Chinese Æsop:

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 ...

Zhao Qi (Han Dynasty, 赵歧) Chaou K'e (赵歧, Zhao Qi, A.D.108–201) was an official who served as Minister Coachman during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the author of Commentaries on Mencius (孟子章句), one of the only major commentaries on Mencius from that period still in existence. He is also featured as a character in Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Chaou K'e was born A.D. 108. His father was a censor about the court of the emperor Heaou-gan, and gave him the name of Kea (嘉), which he afterwards changed into K’e for the purpose of concealment, changing also his original designation of T'ae-k’ing (台卿) into Pin-k’ing. It was his boast that he could trace his descent from the emperor Chuen-heuh, B.'C. 2510. In his youth K’e was distinguished for his intelligence and diligent study of the classics. He married a niece of the celebrated scholar and statesman Ma Yung (马融), but bore himself proudly towards him and...

'Formerly, the officer Châo Chien made Wang Liang act as charioteer for his favourite Hsî, when, in the course of a whole day, they did not get a single bird. The favourite Hsî reported this result, saying, "He is the poorest charioteer in the world."  Some one told this to Wang Liang, who said, "I beg leave to try again." By dint of pressing, this was accorded to him, when in one morning they got ten birds. The favourite, reporting this result, said, "He is the best charioteer in the world." Chien said, "I will make him always drive your chariot for you."  When he told Wang Liang so, however, Liang refused, saying, "I drove for him, strictly observing the proper rules for driving, and in the whole day he did not get one bird. I drove for him so as deceitfully to intercept the birds, and in one morning he got ten. I am not accustomed to drive for a mean man. I beg leave to decline the office."

There was a man of Sung, who was grieved that his growing corn was not longer, and so he pulled it up. Having done this, he returned home, looking very stupid, and said to his people, "I am tired to-day. I have been helping the corn to grow long." His son ran to look at it, and found the corn all withered.  

The king Hsüan of Ch'î one day was sitting aloft in the hall, when a man appeared, leading an ox past the lower part of it. The king saw him, and asked, Where is the ox going? The man replied, We are going to consecrate a bell with its blood. The king said, Let it go. I cannot bear its frightened appearance, as if it were an innocent person going to the place of death. The man answered, Shall we then omit the consecration of the bell? The king said, How can that be omitted? Change it for a sheep."

Ch'ên Chung Tse belongs to an ancient and noble family of Ch'i. His elder brother Tai received from Ko a revenue of 10,000 chung, but he considered his brother's emolument to be unrighteous, and would not live on it, and in the same way he considered his brother's house to be unrighteous, and would not dwell in it. Avoiding his brother and leaving his mother, he went and dwelt in Mountain Wu-ling. Living in Wu-ling, he himself builds a cottage,  plants the millet, and weaves sandals of hemp, and his wife twists hempen thread, to barter them. He was so poor that in one occasion for three days was without food, till he could neither hear nor see. Over a well grew a plum tree, the fruit of which had been more than half-eaten by worms. He crawled to it, and tried to eat some of the fruit, when, after swallowing three mouthfuls, he recovered his sight and hearing. One day afterwards, he returned to their house, when it happened that some one sent his brother a present ...

Mencius' mother changed their residence three times, in Chinese Meng mu San Qian (孟母三迁). When first left a widow Menciuc's mother lived with her little boy near a cemetery, the result being that the latter was always playing at funerals. Mencius' mother was not pleased to see her son mimic the actions of those performing funeral rituals. Removing to a house near market-place, she found that the boy now began to play at buying and selling, she was again not wholly satisfied when young Mencius would imitate the actions and words of those hawking goods. Fearing the ill effect of these sordid associations, she next sought shelter near a college. There the young philosopher began to imitate the ceremonial observances in which the students were instructed, to the great joy and satisfaction of his mother, they settling down and finding contentment, the young Mencius intoned the lessons of teachers and followed their example of diligent study, and later he became one the grea...