I did that,

my boy?" "No, Mii-Ts'ing, why did you do it?" "For this reason, my son: I am anxious

that you

good and study your lessons in school every day, and I hope and hope that after a while you will

shall be

be a good and wise father,

hoped

man and do

something for your

your mother, and your nation. to

make your

And

clothes out of this cloth.

I

also

A CHINESE PRODIGAL SON

169

teacher says you run away, go to the see-

"But your

saw, play in the water, climb irees, throw stones at the

little

"You new

birds

all

day and

will not study.

are using your time as I have used the nice

cloth

in useless little pieces.

up

it

cutting

I

once

You

thought you were a wise child, but you are not. are very foolish."

and

cried

Kong-Hwa

and then he

talked,

Now

to-morrow.

felt

said,

"I

while his mother

sad, will

go back to school

can you mend the cloth or make

another piece, Mu-Ts'ing?"

"I

will wait

and

see

if

you

really

mean

to

be a good

boy," said his mother.

The

next morning he arose early, took his books,

and went as

bad as

The

directly to school; but in a

before.

school children and the neighbors complained

about the boy

who

had only the one

did so little

with complaints, she with

few days he was

much

son,

felt

mischief.

His mother

and as they came

that she could

to her

almost die

grief.

She lay awake

all

night thinking,

"What can

I

do

boy the good ? Who can give a boy lessons own mother? Oh, I must think of some

my

to

teach

if

not his

way."

Next morning Kong-Hwa was up

at the usual time

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

170

and went

was dark; there was no

He

fire,

said to himself, "It

He went

fast.

to his

is

no food.

queer; so late and no break-

mother's room and called, "Mii-

Ts'ing;" but there was no answer. to

But the kitchen

into the kitchen for food.

He

then went close

her bed and touched her, but she did not move.

He

then ran to his aunt and told her to go and see

that his

mother was surely dead.

She answered, "It

may

be that the gods have taken

away because you have been such a bad

her

Now Then

will

you be a better boy?"

she ran to her sister's

home

And

boy.

he promised.

to see

if

she was

dead.

Kong-Hwa his aunt

stayed outside trembling with fear, while

went

in.

She soon saw that her

sister

was

not dead and told of the promise of

Kong-Hwa. was dead?" asked his mother.

"Did my boy think I "Well, keep him at your house and send him he

may

two or three days Let him think, and think, and

to school.

for

be a better boy." '

Kong-Hwa's aunt told him that if he learned his lessons and obeyed his teacher, it might be the gods would allow While

many

his

his

mother

to stay

with him after

all.

aunt prepared breakfast for him, he asked

questions.

"What

Will there be a funeral?"

did you do with

my

mother?

A CHINESE PRODIGAL SON

"go to school and do bad any more, and we shall see what hap-

"Never mind," not be so pens.

It

17!

may

said the aunt,

be your mother will

live

again."

II

For two days Kong-Hwa was good complained, no neighbor complained. lessons

and obeyed

He saw

He

studied his

Then he went

his teacher.

to his mother's house.

no schoolmate

that she

was

again

alive,

and

a few days he was again as bad as ever.

in

"I can not teach him, he must learn things for himself," said his mother; "I do not know what else I can do."

And mother no

it

was

was twelve years old. His help him to do right, but it seemed of

so until he

tried to

use.

was twelve years old, he came home from school one day and said, "Mii-Ts'ing, I want to Shortly after he

go to Siang-Sze.

I will leave school.

no one plays with me. not go anymore.

I

do not

I shall

No

one

like school

likes

and

be a merchant and

money." His mother thought he was too young he wanted, and so paid little attention he insisted, and finally she said,

"Go

to

His father was surprised and asked,

to

me;

I will

make

know what

to him.

But

your father."

"You

wish

to

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

172

make money?

How

money ? Siang-Sze

much

to

is

can you make money without a long

way

Then you

go there.

off

will

and

it

will cost

need more

you

to be a

merchant."

Kong-Hwa

"Give me enough

said,

Sze and I will go."

him and more

"Now

said,

He

to reach Siang-

insisted until his father beat

go back to school.

I will

hear no

of this."

Kong-Hwa was keen and money,

quietly, a

little

He borrowed

determined.

here and a

little

there,

and then

he ran away to Siang-Sze.

For many days his mother tried to find him. She did not think he would go far by himself. Finally she learned that he had gone to Siang-Sze and gave up searching for him.

Nine years had gone by when a man from SiangSze told of seeing to

Kong-Hwa

there.

him, but no answer came.

by and they thought,

"We

His parents wrote

Thirteen years passed shall never see his face

again."

One day Kong-Hwa, who said to a friend,

still

lived

in

Siang-Sze,

"I must go home now, if I can get I have learned some life lessons and

money enough. now I am going." His friend

Why

said,

"We

do you leave?"

have good times

in Siang-Sze.

