During the reign of Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty, the family of Zhang Ying, a renowned scholar from Tong Cheng, Anhui, had a dispute with their neighbour, the Wu family, over a courtyard wall. Zhang Ying’s family wrote to him, who was then an official in the capital, requesting that he persuade the local…

Yan Zi (578-500 BC) was a famous prime minister of the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period, a renowned statesman, thinker, and diplomat in ancient China. Yan Zi was on a diplomatic mission to the State of Chu. The king and ministers of Chu wanted to mock Yan Zi and show off…

The allusion “士为知己者死，女为悦己者容“（ “A man dies for one who understands him, a woman adorns herself for one who loves her“) came from this story.

During the Spring and Autumn period, there was a loyal minister in the State of Jin named Zhao Dun. The Zhao family had served the state for generations with great merit and prestige. However, a general named Tu’an Gu was deeply jealous of the Zhao family and wanted to seize power for himself. He fabricated…

The story is called “Ji Zha hanging up his sword” in Chinese. It took place during the Spring and Autumn Period. Ji Zha was a nobleman of the State of Wu and the younger brother of the King of Wu. He was very intelligent and possessed high moral character. Once Ji Zha was sent on…