Replace cattle by sheep

Replace cattle by sheep

In ancient times,To a certain day,it should be held in the Temple in a religious ceremony to
show respect for the devotion of the gods, to seek blessing of the gods, this ritual ceremony
called the "bell ceremony." On that day,they kill a cow or a sheep, then Pray at the front of
desk.?? One day, a person from the city of Qi, he led a cow go through the Palace. At this time,
Qixuan Wang coincided with the entrance hall to see, and ordered it stopped nil, then asked:
"Where are you going to led the cattle?" The man replied: "I would like to led it to honour
gods . " ?? After hear that,looked at the cattle,Qixuan Wang said: "This cow did not blame you,
but to die in vain, that it looked scared tremblingly,I really not have the heart . release it
!" ?? The people said "You really king mercy, then you sacrifice the bell ceremony also
abolished?" "How it can be repealed? "Serious Qixuan Wang, added:"You can with a sheep instead of cattle !
" Meaning:Kill the sheep and cattle were the massacre of life. in fact,to the mercy of cattle
and sheep are the same in nature , can not be merciful. Qixuan Wang for the sheep to cattle but
deceiving game,we can see the virtual.

Quenching Thirst by Watching Plums

Quenching Thirst by Watching Plums

Cao Cao of the Three Kingdoms period (220-265) was not only a capable politician in managing state affairs, but also a strategist good at leading troops in going to war.
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　　One summer, Cao Cao was leading his troops in a punitive expedition against Zhang Xiu. It was extraordinarily hot. The burning sun was like a fire, and the sky was cloudless. The soldiers were walking on the winding mountain paths. The dense forest and the hot rocks exposed to the sun on both sides of the paths made the soldiers feel suffocated. By noontime the soldiers' clothes were wet through with sweat, and the marching speed slowed down. Some solders of weak physique even fainted on the roadside.

Seeing that the marching speed was slower and slower, Cao Cao was very worried because he feared that he might bungle the chance of winning the battle. But how could they quicken their speed? Cao Cao at once callde the guide and asked him on the quiet whether there was a source of water nearby. The guide shook his head, saying that the spring water was on the other side of the mountain, which was very far to have to make a detour to reach. Cao Cao realized that time didn't permit them to make such a detour. After thinking for a moment, he said to the guide, "Keep quiet. I'll find a way out." He knew that it would be to no avail to order his troops to quicken the steps. He had a brain wave and found a good solution. He spurred his horse and came to the head of the column. Pointing his horsewhip to the front, Cao Cao said, "Soldiers, I know there is a big forest of plums ahead. The plums there are both big and delicious. let's hurry along, and we will reach the forest of plums after bypassing this hill." When the solders heard this, they immediately slobbered. Picturing in their minds the sweet and sour flavour of the plums, the soldiers felt as if they were actually eating the plums, the soldiers felt as if they were actually eating the plums themselves. The morale greatly boosted, the soldiers quickened their steps a great deal automatically. 　　This story comes from "The Fake Tangery" in Anecdotes of This World by Liu Yiqing of the Southern Dynasties period (420-589). From this story, people have derived the set phrase "quenching thirst by watching plums" to refer to trying to comfort oneself of others by idle dreams.

Look at the nature of things

Look at the nature of things

A craftsman named Jiangshi, he went to Qi, the song came to the House, see a tree growing in the soil near to the temple.Thousands of head of cattle can be covered by the shade of the trees; there is room for trees are thick tree trunks 80 feet higher than the mountain after the branches and leaves can be used to ship the side-issues have more than 10 branches. This strain of the surrounding trees were more than the market as fair. Strangely, Jiangshi has turned a blind eye and ignore. He can not move forward on their way on the foot. Disciples are an eye-opener, but not understand the attitude of the master,catching up with Jiang Shi and ask questions: "we have never met such a good wood since we followed the master learning a craft everywhere, why not value it?" Jiang Shi replied: "Do not boast the tree, it is not brittle trees Kennedy, shipbuilding Shen, the coffin will be done very quickly decay into a pillar will be moth-eaten, the equipment will be labeled will be destroyed, the door will be built out of Pulp pollution ... ... "JiangShi said it devoid of any merit, he think it is the trees that can bccame good material, it is useless that there is such a long life! ?? Meaning:When we look like a strong flashy things often. Look at the issue, observe things can not be fooled by the surface, it is necessary to see through the nature of the phenomenon, otherwise it will make wrong judgments.