A CHINESE PRODIGAL SON "It

not the place where I ought to be," answered

is

"I have

Kong-Hwa.

tried

many

the thirteen years have not

have

me

worked salary

pay

for a bookkeeper.

and

agent,

and

No

success.

one

will

be a merchandise

was discharged.

I

in all

I

then

when they paid my To-morrow I need money to

a bank for forty days, told

me

to go.

months due; but I have no money. and they say, 'No money, no clothes.'

rent, three

I order clothes, I

had

things here

I tried to

two months

in

in

and

my

173

ask friends to lend

me

some, and they do not even an-

swer me.

"I see now

have been very foolish. I have been here thirteen years and I try to have a good time. I drink, I smoke, I dance, I go to theaters and halls every night.

every night

when have ver.

I

have work.

left

I

me; they

show her

I

I

me

for a piece of

sil-

was a bad boy at home. lessons

which

learn.

my

am

world there

"I

will not trust

mother was so good, I have no excuse miserable condition now. I must go home and

"Because

my

I

was good and gave me many

would not

for

Now I

spend all of my money have no work; all my friends

have been very bad.

My mother I

I

is

sorry at

no friend

will write to her

'Mii-Ts'ing,

I

last.

am

like

I

know now

that in

all

the

a mother.

to-morrow and say

in

my

letter,

going to leave the opium, theater,

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

174

and dance

money

all

bad

come home, and

to

place on the farm. " I will take the oxen the corn,

and

my

tell

ask her to send

I will

things.'

I will then take

and plow the

my

me

father's

rice fields, plant

father to rest.

I will help

my

mother so she need not cook nor do any other work. There is no one like father and mother, and no place but

my home

Kong-Hwa telling

him

for

me now."

wrote the

letter

and sent

"good words"

to say

for

it

by a

him;

for

friend,

he

felt

that he deserved nothing after causing his parents so

much

sorrow.

"Thirteen long years and at

last

a

letter

from our

dear son," cried Kong-Hwa's mother.

His parents were of the good

news

filled

all

with joy and asked the bearer

How

about him.

long would

money that they would send Would he come at once ?

to

Kong-Hwa, come

to

take for the letter and

reach him ?

it

His mother wrote:

We

"My

son,

do what you say in your letter. The house, the land, and all we have is yours and we will rejoice to have you come and care for

our home.

them.

The

feel that

you

will

time will seem long until you are here."

Kong-Hwa went and money came

to his parents as soon as the letter to

him.

And

he was a good

man

A CHINESE PRODIGAL SON from that time and served old age glad.

would.

He

He

He

his parents

175

and made

their

did everything as he had said he

took the oxen and plowed the rice

fields.

planted the corn, and he helped his mother in the

house, and

all

were happy.

THE LION AND THE MOSQUITOES

X.* %

s,

>

**.

^%

-

/

* ?11-. ^"-v X

X.

.

V

i^cfcsfc."

*.".,

>

*'*

'*

"\, \ 1

x V &VA>\

.%lAi*'A ;5

ONE day Ah-Fou's father said to him, "Come here, my boy, and I will tell you a story. Do you remember the great lion

You know

we saw one

day, which

Ah-Kay caught?

a strong rope held him, and he roared and

tried to free himself until

he died.

Then when Ah-Kay

took him from the net, he looked at the rope and the 176

THE LION AND THE MOSQUITOES

bamboo

and found

carefully,

five of the

177 great ropes

broken.

"How

is

strong

the lion?

Twenty

children like you

But

could not break one strand of that great rope. the lion

broke

five

complete ropes.

He

of all animals.

catches

many

is

the strongest

creatures for his

but once he lost a battle with one of

food,

Do

the wilderness creatures.

of

He

the least

you know what

it

was?"

"A

bird could fight

and then

fly

Was

away.

it

a

bird?"

"No,

my

"A man

son."

is

stronger than a lion."

"No, do you not remember could put

down

ness lion caught

five

men ? One

strong

and

"Then what was

the woodcutter

killed

who

night a wilder-

him."

the smallest of all creatures of the

wilderness that battled with a lion?"

The the

summer time

sun had taken he went to

an old

"I

father said,

will tell

the lion

all

was very

well, but the

thirsty

the water

is stale.'

for

he said,

12

it.

water was not 'I

thirsty.

Once

in

But the

home and

In time he found fresh.

As the

lion

must drink, even though

"But when he reached down Chinese Fables

story:

the water near the lion's

many places seeking

was very

you the

into the old well,

he

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

178

found that

it

was

the

home

of all the mosquitoes of the

wilderness.

"The mosquitoes This

not want you.

We

do not wish the

'Go away, we do our home and we are happy.

said to the lion, is

or the bear to

lion, the fox,

come

You are not our friend. Why do you come ?' "The lion roared and said, 'Weak and foolish things!

here.

I

am

come

Do

my

you that should go away, for I have This is my wilderness, and I am king.

the lion.

