Chinese Æsop:

《二十四孝·鹿乳奉亲》：“周郯子，性至孝。父母年老，俱患双眼，思食鹿乳。郯子顺承亲意，乃衣鹿皮，去深山，入鹿群之中，取鹿乳以供亲。猎者见欲射之，郯子具以情告，乃免。” In the time of the Chow dynasty lived Tan, who possessed a very filial disposition. His father and mother were aged, and both were afflicted with sore eyes, to cure which they desired to have some deer's milk. Tan concealed himself in the skin of a deer, and went deep into the forests. He closely imitated the cry, yew yew, of the fawns, watching for the tracks of the herd of the deer, hiding among the herds of deer, to obtain some of their milk for his parents. While in the forests the hunters saw him, and were about shooting at him with their arrows, when Tan disclosed to them his true character, and related the history of his family, with the reason for his conduct. 郯子（生卒年月不详），己姓，子爵，春秋时期郯国国君。 Tan Zi (Year of birth and death unknown), his surname was Yi (已姓), a Viscount, he was the king of the State of Tan in the of the Spring and Autumn Period. Viscount of Tan was the descendant of Emper...

In the Chow dynasty, in the country of Tsoo (楚国) lived the venerable Lâi-dze (Lao Lâi-dze 老莱子), who was very obedient and reverential towards his parents, manifesting his dutifulness by exerting himself to provide them with every delicacy. When Lao Lâi-dze overheard his parents lamenting one day, "Look at our son, he's already in his dotage! Surely our own days must be drawing to a close!" His heart could not endure the helpless feelings that arose. Although upwards of severty of years of age, he was so old that he had lost nearly all his teeth, he declared that he was not yet old, even never mentioned the word "old" in their hearing, and usually dressed himself in partycoloured embroidered garments, and like a child would playfully stand by the side of his parents. One day he accidentally tripped and fell when he carried two buckets of water into the house, he saw the concerned looks on his parents’ faces, he started wailing and crying like a child, and wri...

In the Chow dynasty lived Chung Yew, named also Tszeloo, who because his family was poor, usually ate herbs and coarse pulse. "Alas!" said Tszeloo, "although I was a scholar, yet my parents were poor; and how was I to nourish them?" Exhausted he travelled more than a hundred le to procure rice for his parents. Pleasantly he endured the toil, and exerted his utmost strength without any commendation. Afterwards, when his parents were dead, he went south to the country of Tsoo, where he was made commander of a hundred companies of chariots; there he became rich, storing up grain in myriads of measures, reclining upon cushions, and eating food served to him in numerous dishes; but sighing, he said, "although I should now desire to eat coarse herbs and bring rice for my parents, it cannot be!"

During the Chow dynasty lived Min Sun ( also known by his courtesy name  Tzu-ch'ien 闵子骞) , whose mother died early so his father subsequently married another wife, who bore him two other sons, but dislike Min Sun.  Min Sun was ill-treated by his stepmother but he never bore any grudges against her. During winter, his stepmother prepared a coat made of reed catkins for him, but prepared coats made of cotton for his stepbrothers.  One day, Min followed his father out and was instructed to drive the carriage. However, as the coat was too thin, Min was unable to withstand the cold so he shivered and was unable to focus on the task at hand. He accidentally caused the carriage to get stuck in a ditch. Min's father was furious and started beating him until his clothes tore and the reed catkins came out. It was then when Min's father realised that his son was being mistreated. He was so angry that he wanted to expel Min's stepmother from the family. However, Min pleade...

Mencius lost his father at an early period, but in his youthful years he enjoyed the lessons of his kind mother, who thrice changed her residence on his account. At first they lived near a cemetery, and Mencius amused himself with acting the various scenes which he witnessed at the tombs, “this” said the lady, “is no place for my son;” and she removed to a house in the market-place. But the change was no improvement. The boy took to playing the part of a salesman, vaunting his wares, and chaffering with customers. His mother sought a new house, and found one at last close by a public school. There her child's attention was taken with the various exercises of politeness which the scholars were taught, and he endeavoured to imitate them. The mother was satisfied. “This” she said, “is the proper place for my son." When they lived in the market-place, near their house was a pig-butcher's. One day Mencius asked his mother what they were killing the pigs for, and was ...

Tseng Shen (550-435BCE), courtesy name Tzu yü, was a Chinese philosopher, and a disciple of Confucius. He was the teacher of Tzu Ssu (483-402 BCE), the Grandson of Confucius. He is credited as the transmitter of the Great Learning, an important work that was incorporated in the Book of Rites.  He is also with having authored the Book of Fillial Piety. Tseng Shen was a fillial son. When he was young, Tseng Shen was very poor, he had to cut wood for fuel from the mountain. Once when he was away on the hill, a visitor came to his home. His mother didn't not know how to treat the visitor, so she bit her finger. Tseng Shen suddenly felt pain in his heart. He immediately realized that his mother was calling! No later his action than his thought, and he quickly returned home, found that he had a visitor at home, and his mother was in distress. Tseng Shen was honest and strictly keep his promise even to his child. One day, when Tseng Shen's wife was going to the market, their son ...

Shun of Yu was named Chonghua (double splendour); Chonghua's father was Gusou; Gusou's father was Qiaoniu (bridge cow); Qiaoniu's father was Juwang; Juwang's father was Jingkang; Jingkang's father was Qiongchan; Qiongchan's father was Emperor Zhuanxu; Zhuanxu's father was Changyi. From him to Shun we have seven generations. From Qiongchan to Emperor Shun they were all insignificant common people. Shun's father, Gusou, was blind, and his mother having died, Gusou married again and had a son, Xiang, who was arrogant. Gusou loved his second wife, and frequently tried to kill Shun, who avoided him; when he made slight mistakes he was punished, yet he obediently served his father, stepmother, and brother, and was day by day generous, careful, and never negligent. Shun was a native of Jizhou, ploughed on Li mountain, fished in Thunder lake, made pots on the bank of the river, fashioned various articles at Shouqiu, and went now and then to Fuxia. Shun...