Monkeys in cages

Monkeys in cages

There is a person have raised monkey about 10 years with a individual cages.He is so the monkey that he put it. A few nights, the monkey go back. He thought: "'probably not far enough to send it away!"So send some people carrying the monkey cage to the mountains, and take it into the valley. The monkey live in cages because of long-term , it has forgotten habit that search food in the wild, finally,it has no the ability to get food, sadly died. Meaning: If the long-lived a comfortable life of reaping without sowing, it will lose the ability to live independently.

Yangbu fight the dog

Yangbu fight the dog

Yangzhu's brother called Yangbu,one day, he wore a white piece of clothing to go out. later it begin to rain, he took off his white clothes, wearing a black dress to go home. His dog did not recognize Yangbu, and shouting at him. Yangbu was very annoyed, he took the stick and ready to fight the dog. Yang Zhu saw it and said: "You can not fight the dog, youself will be like that. If the dog is white when it go out and go back became black , you can not strange ? " Meaning: when misunderstood by friends, not brain fever, angry flare up; and who should be set up in the field, thinking transposition.

The story of three lice

The story of three lice

One day,there were three lice in a hunt for body fat, bickering with each other. At this time, one after lice here, see their quarrel was over and asked: "Why are you arguing?" They all replied: "In order to compete for the most body fat in the pig place." After listening to lice, said: "Are you not afraid of sacrifice Layue the coming days it? By that time, a grass fire, the pig will be killed and thrown into the hot pan, are still bickering here?" After that, suddenly. An immediate end to a quarrel, are packed together and tried to smoke from pig's blood. Swine absorption has been lost, Layue to worship, people would not kill it. Meaning: Do not for the immediate benefit at front, and forget the fundamental interests of the common maintenance.

Kingfisher shift nest

Kingfisher shift nest

When the kingfisher do the nest first,they will choose some high places in order to avoid disaster. Later hatched birds come, Kingfisher love own baby, for fear that it fell from the nest, they moved to the lower place to do the nest. Slowly, after the bird grow hair, plush velvet, and very cute. Kingfisher more likes their children, then moved even lower place to do the nest. However, the disaster has also taken place, they are caught by people.Meaning:To do things, paying attention to one aspect at some time, at the same time we also have to consider the other aspect

Learn to identify

There was a Chu people went to Zheng sell jewelry. In order to sell a premium prices, he made a very elegant box to the Pearl used precious wood of Magnolia , with a series of spices make the box to get smoked aromatic assail the nostrils, and also lines up some jewelry above the box,many with pink and green jewel decorations up. Zheng saw this box was very beautiful, he bought the boxes, and returned the jewelry to the people of Chu. Meaning:A people has low literacy, lack of the capacity of identify who will tend to lose real valuable thing, and those who do not value things as high-Baby.

A passive attitude

A passive attitude
Long long ago,Song former state-owned land in a farmer's fields, suddenly, a rabbit running from a distance, it is so panic that hit on the stumps on the dead accidentally.
The farmer is pleased that he pick up the dead rabbit and go home for a delicious meal. He think that how nice a day like this, so he lay down his tools all day and waited the rabbit under a tree, finally,nothing!
Meaning:It is harmful that want to get a chance of success without activity,now its meaning said somebody doesn't know modifications and still defending a narrow experience.

Forces were bullied by others

Forces were bullied by others

One day,a tiger is waliing around in a deep forests,suddenly ,he discovered a fox. The tiger grasped him quickly,it thought today he can enjoy a delicious meal. ? The fox is very crafty, he knows about that it will be bad since he caught by the tiger ,so he tell a series of lies, he said: "I was "The king of animals"in the mountains sent by the Emperor of Heaven, if you eat me , The Emperor of Heaven will not forgive you. " ?? Tiger skeptical of the fox, then asked: "You are"The king of animals" What evidence?" Fox quickly said: "If you do not believe me, you can go the mountains with me for a walk, I will let you see how they are afraid of me" ?? Tiger think it is a good way do like this, then let the fox in front of the lead, then followed his own, to a depth of the mountains around. ?? In the forest, goats,deers , black bears and other animals see the tiger far from them , one by one all in panic and have to flee for their lives. ?? To the ring after the fox to he said triumphantly: "Now you see it? Beasts of the forest, I would have ventured to fear?" ?? Tiger was not aware of beasts is the fear of its own, On the contrary,he believe the lies of the fox strongly . Fox not only survived by eating, but also beasts in front of a big shake back to the power and prestige.
Meaning:For those who like a fox, like bullying others rely on the others' forces,we should learn to see through their tricks.