It is

to drink.

you know, weak things, that when I come out from place and send forth my voice, all the creatures of

the wilderness shake like leaves to

me? What

you

call

their

heads

are you that you should have a place

your home and

"Then

and bow

tell

me that I may or I may not ?

'

'You are only one. Our people had this

the mosquitoes answered,

You speak

as

old well for a

if

you were many.

home

before your roar

was heard

in the

And many generations of us have been born here. This home is ours, and we are they that say who shall come or go. And yet you come and tell us to go out of our own door. If you do not leave us, we will call our people, and you shall know trouble.'

wilderness.

"But and kill

will

the lion held his head high with pride

said,

'What

are you,

oh small

of the small?

every one of your useless people.

open

my mouth

only a

little

and anger

When

I will

I drink, I

wider, and you shall

THE LION AND THE MOSQUITOES

And

be swallowed like the water.

drank

forget that I

"

1

79

to-morrow, I shall

to-day.'

'Boastful one/ said the mosquitoes, 'we do not

believe that If

you wish

is

great

you have the power

we

battle,

and that

all

lion

our people.

We know

your name

shall see.

animals

you; but our people can

"The

to destroy all

kill

jumped high

bow

their

heads before

you.' in his rage

and

said,

'No

other creature in the wilderness has dared to say these

me

things to

the king.

Have

of the silly mosquitoes for

I

come

And

wisdom?'

head high, and gave the mighty roar of ready to

kill all

"Then him.

he held his

battle,.and

made

the mosquitoes.

the mosquitoes, big

Many

to the vile well

went

and

into his ears,

little,

flew around

and the smallest ones

and the big old ones went into his mouth to sting. A thousand and a thousand hung in the air, just over his head and made a great noise, and

went

into his nose,

the lion soon

"He

knew

that he could not conquer.

roared and jumped, and two of his front feet

went down

into the well.

The

well

was narrow and

deep and he could not get out, for his two hind feet were in the air and his head hung downward. And as he died, he said to himself:

"

Had

'My I

pride and anger have brought

me

this fate.

used gentle words, the mosquitoes might have

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

l8o given

me

water for

my

thirst.

I

was wise and strong

in

and even the greatest of the animals power. But I fought with the mosquitoes

the wilderness,

feared

and

my

I die

not because I have not strength to overcome,

but because of the foolishness of anger.'

'

Es-SzE (Meaning) The wise can conquer the foolish. Power is nothing, strength is nothing. The wise, gentle, :

and

careful can always win.

THE THIEF AND THE ELEPHANT

Six hundred years ago the people of Southern China

and taught them to do many useful things. They worked for farmers and woodcutters, and helped make the roads twice a year for an elephant trained elephants

;

could do

many

times

more work than any other animal.

So wise were the elephants that the people grew super181

1

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

82

stitious

about them, believing they could see even into

the heart of

A

judge

man.

named Ko-Kia-Yong had an

was trained

do

elephant that

wonderful thing, so it was said. Three cases which were brought before him, were decided by a wise old elephant which he owned. And this is

the

to

this

way one of the decisions was made came before the judge and said :

A man

that

some

robbers had been in his house during the night and

had taken

his gold and jewels all that he had; and he asked the judge to find and punish the thieves. In three months, five robbers had been found. When

they were brought to the judge, they bowed before him and each one said, " I have never stolen anything."

The man and woman who had been robbed were called. And the woman said, "That man with the long gray hair

The judge you know?"

is

the one

asked,

who robbed

"Are you sure

it is

us." he,

and how do

She answered, " Yes, I remember. He took the bracelet from my arm and I looked into his face."

"Did

the

other

four rob you

also?"

asked the

judge.

The woman answered, "I do not know." But the judge said, "The man who you say robber, seems not

like

one to me.

His face

is

is

a

kind and

THE THIEF AND THE ELEPHANT I

gentle. I

know

know

can not decide according

of but one

to find out,

way

brought in to examine the men.-

have no

done

man; and

of

fear, for

your testimony.

and we

shall

soon

My

elephant shall be

He

can read the mind

the truth in this matter.

and heart

to

183

who are not guilty need surely know the one who has

those

he will

deed."

this

Four of the men looked

glad.

They were stripped and stood naked all but the before the judge and the law of the nation, and cloth the elephant

Then

was brought

in.

men and

tell

us which

is

his

And still

they

head

these

elephant

accused men,

five

to his feet.

the white-haired

and laughed

knew

The

the robber."

touched with his trunk each of the

from

"Examine

the judge said to the elephant,

man and

the three others stood

at the elephant with

happy

faces-; for

were not guilty and they But the fifth man shivered

in their hearts they

thought the elephant knew.

with fear and his face changed to

many

While

colors.

was examining him, the judge said, "Do your duty," and rapped loudly. The elephant took the guilty man and threw him down on the floor, dead. the elephant

Then

may

the judge said to the four guiltless men,

go."

whom

And

to the

you accuse."

woman

Then he

he said,

"Be

"You

careful

said to the elephant,

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

184

"Food and water live

are waiting for you.

