Chinese Folk Tales

Mount Mengsi on the Mongolian steppe was always shrouded in mist and clouds, and its peak was hidden all year round. Its slopes were covered by a dense forest. In a cave near a waterfall at the foot of this mountain, there lived a woodcutter who can tame a horse as others tame a rabbit.

Long, long ago, by the banks of the Hanyan Canal, there lived a senile old Muslim merchant who had three sons. One day, the man told his boys that he was too old to support them any longer. But he said he wanted to divide among them his last remaining property—seventeen horses.

Have you ever seen the Phoenix Fairy Flower? When it’s in full blossom, its petals are as red as a flame, and they resemble a colorful phoenix with its wings outstretched. There is a beautiful tale about how the flower came to be.

Once, a peasant discovered an old wooden barrel when he was digging in the field for planting. Thinking it could be used to holding grain, he took it home and soon discovered the barrel’s magic.

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival. On that day, people eat sweet dumplings and enjoy looking at colorful lanterns, warmly glowing against the cold dark night sky.

The old man had a donkey and decided to sell it. So one day, he and his son dropped the animal to market. On their way, they met a villager.

This episode features the Water Splashing Festival of the Dai ethnic minority in southwestern China, which falls during the New Year celebrations of the Dai Calendar.

Many, many years ago, in a mountain village, there lived a beautiful girl who was very clever at making lace. She was known as Sister Lace. Whenever people got a piece of lace from her, they would immediately trim their tunics or shirt sleeves with it, and announce happily “look, I have a piece of braid made by Sister Lace.”

In the Jade Palace of the Eastern Sea, the Dragon King was trying to find a good husband for his youngest daughter. At first, he chose men with money and position. But the girl said she wanted a lad who was honest and brave.

The king returned to the forests to try his luck a second time. Again, the magic bird had allowed itself to be carried away.