In this new episode (weekly, as advertised), Laszlo introduces a story from the early 4th Century BCE, the Warring States period that preceded the unification of China under Qin Shihuang. It concerns the ruler down in the southwest kingdom of Shu, centered around Chengdu.
Thanks to his greediness for a small gift, he ended up losing big later on. He was so busy counting his pennies earned in a quick score that he lost sight of the pounds he'd lose down the road.
This ruler's moment of weakness was immortalized by Lü Buwei in his highly respected Lü Shi Chunqiu who called him out as one who Tan Xiao Shi Da.
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S1E02 | Fen-Wise and Yuan-Foolish

Join Laszlo Montgomery for bi-weekly episodes that introduce commonly used Chinese Sayings and the stories, history and rich meanings behind each phrase. Whether you speak Chinese or not, enjoy a few nice stories and pick up a new and useful phrase or two from China’s ancient times.

Education

Training

Language Courses

Higher Education

K-12

Educational Technology

History

Society & Culture

Here's a good one from the Three Kingdoms Era in which we feature the famous story of Meng Huo, Zhuge Liang, and Qī Qín Mèng Huò 七擒孟获. Some people just can't accept defeat but in the end, they bow to the inevitable.  Cao Pi of Wei thought he'd have some fun and employed Meng Huo to harass his enemy. That didn't go as planned. But Zhuge Liang enjoyed a little fun in the process.
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S9E05 | Had enough yet?

This Chinese Saying, or at least the story, is rather well-known. The story of young Kong Rong and the bowl of pears. Kǒng Róng Ràng Lí 孔融让梨. This perennial children's favorite has a nice moral lesson to teach. When you see young children exhibiting generosity and kindness, many might recall these kids were just like Kong Rong back in the late 2nd Century.
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S9E04 | Be like Kong Rong

Sima Qian strikes again. This time around we look at the well-known saying, Máo Suì Zì Jiàn 毛遂自荐. I tend to favor those 成语's from the Warring States Period. This one concerns the particularly volatile time in the Warring States during the reign of the aggressive and pugnacious Qin King Zhaoxiang. After a disastrous defeat at Changping in 260 BC, the State of Zhao had to seek urgent assistance from Chu. In this familiar story, we see how Mao Sui, at the time, no one of consequence, steps up to offer his help during a dark hour for Zhao. His value is doubted but Mao Sui proved them wrong.
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S9E03 | Please allow me to introduce myself

This week's Chinese Saying is another good and respectable one that comes to us compliments of the Book of Song. It concerns the Northern Song official and literatus Yang Shi. His two main teachers were the famous Cheng Brothers, Cheng Hao 程颢 and Cheng Yi 程颐. Those two were giants in Neo-Confucian philosophy which flourished during the Song. This episode features Chéng Mén Lì Xuě 程门立雪. It's a story of respect and reverence for those teachers who had a profound effect on the direction of our lives. "Standing in the snow in front of the Cheng's gate." This is another in a very long line of stories that would feel right at home in the "Made Me Smile" subreddit. For anyone who has one or more teachers who made a positive difference in their life, this is a good 成语 to describe your feelings.
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S9E02 | R-E-S-P-E-C-T-Chéng Mén Lì Xuě-程门立雪

For the Season 9 opener, we bring you a good one that takes place in the early years of the Southern Song Dynasty. Qin Hui, the reviled chancellor of Emperor Gaozong is back again, starring in another Chinese Saying, inspired by his historic perfidy. He conspired with his wife, Lady Wang, to have the great hero Yue Fei rubbed out. Their careful conspiracy, discussed in the utmost secrecy in a private spot in their residence, was somehow discovered. This is the story behind Dōng Chuāng Shì Fā 东窗事发.
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S1E02 | Fen-Wise and Yuan-Foolish

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