I

hope you may

me to judge wisely." men who were not superstitious

a long time, and help

After this

went

to the

many

wise

judge and said

:

"We know that

your elephant can not read the heart and mind of man. What kind of food do you give him

and what do you teach him? Man himself lives only from sixty to one hundred years and he knows little.

How

could an elephant read the heart of man, a thing

Did

which man, himself, can not do? dead

man grow wise and

the spirit of a

enter that elephant ?

We pray

that you explain."

And Ko-Kio-Yong,

and

said,

elephant eats and drinks as other elephants do.

"My

I think

he surely does not

man, but

man

the wise judge, laughed

this

is

believes

it

no wrong. The

a belief

know a robber from an

honest

The

honest

among our

and has no

thief believes

Trial before the elephant fear."

fear,

is

it,

people.

because he has done

and

is filled

with

terror.

only confession through

THE GENERAL, THE

THE

BIRD,

AND THE ANT'

people of the north nation were causing the

Ting Ming Wong, much trouble, and one day he ordered his general, Gui Siit Yun, to declare war on king,

them. 1

eral

The Chinese Gui

Slit

say that this is a true story which shows that the Gena very good man and true. Otherwise the dream

Yun was

would not have been given him. 185

1

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

86

The brave

He

general prepared to

march north

at once.

an army of twenty-five thousand cavalry, lowed by one thousand infantry. led

fol-

Mau

Tin Lang the soldiers they had then marched ten days.

the time they reached

By

were very tired, for Orders were given that they

rest for three

days before

proceeding.

The weather was

very warm, and on the second day

there

was no more water, not even

diers

dug

wells in

many

places,

The

to drink.

hoping

sol-

to find water;

but each time they were disappointed.

A

report

which

was then made

"The men and

said,

Gui

to the general,

Siit

Yun,

horses are near death for

the lack of water."

Then

the general ordered

many men

to

go in different

directions within a radius of ten miles to search for

water.

The and

following morning two hundred

still

Then

dead,

no water could be found. the general,

die here

if

Gui

we do not

hundred miles, favorite

men were

war

Siit

Yun,

find water.

I will find it."

horse,

said,

and rode

were ready to die with the

He

If

and the general

he and the horse

terrible thirst.

down

all

then mounted his

until both

lay

must

within one

is

it

feed his horse with green leaves; but he suffering,

"We

He

tried to

was weak and

for rest

and

sleep.

THE GENERAL, THE BIRD, AND THE ANT

He

cried in bitterness of spirit.

1

87

Then he looked up

to

heaven and said:

"Has our king done a diers done evil?

strange land

may

Why

wrong or have our solshould we perish here in a great

In the hour that I rest and sleep here,

?

a spirit show

me

the path that leads out of this

great trouble.

"It

may

be that

shall die here

if

the north

and not even go

right, this thing

kingdom

is

But

to battle.

When we

should not be.

right,

we

we

are

if

first

came

was plenty of water. Why did the earth drink up this water and leave us to die ? As I sleep, may a spirit show me the meaning of all this." there

here,

Then he

slept.

And

he saw one of the great wilder-

ness ants; and a bird flew the ant spoke

and

eat our family all

down

to eat the ant.

But

"I know that you birds try to But it is not right that the time.

said,

You have power to you wish, but man has

one creature should eat another.

overcome any ant and eat

it

if

When

charge of this world.

can not escape his arrow or his "It

is

the hunter

comes you

net.

not right that one creature should be against

another creature.

Go

your way, and

I

will

go

my

way, so that I may find food for my children. "I have one hundred and fifty eggs in my nest now

and

I

hope every one

will

soon hatch.

Then my

chil-

1

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

88

dren will depend on

me

them.

to help

They

will all

you eat me, their parent. The earth has much grain, wheat, and rice. These are enough for your food." Then the bird answered, "Tell me what makes die

if

you so wise. than you and

men

all like

catch

who

my

I

am

a bird.

me.

The

children of

you say, the hunter does But there are many men

It is true, as

people sometimes.

Then

am much handsomer

have a beautiful song.

I

raise birds in their

sing.

I

own houses and

teach them to

they take us to the music hall or theater

where they get money for our songs.

"One member man; and our

of the bird family carries letters for

feathers are used to

make

feather balls

So you see, birds are very But as for the ant I can not see how he is useful

for the children to play with. useful.

to

man

or beast."

"Oh, you

are mistaken,"

"Do

said

you see this general here? him now. Do you know why he his

war horse

and

He is

me

needs

lying here ?

to help

He and

are near death for the lack of water.

Soon more than a thousand

Then

the ant earnestly.

soldiers

will

be dead.

the north nation will take this general's nation,

his people will

will save

no longer have a country.

But

I

them.

