Chinese Folk Tales

In this video, discover the legendary tale of Dayu, also known as Yu the Great, the heroic figure who conquered the unruly floods in ancient China with wisdom and determination. His spirit continues to resonate with Chinese people, spanning millennia, as a beacon of inspiration and resilience against adversities.

In this special edition, we're waving goodbye to the Year of the Rabbit and welcoming the Year of the Loong, or the Year of the Chinese Dragon. Join us on a journey through time as we unravel a story behind this legendary creature and explore how it has come to represent an array of awe-inspiring qualities and blessings.

Discover the legendary tale of Dayu, also known as Yu the Great, the heroic figure who conquered the unruly floods in ancient China with wisdom and determination. His spirit continues to resonate with Chinese people, spanning millennia, as a beacon of inspiration and resilience against adversities.

Meet Yugong, the "foolish" old man from ancient China who set out to move mountains that cut off his village from the outside world. Did he succeed? Watch how he reacted to challenges in this timeless tale of perseverance and success!

Meet Yugong, the "foolish" old man from ancient China who set out to move mountains that cut off his village from the outside world. Did he succeed?

There was an ancient sage in China who first planted the five grains, helping people out of starvation. He also invented ways to process hemp into fabric to help keep people warm in the cold. Do you know who he is?

There was an ancient sage in China who first planted the five grains, helping people out of starvation. He also invented ways to process hemp into fabric to help keep people warm in the cold. Do you know who he is?

China has some incredible landscapes and science tells us how they have been shaped over millions of years of evolution. Yes, we know about the movements of the earth, of volcanoes, the power of wind and rain. But ancient stories suggest maybe... just maybe other forces have been at work creating the Sun Moon Lake.

Once upon a time, there was a kind and brave young man who ventured up a mountain, fought a monster and saved a princess. This story teaches that doing good things and telling the truth will make everything turn out right.

The ancient story of Mulan is an old favorite of many, made more popular outside China with grand movies in recent years. Join us in reliving the life and times of courageous Mulan.

Do you know that for some people the peacock is a symbol of happiness? The Dai people consider it a holy bird and the traditional Peacock Dance is still very popular nowadays. We have a love story to tell you, from thousands of years ago when Peacock princesses could fly.

A widow is inspired to create a work of such beauty in our next tale that the fairies steal it away. But the story is really about the son's true and steadfast love for his mother.

In this episode, prepare to be spellbound as we explore the extraordinary adventures of King Mu of Zhou, a legendary ruler who embarked on a remarkable voyage into the enchanting realms of magic and wonder.

In this video, let's meet the mythical hero Shen Nong who is said to be the father of the great system of traditional Chinese herbal medicine. It’s said that one day alone, he ate more than 70 different kinds of plants, roots, stems, leaves, and took notes to describe the effect they had on him... According to legend, he was the son of a princess and a heavenly dragon; maybe that made him special and made him able to resist the worst poisons? Or maybe he was an ordinary man, who was either very stupid, or very, very, lucky...

Did you know that many of the things we use today are credited to one man. Check out the video to know the tale of Lu Ban.

Our story pays tribute to the mythical hero Shen Nong who is said to be the father of the great system of traditional Chinese herbal medicine. When you think about it, there must have been someone many, many years ago who was brave enough to try and work out what plants might heal at the risk of discovering those that harm.

The Qixi Festival, which is also known as Chinese Valentine's Day. In this video, we take you to discover the mythical romance between Niulang and Zhinyu, or the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, who were allowed to meet just once a year. Join us for a captivating journey through ancient "Chinese Folk Tales."

I bet you know all about the many, marvellous and ingenious objects Chinese inventors have created over the centuries. But did you know that many of the things we use today are credited to one man? Here we tell the tale of Lu Ban.

Two lovers take center stage in our next story in one of the great Chinese Folk Tales. Join us for the romance of Zhi Nyu and Niu Lang, the weaving girl and the cowherd who are allowed to meet just once a year.

Our story here is a reminder not to be too self-centered. We learn how sometimes we can get so wrapped up in hunting for our own happiness that we forget to look after others.

Intertwined by fate and bound together through music, this is one of the most well-known stories about friendship in China. Tune in as we unravel the tale of two souls and their unyielding friendship that will warm your heart and inspire you.

This story tells of how a great friendship led to the creation of a beautiful, historic musical instrument. Listen to the legend of Ma Tou Qin, or the horse-head fiddle.

