There was a great famine in the state of QI．Qian Ao，a rich man of the state of Qi，prepared food by the roadside for the hungry to come and eat．Along came a starving man，his sleeves covering his head，his hempen sandals held together by str...
A man was sailing in a small boat，and dropped a precious pearl into the sea accidentally．When the man had returned to land，he took a pail，and began to scoop up the water and pour it on the shore．For three days he scooped and poured unwearie...
Two frogs in the belly of a snake were considering their altered circumstances．This is pretty bad luck，said one．Don't jump to conclusions，the other said，we are out of the wet and provided with board and lodging． With lodging，certainly，...
A wolf once decided that if he disguised himself，he would be able to get plenty to eat without being hunted and shot at wherever he went．So he wrapped himself up in a sheepskin and slipped in among a flock of sheep that were feeding nearby．He s...
Just as a clam came out to bask in the sun a snipe pecked at its flesh．The clam closed its shell and squeezed the snipe's beak．If it does not rain today and it does not rain tomorrow，you will be a dead clam，said the snipe．If you cannot free...
An ass and an ox，fastened to the same yoke，were draging a waggon．While the ox was pulling with all his might he he broke a horn．The ass swore that he had got no help whatever from his weak companion．Exerting himself in the labour，the ox b...
As an ass was quietly dining on thistles，he beheld a shepherd seated beneath a tree，awakening sweet echoes on his flute，and charming the ears of all within hearing，excepting our discontented lop-eared brute，who thus soliloquized：The world...
In the ancient times there was a king who wanted to find a swift horse that could cover a thousand 1i（half a kilometre）in one day and he was willing to pay one thousand pieces of gold for it．But for three years he was unsuccessful．A eunuch sa...
Once there was a Brahmin who bought a goat in another village．When he carried it home on his shoulder，he was seen by three rogues，who said to one another，If by some contrivance that goat can be taken from him，it will be a great pleasure to...
Once upon a time there was a sleek tabby cat．She lived in a small house in the town with a handsome young man．He was always very kind to her．He gave her milk to drink and pieces of fresh fish and meat to eat．He let her play in the garden duri...
The king of the state of Wei had the intention of attacking Handan，the capital of the state of Yue．Ji Liang，a minister of the state of Wei，heard of this and broke off his journey to return to the state of Wei．He went to see the king before...
While a lion was standing over a bullock，which he had brought down to the ground，a robber came up，and demanded a share．I would give it to you，said the lion，were you not in the habit of taking without leave；and so he repulsed the rogue．...
The hare was always laughing at the tortoise because he walked so slowly．I really don't know why you bother to go at all．she sneered！By the time you get there it will all be over whatever it is． The tortoise laughed．I may be slow，he said，...
Once upon a time，a skilled archer called Geng Lei and the king of the state of Wei were standing at the foot of a tall tower．Looking up，they saw birds soaring in the sky．Sire，I can bring down a bird for you by using a bow with no arrow．sa...
An ant and a fly were contending heatedly who was of greater importance．The fly was the first to begin：Can you possibly compare with my endowments？When a sacrifice is made，I am the first to taste the entrails that belong to the Gods．I pass...