"Long ago our

people saved a nation.

was a war between the

east

and the west

Once

there

nations,

and

THE GENERAL, THE BIRD, AND THE ANT

189

Hai Hau, nearly perished for water, even as But my people always build this general here is doing. their homes near water, and he followed their road and the general,

they showed

him

the

water and saved

many

mouth and laughed

scorn-

to

way

lives."

Then fully,

the bird opened his I

"Chic, Chic,

do not believe that

are speaking falsely.

I

know

You

story.

of one very evil thing

your people have done, which I will tell you about. "Men built a great tower on the North Mountain once, and soon

it fell

After a time they

to earth again.

discovered the cause of this trouble.

It

was not the

wind, nor the storm, nor the rain, nor even the earth-

quake that shook the tower down. It was found that ants had eaten the wood and this caused it to break and

fall.

"Birds do not make trouble

But

I will give

this

good thing you boast

The

you

fair

ant answered,

in the world. if

of, I will eat

you

at once."

shall yet see that I

to save this general, his soldiers,

The

you do not do

warning, that

"You

Ants do.

and

am

able

his horses."

ant then went straight to the general's ear and

said to him,

"Do

was

lost in this

you

will see

will lead

you

you remember General Hai Hau who

wilderness?

a black street to their nests

If

you

full of

will

my

go to the people.

forest,

They

near the great cave spring

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES in the wilderness,

general

who

which was named Hai

discovered

it.

It is

Hau

for the

only a half mile from

here."

Then

Yun, awoke and surely heard an ant and a bird

the general,

"Strange, but I

Gui

ing together while I slept.

not

know

of the cave of

Slit

Where

is

my map ?

said, talk-

I did

Hai Hau."

He

found the great cave spring, and he and his horse drank. Then he hurried back to the soldiers,

and

their lives

were saved.

THREE GIRLS WHO WENT TO A BOYS' SCHOOL

THERE

were

thirty-five

Qui-Chu, and three were themselves and the three

One day

scholars girls.

girls

in

the

The boys played by

played together.

the teacher said to his mother, 191

school at

"I think

I

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

192

have the

shall

they

come

girls dress in boys' clothes

do this?" asked

"Because the boys do not

his mother.

like girls in the school.

They

will not play, read, or write

tease

them and laugh

at them.

leave the school next year,

But we

When

shall see."

how

When

will

and they are only nine years

which she put on them

"What

will

called her son

girls

old.

A

little

lives in

and

his wife,

boys

home

is

We

women

is

paternal, but

mothers and raise a family (especially

her son's

who

education at "

girls, for the Chinese say,

power and influence increase with -the

who

like

want our kind and obedient, and too much wisdom might

to be gentle,

women become

They look

do not attend the private schools with the boys,

about twelve years

not be good for them." The attitude of the Chinese toward their

is

"Surely the boys

and asked him, "What

the ear-holes?

considered enough for the

sons) their

ear-

are girls."

we do with

In China the

the

you do with the

grandmother?" they asked.

after they are

women

willing

the girls were dressed, they looked at each

The mother

1

was

they would look dressed as boys.

know we

shall

must

She took some cloth and made

said.

other and laughed. holes,

They

I fear the girls

*

boys' clothes for the three girls, to see

with them.

the next year came, the mother

do as her son

to

if

to school."

"Why will you

old.

next year,

home

years,

if

when

there are

and the mother

a person of great importance to her son must serve her. Her wishes are deferred to and she is

granted willing service and obedience by

all

the household.

THREE GIRLS WHO WENT TO A BOYS' SCHOOL now, save for that one thing.

193

can not

I fear the girls

to school."

go

"I

will

for

two days.

in

the next

Then he went

He

one would know. the

close

far

village,

ear-holes

He

her son.

see," replied

to find

enough

an old doctor so

away

asked the doctor, that

so

girls'

much

thought

ears

no

that

"Can you will

be as

boys'?" yes," answered the doctor,

"Oh,

Then

pay me."

in the ear-holes

skin,

the doctor

and colored

"I can

if

you

will

came and put something so that

it

and the grandmother was

it

looked

satisfied to

like

send the

girls to school.

But the teacher forgot and

The

called

them

girls'

names.

others laughed at the three boys with funny names,

but they did not seem to remember them.

Five or six months went by, and the boys had not yet learned that the three scholars with the pretty names

were the

of last year.

girls

the teacher

and asked,

names?

wish

The

I

to

"Why

Then one boy came do those boys have

to

girls'

know."

teacher thought a

moment and

Moon.

said,

"Lily-

That boy was called Lily, I think, Beauty because he was so red when he was a little baby. The mother thought he ought to be called 'Red,' but !

1

In China the favorite

Chinese Fables

i/j

lily is

red.

1

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

94

not a pretty

that

is

him

Lily.

name

for a baby,

"And do you not think that He is the handsomest boy in mother called him pretty baby.

He

is

and so they

Beauty's

name suits him?

the school.

I

think his

Beauty because he was such a as pretty as a

I

girl.

he should be called Beauty. suitable for him, too. You know he

right that is

called

think

it

is

Moon's name is

gentle

and

Did you ever see a more gentle boy in school? think he was always very gentle and fair, and so his

fair.