Blessing in disguise

Blessing in disguise

Once upon a time, an old man living in the frontier fortress and Hunni adjacent areas, both coming and going of the passers-by called him a "blessing." Weng's character was different from the others,he has different way to face life Optimistic.?? One day,unknown reasons Weng's horse lose the way, no return. After the neighbors learned the news, they all expressed regret. But the blessing does not seem to mind the idea,On the contrary,he console to the crowd: "The horse is lost, of course, is a bad thing, but who knows it will not bring good results?"
Sure enough, a few months, the lost horse run back from beyond the Great Wall, and also brought back a horse ride by Hunni. As a result, neighbors came together to congratulate blessing, and boast that he had vision when losing the horse. However, at this time of blessing but a heavy heart: "Oh, who knows this will not bring disaster to me?" ?? Weng added to the Cypriot Hunni's horse, so that his son can not help riding, then go for a spin on horseback every day, never. One day, as a result of his son and proudly carried away, even from a speeding horse fell down and broke a leg, resulting in a life-long disabilities. After good neighbors hearing the news, condolences to come quickly, and the blessing is still an old phrase: "Who knows it will not bring good results?"
Another year, the Central Plains Hunni large-scale invasion, the situation suddenly tight frontier fortress, able-bodied young people all became soldiers, most of them are sent to a life on the battlefield. But the blessing's son was avoid military service because of injured leg, so the father and son avoid this disaster that never to meet. ?? Meaning: It shows the good and bad are not absolute in the world,under certain conditions, bad things can lead to good,On the contrary,a good thing may lead to bad results.

Never too late to mend

Never too late to mend

There was a herdsman in the past, raised dozens of sheep, grazing during the day and night with a drive into the sheep pen made by firewood and wood piles.?? One morning, the herdsman went to the sheep, he find a few sheep. There was a hole in sheep pen,a wolf came in the sheep pen from the hole and a sheep was taken away at night . ?? The neighbors advice him: "get a trim, sheep pen, it blocked the hole." ?? He said: "The sheep have been lost, but also to repair sheep pen do?" So he did not accept the good advice . ?? The next morning, he went to the sheep and found a few sheep again. It was that the wolf from the sheep pen into the hole, and took away another sheep. ?? The herdsmen regretted that he did not accept the neighbor's advice and take remedial measures in time. As a result, he blocked the holes from the overall reinforcement quickly, the sheep pen was repaired firmly false. ?? Since then, the herdsmen's sheep have not been gone through the wolf. ?? Meaning: A mistake, suffered a setback, which is a common phenomenon. As long as we can draw lessons seriously, take remedial action in time to avoid the mistakes continue to suffer greater losses.

Song o-suspect

Song o-suspect


There was a richer in Song state.One day,the heavy rain destroyed the wall of his house.His son said:"If we do not get repaired,there are bound to be a thief came in the climb."Neighbor's grandfather also warned him to do.
? During the night, his house was really thieved a large amount of property.
The wealth family all speak highly of his son had the foresight,but suspected that neighbor's grandfather may be a thief.
Meaning:It is harmful to decide by close to far and near.It is also the result of the misunderstanding and resentment in the life.

Zeng zi kill the pig

Zeng zi kill the pig

zeng's wife wanted to go to the market,her child followed and wanted go with her,he cried.So his wife coaxed child and said:"Go back,I will kill the pig when I come."
The wife came back from the market just now,zeng was going to kill the pig.His wife stopped and said:"Only speak ,How do you really think? "
zeng said:"we can not play a joke with child,they have no the ability to differentiate,and do the things all follow the parents of the way to work,listen to the advice of the parentsof adults,now you deceive him,which is to teach them tell a lie ah! As a mother,she deceive child ,the child could not believe his mother any more.This is not a way to educate our child!"
Then he had to kill a pig,really let the kid eat pock.
Meaning:The parents are their children'sthe first teachers.We should always pay attention to own every word and deed.

