Chinese Fables

Selected and Retold by Mary W. Ng

Contents

Prefacev
A Note to the Readervi
1The Clam and the Snipe1
2The Lice’s Dispute2
3The Two Tigers3
4The Wait for the Hare4
5The Real Coward5
6The Shield and the Spear6
7A Tiger in the Marketplace7
8The Fox and the Tiger8
9The Foot Measurements9
10The Lost Sword10
11What Is the Easiest to Draw?11
12Teaching Children12
13The War Drum13
14Why You Lost the Race14
15The Traveller15
16Mastering Archery16
17The Swimmer18
18The Robber’s Food19
19The Cicada, the Praying Mantis, the Siskin ...20
20The Glittering Gold21
21The Man and the Bell22
22The Heavy Bow23
23The Musician24
24The Tiger and the Donkey25
25The Horse Merchant26
26The Land Nobody Wants27
27Wearing Purple28
28Helping the Seedlings Grow29
29The Finishing Touch30
30The Swimmer’s Son31
31The Archer and the Old Man32
32Skills34
33What a Last Name!35
34Queue-Jumping37
35The Reproach38
36The Deadly Drink39
37The Foolish Old Man Moved Mountains41
38The Parrot43
39The Fawn44
40The Prince and the Turtledoves45
41The Two-Headed Snake46
42The Prince and the Savages47
43The Leader and His Followers48
44The Poor Maiden49
45The Violent Neighbour50
46The Diagnosis51
47The Chicken Thief53
48The Monkeys’ Ration54
49Swapping Jackets55
50The Look of a Thief56
51The Warning57
52The Withering Tree58
53The Thin Mare59
54An Expensive Dead Swift Steed60
55Flattery61
56Attaining Immortality62
57The Fish Can Wait63
58Friend or Foe?64
59Just Doing My Public Duty66
60The Lost Sheep67
61Be Mindful of Your Duty68
62The Prime Minister’s Favourite Dish69
63The Prince’s Decision70
64Doing It Right71
65Incentive73
66The Procession74
67Meddling75
68Two Different Rules77
69The Cat78
70The Prince and the County Magistrate79
71The Robbers81
72Spotting the Swift Steed83
73Appearance85
74The Man with a Loud Voice87
75The Beautiful and the Ugly88
76The Monkey That Was Too Clever89
77Reading People90
78Mind What You Cultivate92
79The Archer93
80Life Is Both Sweet and Sour94
81The Snake in the Cup96
82Forgetfulness98
83Making Choices100
84The Old Man Who Lost a Horse101
85The White Calf103
86The Formula105
87The Story of Two Brothers107
88The Man Who Never Had a Chance109
89The Frog in the Well110
90Why Are You So Happy?112
Index of Title Words114