I

mother gave him that name. as they do the moon."

The boy ran away and

All his friends like

told the other pupils

him

what

his

teacher had said about ^the three boys with the pretty

names.

New Year on a piece

came, and each boy had to write his name

of paper

and hand

it

to the teacher, so that

he could give them their school names. 1

1

Eight gave

In China four names are given to a boy.

ist.

when

The "mother name," which it

is

is

given the child by the mother

born.

2d. The "school name," given when he begins school and which he keeps throughout his school days, his degree being given to him in this

name. 3d. At sixteen, when he becomes legally of age, he takes a "given name," which is a variation of his school name and is the name by which

he

is

generally

known throughout

life.

About the time his education is completed the young man a name by which he is known only to his most intimate friends. 4th.

selects

THREE GIRLS WHO WENT TO A BOYS' SCHOOL their all

names

as Beauty,

the others

wanted

and seventeen as Moon, while

to be called Lily.

would allow them

the teacher

195

to

They expected

have those as their

school names.

In the summer time the scholars had a vacation and the teacher went

One day

for a time.

away

on the playground playing Theater." They took nine of the prettiest boys and put red and white on their faces and dressed them they were

all

"

like ladies

and bound

Six boys put

and

chairs

on

their feet to

false

Then

beards.

tables high to

make them

small.

they piled up

make a mountain, and

the

boys with bound feet were to cross over to the other

The boys who had

side.

to

climb over the mountain

from the opposite side were careless, and when all met One at the top, they tumbled and fell down in a heap.

boy broke his eye.

his

The

arm, one broke his

away

in

fear,

and one hurt

other boys did not stay to help or see

what they could do but the three

finger,

girls,

and

for

who

left

the

those

who were

hurt.

Ail

were dressed like boys, ran

wounded

children lying on

the ground.

One

girl

ran for the doctor.

The

other two stayed

and gave the hurt ones water to drink, fanned faces, kept the flies away, and cared for them like mothers.

their little

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

196

He

In a few minutes the doctor came.

asked,

The boys were

were you doing, boys?"

"What

so hurt

and

scared that they could not talk, but the girls told

how

it

had

The

all

happened.

doctor bound

up

and dressed the bruised " said,

tc take care of

lie

my

still

arm and

finger,

a good doctor and

several days.

orders;

now who

is

They willing

them?"

"We will help,"

The

He was

eye.

These boys must

can not get up without

the broken

said the three girls.

came back and school began again. When he called for the names of the pupils, they teacher

gave those which they liked best

Moon

as before, but

names are "There

these

only one Lily, one Beauty, and one

Moon

the teacher said,

wrong.

You

in this school

now.

I

You had

gave you.

and

"No,

all is

Lily, Beauty,

boys can not use the names

beautiful names, but your acts

were not beautiful.

"You ran away when your schoolmates were You had no pity for them. Had it not been for

hurt. Lily,

Beauty, and Moon, they would have died. These names mean something. Beauty makes the world a pleasant place for us to live

in.

The Moon

shines

and gives us

THREE GIRLS WHO WENT TO A soft light.

The

BOYS' SCHOOL

197

Lily gives us beauty and sweet-smelling

odors.

"Your

acts

were not

like

when boys want such names be worthy of them."

the names.

After

this,

they must do something to

THE RATTAN VINE AND THE ROSE TREE

IN the San-Wui

district,

in

the garden of a rich

merchant, lived the Lon-da-Tang the

Mui-Kwi

One day

'The is

literal

(rattan vine)

and

(rose tree).

the

rose

"Lon-da-Tang, please

This

1

meaning

of

tree tell

said

to

the

rattan

me how you grow

"Lon-da-Tang"

a vine-like rattan brought from the

is,

vine,

so fast.

"Never stop growing." Island to China

Pang-Wu

THE RATTAN VINE AND THE ROSE TREE

What do you

1

99

you are able to go any where seems to hurt you. you wish? Nothing Nothing seems to stop you, not even the stone fences or the eat that

You have no fear, and there seems to be no danger for you. You care not for the heat of the sun when he is close in the summer time. The rain comes down with a rushing noise from dark places in the The wind blows heavens, and you are not afraid. clay roofs.

hard and bends our heads to the earth, but you seem " not even to heed it.

Then

Lon-da-Tang with a proud and happy summer face answered the rose tree, "Mui-Kwi-Si the

1

(Mrs. Rose Tree), you should be garden.

I

would not allow you

to

made

to leave this

grow here

if

I

were

master.

