Here are some classic Chinese fables translated into English:
- The Tortoise and the Hare (龟兔赛跑)
Once upon a time, there was a hare who was proud of his speed. He challenged a tortoise to a race. The tortoise accepted the challenge, but the hare was so confident that he fell asleep halfway through the race. When the hare woke up, he found the tortoise had already reached the finish line. The moral of the story is that slow and steady wins the race.
- The Crow and the Pitcher (乌鸦和瓶子)
A crow was very thirsty and saw a pitcher of water filled with water. The water was too high for the crow to reach. The crow then began to peck at the pitcher, causing small pieces of earthenware to fall into the water, lowering the water level. Eventually, the water reached the level where the crow could drink. The moral of the story is that perseverance can lead to success.
- The North Wind and the Sun (北风和太阳)
The North Wind and the Sun were arguing about which was stronger. They decided to test their strength by trying to make a man take off his coat. The North Wind blew as hard as it could, but the man just wrapped his coat tighter around himself. Then the Sun shone warmly, and the man took off his coat. The moral of the story is that kindness and persuasion are more effective than force.
- The Man and the Rice Plant (农夫与稻苗)
A farmer planted rice and watched over it with great care. One day, he saw the rice plants bending under the wind. He decided to help them stand up straight. However, the next day, the rice plants were even more bent. The farmer realized that he had damaged the rice plants by trying to help them. The moral of the story is that sometimes, the best thing to do is to let nature take its course.
- The Fisherman and the Dragon (渔夫与龙)
A fisherman caught a beautiful golden dragon in his net. The dragon asked the fisherman to set him free, promising to grant him three wishes. The fisherman agreed and released the dragon. The dragon then granted the fisherman his wishes, but the fisherman realized that he had made a mistake by letting the dragon go. The moral of the story is that one should be cautious when making deals with powerful beings.
These are just a few examples of the rich tradition of Chinese fables, which offer valuable life lessons and moral guidance.