Self-contradictory

Self-contradictory

Long long ago there is a person sale spear and shield on the street in the Chu state.For contrat the buyers,he hold the shield said that:"My shield is so hard that there are no weapons can pierce it!"
Then he put down the shield and hold the spear said boastly that:"My spear is so sharp that it can pierce eveything!"At the moment,somebody asked him："What is the result if take your spear pierce your shield?"The seller can not say a word.
Meaning:If exaggerated something's stong points divorced from reality should be creat self-contradictory joke constantly.

Songbirds offices

Songbirds offices


Long ago a great mountain began to rumble and shake . People came from far and near to see what would happen. "A great river will be born." said one. "Surely nothing less than a mighty dragon will come out." said another. "A god himself will spring form these rocks." said a third. Finally , after days of expectation a small crack appeared in the mountain. And out popped ---- a mouse. Just because someone makes a lot of fuss, it doesn't mean he is important.

Mantis catch Cicada

Mantis catch Cicada

There is a elm in the garden ,there is a cicada .Cicada is calling mournful and flaping its wings ,it is ready to suck the cool dew,but it do not know that there is a mantie is standing its back. Mantis out its two forearm ,like two machete.It wants to eat the cicada. When it is ready to catch the cicada,but it don't know there is a oriole is standing its back. Oriole out its neck and want to eat the mantis.When it is ready to eat the mantis,but it don't know there is a boy with slingshot under the elm is standing its back, he has ready to aim it. When the boy want to kill the oriole,but he does not there is a deep at front,behind there is a stump. This is performance that only think the current benifit and regardless the the harmful effect of the back.

Fox and wild boar

A wild boar was sharpening his tusks against a tree one day when a fox came by. "What are you doing that for?" asked the fox . "There are no hunters around. Everything looks very peaceful to me ." "Quite true, "said the boar, "but when the hunter does come with his dogs I shall be too busy running away to have time for this . So let me sharpen my tusks while I can." Be prepared .

Wolf and donkey

A wolf once met a donkey on the road outside the village. "I 'm going to eat you up, "said the wolf . "Certainly, " replied the donkey, thinking fast. "But please don't eat me out here on the road where everyone can see. I shall be so ashamed . Take me into the forest. Don't be afraid that I shall try to escape. Here, tie this rope round your neck and fasten it to my bridle. Then I will lead you to a quiet spot I know." The wolf thought this was a good idea so he fastened the rope round his neck and knotted it firmly to the donkey's bridle. "Now I will go wherever you say, " said the donkey. "Show me the way to your quiet spot , " ordered the wolf. "Very well," said the donkey, setting off down the road towards the village. As they came to the first houses the wolf began to suspect that he had been tricked. "This is not the way to the forest, " he said, tugging at his end of the rope. "This road goes to the village." "Don't worry," said the donkey cheerfully , "This is a short cut. " The donkey began to trot faster , then to gallop. The rope round the wolf's neck drew tight; in a very short time he was dragged right up to the donkey's door. The master, his wife and their three sons all came running out to rescue the donkey . They were so angry that they would have killed the wolf there and then. Fortunately for the wolf , however , one of the sons threw a knife at him. The knife missed , but it cut the rope round his neck. The next moment all the family could see was a cloud of dust in the road as the wolf fled to safety in the dark forest. If you keep your head you will be all right.

Bundle of twigs

A man once had four sons who never stopped quarrelling with one another. He was always telling them how much easier life would be if they worked together but they took absolutely no notice of him. One day he decided to show them what he meant. He called all the sons together and put a tightly tied bundle of sticks on the floor in front of them. "Can you break that ? " he asked the youngest son. The boy put his knee on the bundle but though he pressed and pulled with his arms he could not bend the wood. The father asked each son in turn to try to break the bundle, but none of them could do it . Then he untied the string and scattered the sticks. " Now try, " he said . The boys broke the sticks easily in their hands. "Do you see what I mean ?" asked the father. "if only you stand together no one can hurt you . If you all disagree the whole time and insist on going your separate ways, the first enemy you meet will be able to destroy you. " United we stand ; divided we fall.