"I have known you five or six years. The master put you in the earth and gave you much dirt to feed

He

you water every morning. In the winter time he gives you a cover and a bed of straw. upon.

gives

He trims your branches and And yet you do not grow.

serves you in

many

ways.

over a thousand years ago by some Chinese fishermen. It grows with wonderful rapidity, completely covering a house in about three years. It affords

valuable protection from the hot sun to the thin-roofed Chinese

houses. 1

Mrs. Rose Tree:

The Chinese

plants or trees, Mrs. or Miss. or fruits, are called Mr.

fables call all fruit or flower-bearing Trees, or plants that do not bear flowen

CHINESE FABLES AN*D FOLK STORIES

200

"You feet tall,

and only five or six only four years old and my branches

are nine years old now,

am

while I

measure many thousands of feet. You bear a few flowers in the summer, and that is all you can do. You have no fruit and not many leaves. You stand still in the

garden and do nothing useful.

Do

be ashamed.

my

you see

branches?

have been here but four years, house and

Next

am

You ought

I

now

Although

I

reach over this

climbing the fence on the other

side.

and cover up another house.

year, I shall go

"The master

to

me

summer, because I keep the hot sun from the roof and make his house cool.

The

my

likes

in

Sometimes they climb

children like me, too.

arms and swing.

I cover

it

and the

And

the fence likes me, because

so thickly that I protect

pigs.

The

in

it

from the children

birds build their nests high in

my

arms and they like me also. The bugs like me, because I give them a home and they feed upon my leaves. So the master

"The

knows

birds

that I

am

would not go

good for

many

things.

to you, because

you are so small; they can not build a nest upon you. The master's

wife does not care

have so

many

your

flowers.

that?

The

much

for you, because

thorns that she finds

You

fence

so you stand there

is

are pretty, but

it

who

cares about

high and no one sees you.

and do nothing."

you

hard to gather

And

THE RATTAN VINE AND THE ROSE TREE

Then

2OI

"

Lon-da-Tang, with all your boasting, you can not even stand alone. I can at I know I am not large, and the birds least do that. the rose tree replied,

do not build fast as you,

their nests with

but

children are

my

great world of mankind, of

me.

I

can not grow so

known

and are

to the

whole

called the sweetest

all flowers.

"And

besides, I

am

independent.

I

do not lean

upon other things. If your house or your fefnce down, where then will be your vain boastful head ?

falls

"I care not what you say of me, whether you think a rose is good or bad, strong or weak. I do not wish on the fence or roof as you do. Some day, when the house and fence grow old, they will fall down, and to lean

what

will

you do then?"

came a great storm. In SanWiu many houses were partly destroyed and the fences Soon

fell

after this, there

to the ground.

was blown

off.

was broken

in

The

roof of the merchant's house

The proud

many

places,

rattan vine, Lon-da-Tang,

and

his

head lay low on

And

she laughed and

the earth.

But the rose

tree stood firm.

you that it was dangerous to lean upon other things and never to learn to stand by yourself. I would not trust any house or fence to do

said to the rattan,

my

"I

standing for me.

told

I

would rather be independent.

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

202 I

grow

all

the leaves, stems,

head

opens

to the south.

my

The

Then

beautiful flowers.

my own strength following

I want,

and so

The north wind comes and

stand here forever.

my

and flowers

the south I

am

I

I

bow

wind comes and

the rose tree, and in

I stand."

new Ee-Sze has been added

to this

old story:

EE-SZE (Meaning): China and her people should be as the rose tree. We must rely upon ourselves. We are better students than warriors; once,when

ourselves in trouble,

we had help.

we found

we leaned on Japan. Then, when

trouble with her, Russia told us she

But she was much worse and wished

land and to

make

would

to take our

us a people without a country.

THE MELON AND THE PROFESSOR

Wu-KiAO was

a professor in a large Chinese univer-

and a very proud and learned man. Hundreds of students were under his teaching, and many thousands sity,

honored him.

When

he went out of his house,

people followed, singing and playing the 203

drum

all

five

the

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

204

way down the street, and eight men carried his chair.. At home he had six servants about him. During each meal, thirty dishes were served at his table.

The

professor

dom and

was a great man.

Through

his wis-

out of his deep knowledge, he explained

all

questions to the people.

One day Wu-Kiao sat in the shade of a tree in his garden. He turned his head and saw a watermelon lying

on the ground, nearly covered with

its

green leaves.

Then, seeing the fig tree with many figs on it, he said, "I think the Creator should have made the melon grow on

this tree."

touched the tree and said, ''How strong you are;

He

you could bear larger

fruit like the

watermelon."

And

he said to the vine, "You, so thin and small, should bear small dered. fig

Mistakes are

dropped from the

little

Things are not well

fruit like the fig.

made tree

in creation."

on

his nose,

or-

Just then a

and he was a

bruised.

"I was wrong. If the fig tree bore fruit as large as the watermelon and dropped it on my a dangernose, I think I should be killed. It would be

Then he

said,

must study more carefully. and if I study I know many things and many people and think more deeply, it may be I shall come to know

ous tree to

all

people.

