Mandarin and Culture

Chinese cultural stories

History

  • King Xuan of Qi asked Mencius, “Is it true that (Zhou dynasty) King Wen’s park was thirty five kilometre in circumference?” Mencius replied, “It is so written in the historical records.” The king asked, “Was it really that large?” Mencius said, “And yet the people still found it too small.” The king said, “My park…

  • In the late Tang dynasty, a tomb robbery took place in a certain place. As the case remained unsolved for a long time, the local authorities came under considerable pressure. Eventually, they apprehended a ‘suspect’ and subjected him to brutal torture to extract a confession. Unable to endure the torment, the ‘suspect’ ultimately confessed under…

  • Duke of Zhou was the younger brother of King Wu of Zhou dynasty and the uncle of King Cheng of Zhou. After King Wu’s death, the young King Cheng ascended the throne, and the Duke of Zhou acted as regent. This aroused suspicion among his older brothers, Guan Shu and Cai Shu, who spread rumours…

  • During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang dynasty, Wu Bao’an, a native of Hebei, served as a county magistrate in Suizhou, but had not been promoted for a long time. His fellow townsman, Guo Zhongxiang, was prime minister’s nephew. At that time, a rebellion broke out in the south, and Guo Zhongxiang went with…

  • “He who knows others is learned; He who knows himself is wise.” – Lao Zi During the reign of Emperor Dezong of Tang dynasty, there was a court academician named Pan Yan who enjoyed immense favour from the emperor. Once, mayor of the capital wished to see Pan Yan but failed to gain an audience…

  • After the fall of the Qin Dynasty, Xiang Yu and Liu Bang engaged in the four-year-long “Chu-Han Contention.” Han Xin, a general under Liu Bang, was known for his intelligence, courage, and skills in warfare. In 204 BC, Han Xin led his army to attack the Zhao state. The two sides confronted each other near…