Parrot and a cat

A man once bought a brilliantly-coloured parrot. Instead of locking it up in a cage or chaining it to a perch, he allowed it to fly free all over the house. The parrot was delighted at this and flapped from room to room, shrieking and screaming with happiness. At last he settled on the edge of a rich curtain. "Who on earth are you ?" said a cross voice from below. "Stop that terrible noise at once." The parrot saw a cat staring up at him from the carpet. "I 'm a parrot. I 've just arrived and I 'm to make as much noise as I can," he said. "Well, I 've lived here all my life," replied the cat ."I was born in this very house and I learned from my mother that it is best to keep quiet here." "Keep quiet then, "said the parrot cheerfully. "I don't know what you do around here, but I know my job. My master bought me for my voice and I'm going to make sure he hears it."

Different people are valued for different things.

Boys and nettle

A man once bought a brilliantly-coloured parrot. Instead of locking it up in a cage or chaining it to a perch, he allowed it to fly free all over the house. The parrot was delighted at this and flapped from room to room, shrieking and screaming with happiness. At last he settled on the edge of a rich curtain. "Who on earth are you ?" said a cross voice from below. "Stop that terrible noise at once." The parrot saw a cat staring up at him from the carpet. "I 'm a parrot. I 've just arrived and I 'm to make as much noise as I can," he said. "Well, I 've lived here all my life," replied the cat ."I was born in this very house and I learned from my mother that it is best to keep quiet here." "Keep quiet then, "said the parrot cheerfully. "I don't know what you do around here, but I know my job. My master bought me for my voice and I'm going to make sure he hears it." Different people are valued for different things.

Rats and Bulls

A mouse once took a bite out of a bull's tail as he lay dozing. The bull jumped up in a rage and, with his head low to the ground, chased the mouse right across the yard. The mouse was too quick for him, however, and slipped easily into a hole in the wall. The bull charged the wall furiously again and again, but although he bruised his head and chipped his horns, the mouse stayed safely inside his hole. After a time the bull gave up and sank down to rest again. As soon as the bull was asleep, the little mouse crept to the mouth of the hole, pattered across the yard, bit the bull again -- this time on the nose -- and rushed back to safety. As the bull roared helplessly the mouse squeaked: "It's not always the big people who come off best. Sometimes the small ones win, you know."

Kuok's Market

Kuok's Market

On a vacation trip, Duke Huan of the state of Qi came to the ruin of the capital of Guo Shi , which perished long ago. Seeing the desolate and bleak prospects of broken tiles, collapsed walls, and clusters of weeds, he could not help asking the local people about the reason of the ruin of Guo Shi. They replied,"Guo Shi was fond of doing good deeds, and averse to evildoing, which led to the perdition." When the Duke could not understand the answer, people explained ," Though he liked doing good, he had never been able to do so; though he hated evildoing, never could he help not participating. That caused the ruin of his capital."

Snake-like Reflection of a Bow in the Cup

Snakelike Reflectionof a Bow in the Cup

Nearly 2,000 years ago, during the Han Dynasty, there was a county magistrate called Ying Chen. One summer day, he invited his secretary Du Xuan to his house and treated him with wine. On the north wall of the room hung a red bow. It was reflected in Du Xuan's cup. Du Xuan took the reflection for a squirming snake. He was very frightened but he dared not turn down Ying Chen's offer because Ying was his superior. He had to swallow the wine with his eyes closed. 　　When he was back at home he felt so painful in his chest and stomach that he could hardly eat and drink any more. He sent for the doctor and took some medicine, but nothing could cure him. When Ying Chen asked Du Xuan how he got so seriously ill, Du told him he drank the wine with a snake in his cup the other day. Ying Chen found something strange about that. He returned home , thought hard, but he could not find an answer. Suddenly the shadow thrown by the bow on the wall caught his eye. "That's it!" he shouted. He immediately sent his man to fetch Du Xuan. He seated him where he sat before and offered him a cup of wine. Du Xuan saw the snake-like shadow again. Before Du was scared out of his wits again, Ying Chen said , pointing at the shadow, "The 'snake' in the cup is nothing but a reflection of the bow on the wall!" Now that Do Xuan knew what it was, he felt much easier. And strange enough, his illness disappeared the next moment.　　This story was later contracted into the idiom "Bei Gong She Ying'. It is used to describe someone who is very suspicious. It is like saying someone is afraid of his own shadow.