I

;

that the Creator's

works are perfect,"

WORD

LIST

accuse

arise

acquainted

army

across actions

arranged the journey

admired

around arrow

adversity

aunt

advice advise

authority

afraid

awake

against

awaken

ails

m'

alarm alive

bark

ancestors

base

anger

baskets

anguish

bathe

anxiety

battle

anxious

beard

appearance

beaten

appetite

bee

argue

beetle

argument

belt 20 S

if

2O6

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

beneath

Jl~F

caught

bitter

^

causes the trouble

bitterness of spirit

cavalry

ceased

blessing

jjjg

bookkeeper

^

\

J

'

bore

chirped

clapped cleansed

borrowed

\^'

bowed

j^J

bracelet

^

branches

;.

climb clothes

company

ffi

breakfast

complained

{Jgff

breast

complaining

breeze

complete

bride

concerning

bruised eye

confession

bulbs

conquer

bundle

conquered

contemptuously

corn cackling

courage cousin

cage

cowards

carp fish

crab

eaten

cracking

WORD

LIST

creature

disagreeable

creeper

disappears

crooked

disappointed

cunning

disgrace

disobedient distance

dance

mm

doctor

dark

doctrine

dashed

dress

daughter

#3*

dresses

decay

driven

deer

dropped

delicate

drum

depend

drummed

deserted

deserved

desk

eagle

despair

ear holes

despised

earnestly

destroy

elephant

determined

else

dialect

empress

different

empty

directions

endures

dirt

enemies

207

208

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

enough

finally

escape

fire

examine

cracker

fins

exchange

flies

excused followers

expect

f oggy

explain

fore forest

forever face cast

fought

down with sorrow

fragrant

face distorted

frail

with anger

fresh

failed

frightened

fanned

frowned family

frozen

famine feather

'ffi

funeral

;

funny feathered furniture

feed fell

fierce

gardener

garments fight filled

gathers generals

HI

aw m

WORD

LIST

generation

honor

gibbon

hoppad

gloomy

hunger

government

hunted

grace

hurried

grain

hurt

grasshoppers

gravy greedy grief

growled guest guests

image imitated incense

independent indifferently

infantry

guilty

insisted

gun

instruction

interwoven habits hail

jacket

handsome

jail

happened

jealous

harvest

jewelry

hide

judge

hoarded

judgment

honey

jumped

209

210

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

keen

mounted

killed

mouse

kitchen

mud

tie

music

mystery lack of water

ladder

narcissus

lemon

nature

lightning

naughty

lion

neighbors listen to

net noise

nurse

maiden

girl

nuts

meal

"It'

medicine

obeyed

merchants' agent

observed

mercy

odor

merry

offends

message

oppose

mingling

orchard

mischief

j|

miserable

J

mocks mother-in-law

outcast

|f|

outrun

Jjfc

outwit

overtook

ffi

WORD

LIST

park

presence

party

proceeding

pasture

prophet

patient

province

peanuts

pulled

pearls

pulse

peel

punish

perfect

pure

performing perish

perishing

quakes

persuade

quarreling

pet

queen

petals

Pig piled

*

radius

pillow

rage

pity

raged

plenty

rapped

plow

reach

poisoned

really

pond

refuse

possible

refused

potatoes

relatives

preparing

replied

211

212

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

reproved

secret

resist

secretary

respectfully

seeds

reverenced

self-control

righteousness

served

roar

shade

robbed

shame

robbers

|

sharp knife

robe

$&

shelter

roughly

^.

shelter

shivered

shook salary

short time

sang

shouted

satisfied

shrubs

scales

scared

ffi

silence

scatter

silly

scattered

silly

scold

skin disease

scornful

slap

scraped

smooth

screamed

snail

searched

sneering

searching

sobbing

WORD

LIST

21/5

suppose

soil

^

^

surprised

sour

|f

swallowed

splashed

f^7jC

sweet-smelling

spoil

WM

swimming

iBI^JC

sword

^Ij

soldier

sprang spurs

$1

swore

stab

$

sympathy

I]

stains

starving

jH

steepest

^

tailor

sting

jlj

tear

stirred

$S

teased

stomach

ff

temper

strange

^

temple

>

stranger

tempted

struck

terrible

stuck

$IJA

terror

succeed

^1^-

theater

sudden

thin

suggested

thirsty

m

summit

thorns

m

sunk

thorn-sticks

superstitious

support

^|

threw throats

2I 4

CHINESE FABLES AND FOLK STORIES

thunder

vile

touched

visit

towards

|pj

voice

trembled trembling tribute tricks

wasted

watch watermelon

trip

trunk twinkle

wax weather

widow wings ugly

wise

uncovered

withstand

unfinished

woodcutters

unhatched

worthy

unless

wounded

unstable

woven

upside

wrapped

vegetable

youth

mm

1 I

I

i

i

1

1

!

1

i1

I

mm\mm \^m I

$i

ip li^pljpn pill^liii j>jijipr|::^:;:

:!!sSWiiSPii!!i:! '

'

'

'

'

: :

illlll

lit

Hi

1;

mm