Description
Book SynopsisA collection of traditional stories from one of the world's oldest civilizations. Simple, often humorous, and always wise, these tales will delight readers of all ages, making Harmony a book to cherish.
For over two thousand years, the Chinese have used brief sayings known as chengyu to sum up practical wisdom and ethical principles. Most chengyu are associated with a story that illustrates their meaning, and these stories have been passed down by word of mouth over the centuries.
Gathered in this volume are twenty-four of the most popular chengyu and the stories based on them, each beautifully illustrated by one of China's foremost artists, Ji Ruoxiao. For readers curious about the cultural context of the tales, the book includes a brief overview of Chinese religious traditions as well as background notes on each story, a map, and chronology.
Table of ContentsPreface
To the Young Reader
Stories
A Man in Qi Worries That the Sky Will Fall
Waiting for a Hare by a Tree Stump
Pulling Up Sprouts to Help Them Grow
Blind Men Touch an Elephant
Sharpening an Iron Bar into a Needle
The Fight Between a Snipe and an Oyster
Studying How to Walk in Handan
A Frog in a Shallow Well
The Fox Borrows the Tiger's Power
His Spear Against His Shield
A Man from the Kingdom of Zheng Buys Shoes
Quenching Thirst by Hoping for Plums
Practice Makes Perfect
Looking for a Horse with the Aid of a Diagram
Monkeys Dragging Up the Moon
Mend the Sheepfold Even If Sheep Have Been Lost
Trying to Go South by Driving The Chariot North
A Man from the Kingdom of Qi Snatches Gold
Marking the Boat to Search for Your Sword in the River
Plugging One's Ears While Stealing a Bell
An Unskilled Musician Concealed in the Crowd
Old Man Sai Lost His Horse
Yu Gong Moved Mountains
The Teeth Are Gone, but the Tongue Remains
Maps and Timeline
Guide to pronunciation
Philosophical and Religious Influences
Source Notes
Acknowledgments
About the Authors and Illustrator
About the Series
