History
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During the Spring and Autumn period, a severe famine struck the State of Qi. A wealthy man named Qian Ao placed some food by the roadside to give to the starving people. One day, a famished man came shuffling along, covering his face with his sleeve and dragging his feet. Seeing this, Qian Ao held…
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The words 高山流水 (High Mountains and Flowing Water) and 知音 (Kindred Spirit) derive from this anecdote. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Yu Boya, a high-ranking official of the State of Jin, was on a diplomatic mission to the State of Chu when, whilst travelling by boat, he passed the mouth of the Han River…
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Fan Li was a minister of the State of Yue during the Spring and Autumn period. He helped King Goujian of Yue defeat the State of Wu (described in the idiom story “Sleeping on Brushwood and Tasting Gall”). Later, he retired from politics and went into business, changed his name to Tao Zhu Gong and…
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There was a prime minister during the Song Dynasty named Lü Mengzheng. He came from a very humble background but eventually rose to the position. On his first day attending court, civil and military officials stood in two lines as Lü Mengzheng led the way toward the emperor. Someone in the line pointed at him…
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During the Warring States period, there was a very clever and eloquent man in the State of Qi named Chunyu Kun. Once, the King of Qi sent him as an envoy to present a very precious swan (called “hu” in ancient times) to the King of Chu as a gesture of goodwill. Chunyu Kun set…
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Ximen Bao was an official of the State of Wei during the Warring States period. He was appointed magistrate of Ye county. Upon arriving, he inquired about the people’s hardships. Everyone said that the most difficult thing was to arrange wedding for the river god. Every year, the local elders, officials, and witch would choose…