Historic Chinese Legends, Tales and Idioms
Beginner - Intermediate
54 Videos

There are dozens of ethnic minority groups in China have their own folklore: much of which contains valuable historical and cultural information as well as many unique myths.

Showing 27 of 27 videos
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4:32

This story is about Han Prime Minister Cao Cao's six-year-old son, Cao Chong (196 to 208 B.C.). The theory this little boy used to weigh an elephant is similar to Archimedes' Principle (287 to 212 B.C.), which is that the weight of an object submerged in fluid is equal to the weight of the displaced fluid.

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3:05

This well-known story commonly used to educate children on the values of courtesy and fraternal love involves four-year-old Kong Rong giving up some larger pears to his older and younger brothers. Still employed in current times, this text has been used for elementary education since the Song Dynasty.

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3:10

This idiom indicates that something seemingly bad may turn out to have been a good thing in the end, a blessing in disguise. The story in the video explains it quite well. And, while the idiom can also have the opposite meaning (a good thing becoming something bad), the former is more frequently used.

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2:23
difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate
China
Viewer Discretion Advised

Weddings and Honeymoons Part 1

This tells the story of how the ancestor of the Han Chinese, the Yellow Emperor, established the custom of marriage and honeymoons in China thousands of years ago, uniting tribes and bringing communal marriage to an end. Part 1 of 5.

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2:03

This tells the story of how the ancestor of the Han Chinese, the Yellow Emperor, established the custom of marriage and honeymoons in China thousands of years ago, thus bringing communal marriage to an end. Part 2 of 5.

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1:28

This tells the story of how the ancestor of the Han Chinese, the Yellow Emperor, established the custom of marriage and honeymoons in China thousands of years ago, thus bringing communal marriage to an end. However, it was initially met with resistance. Part 3 of 5.

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1:13

This tells the story of how the Yellow Emperor's idea to end communal marriage was initially met with resistance and how one couple decided to flee instead of live a life of monogamy. However, after becoming lost in a huge forest, they found they had to rely on each other to survive. Part 4 of 5.

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1:51

This tells the story of how a young couple struggled to survive in the forest after fleeing a life of monogamy. However, after discovering honey and relying on each other for survival, they soon understood what true love was and lived a happy life together. It is said to be part of the history of Chinese wedding and honeymoon customs. Part 5 of 5.

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2:18
difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate
China

Cheng Ren Zhi Mei Part 1

The idiom, "Cheng ren zhi mei," is explained through a story. It essentially means that we should help others succeed rather than pointing out their faults.

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2:26
difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate
China

Cheng Ren Zhi Mei Part 2

The antagonist of the story, Wan Renxian, still hasn't learned to "Cheng ren zhi mei," laughing at his neighbor when he injures himself. However, when he is given another golden opportunity to do a good deed, the question becomes, will he finally take it?

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2:22
difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate
China

Cheng Ren Zhi Mei Part 3

When Wan Renxian comes through at a time when he is most needed, his neighbors' reaction to his kindness isn't quite what he expects. Like "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," no one is willing to believe that this time, he is really telling the truth.

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0:58
difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate
China

Cheng Ren Zhi Mei Part 4

Having discovered Wan Renxian's act of kindness, his neighbors apologize and thank him. Just as with the old fortune teller, Wan Renxian should be given a chance to right his wrongs. Such is the meaning of “Cheng ren zhi mei.”

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2:35
difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate
China

Quan Ren Wei Shan Part 1

Learn the story behind the idiom, "To exhort people to do good."

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1:56
difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate
China

Quan Ren Wei Shan Part 2

Learn the story behind the idiom, “To exhort people to do good.”

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2:16
difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate
China

Quan Ren Wei Shan Part 3

Learn the story behind the idiom, “To exhort people to do good.”

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1:06
difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate
China

Quan Ren Wei Shan Part 4

Learn the story behind the idiom, “To exhort people to do good.”

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2:38
difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate
China

Yu Ren Wei Shan Part 1

A tale which demonstrates the importance of not judging others’ strengths and weaknesses in accordance with our own and doing unto others as we would have done unto ourselves. Part 1.

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2:10
difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate
China

Yu Ren Wei Shan Part 2

A tale which demonstrates the importance of not judging others’ strengths and weaknesses in accordance with our own and doing unto others as we would have done unto ourselves. Part 2.

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4:28
difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate
China

Yu Ren Wei Shan Part 3

A tale which demonstrates the importance of not judging others’ strengths and weaknesses in accordance with our own and doing unto others as we would have done unto ourselves. Part 3.

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2:15
difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate
China

Shan Zhi Pian Zheng Part 1

Confucius explains to his disciples what is good and what is evil, but there are also right and wrong ways to be good. How can good be right or wrong?

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2:36
difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate
China

Shan Zhi Pian Zheng Part 2

A year has gone by and the scoundrel is still up to no good. However, when his evil deeds finally culminate in his capture, the Prime Minister does not rejoice in this news.

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1:13
difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate
China

Shan Zhi Pian Zheng Part 3

Confucious teaches his disciples that just as benevolence can bring about evil deeds, so can malevolence lead to good ones.

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2:16
difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate
China

Shan Zhi Pian Zheng Part 4

Confucious explains to his students that there is wrong in right, but also right in wrong and that they must understand this in order to understand good and evil.

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2:21
difficulty - Intermediate Intermediate
China

Be Honest and Trustworthy

An interesting and didactic story about a young man who tries to make money dishonestly and learns his lesson.

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1:32

Where does the term "Tui Qiao" (literally to "Push and knock") come from?

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1:38

By chance, Jia Dao meets a scholar who convinces him to aspire to a bureaucratic position.

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1:45

Jia Dao's tragic life was revered after his death.

Showing 27 of 27 videos
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