This story is all about how sometimes when we think we have lost something precious we find it has been with us all the time.

The story serves as a cautionary tale, raising awareness about possible repercussions of being needlessly miserly.

Laozi is one of the most famous ancient Chinese philosophers and in our story he tells us that money isn't everything and that maybe we should be happy with what we have.

When you look up into the sky –there is only one sun. But in this story, there were TEN!

Stories often tell us how it's a good idea to be kind, especially to people we don't know. In this tale we find out that kindness can have more than its own reward.

Great things can happen when we work together and in this story we remember the importance of honesty, and the benefits of collaboration.

What does it mean to be clever? Even if you are book smart are you really as clever as you think you are?

This is a story all about greed and how taking more than you need could end up costing you everything.

Revisiting ancient and beloved Chinese Folk Tales because all the best stories have something to teach, and when we hear old folk tales once again it's clear that the moral of the story is as true today as it ever was. Season 3 is coming in June!

Today we have a story from the Tibetan people who live in southwest China. Once upon a time, there lived three men who all had the same name, Ganjier. One was the tribal chief, one a carpenter, and the other the chief steward.

The Tibetans have a special festival called Linka. It begins on May 15 and last several days. During this period, people leave their homes and stay in the countryside. Once, a group of people went to celebrate Linka in a very beautiful villa. It was located in an out-of-the-way area. The group included an aristocrat, an official, a merchant and a landlord. There was also a cook and four servants.

Ling Dang was the name of a poor boy who lost his mother when he was only five. Seven years later, his father also died. His stepmother, very much fond of her own son, Bao Dan, treated Ling Dang badly. Fortunately, the two brothers themselves loved each other. Whenever Ling Dang was in trouble, Bao Dan would lend a hand. But that further annoyed the stepmother who reacted by being more cruel to Ling Dang.

On the grasslands of northwestern China, there lived a girl named Ageyisha and her old father. The poor family’s only possession was an ancient cow that no longer produced milk. One day, the father planned to sell a bunch of firewood for five coins so he loaded his cow and drove it to the market.

In old China, when a new county magistrate took office, it was customary for him to do three good deeds to win the support of the local people. In this episode, we have the story of one magistrate who handled matters a little differently. This new court official issued the unusual order that three men be arrested: A quick-tempered man, a lazy slowpoke and a con artist.

Meet the clever farmer Fan Qiangshan who is hero of wisdom and courage among the Miao people of southwest China.

Once there was a farmer whose name was Fan Qiangshan. He worked for a landlord. Every day he got up at dawn and returned from the fields at dusk. He was very hard-working but was given only the poorest kind of food.

The Zhuang people of China have a festival called “the third day of the third month.” The Zhuang celebrate it by holding song fests in the mountains near their villages. They also wait for the arrival of Third Sister Liu. Who is Third Sister Liu?

Many years ago, there lived an excellent hunter and trapper. He was kind and gentle and was always ready to share what he caught with others. He was loved and respected by everybody in his village. One day he was out hunting in the forest. Suddenly a cry for help came from above him. Looking up. He saw a crane is getting by with a little white snake in its claws.

The princess' husband was left with nothing after exchanging his scarf for a horse, the horse for a goat, the goat for a duck and the duck for a whetstone, which he had also lost while trying to catch some wild ducks to give to his wife.

The king of an ancient land was puzzled because a white swan flying about his palace seemed to be calling to him. He sent two courtiers to determine the meaning of the phenomenon. “Give me a satisfactory answer in three days,” the king said, “or you will be killed.” The two men racked their brains for two days and two nights without success.

Long, long ago, herdsmen of the grasslands were often forced to suffer through harsh winters. After weeks of violent storms, thick snows covered everything. There will be no firewood. There would be no food for the animals. Many lambs and calves froze to death, if they were not killed by hunger. All these, people said, were the work of the snow demon living at the foot of the QiLian Mountains. To save the grasslands, a young man called Mola volunteered to go to the Sun God for help.

Once upon a time, there lived two close friends who always did things together. When one of them unfortunately died from a serious illness, the other was so sad that he soon died, too. Then they transformed to a phoenix with two heads, one green and the other yellow.

One day, a Buddhist monk and a Taoist priest met in a tea house and started chatting. Each boasted of his own exploits and looked down on the others. The monk held that the soul of the dead goes west, while the Taoist priest insisted that it goes east to the sun.

A long time ago, hunchback granddaddy lived alone near a winding river. He planted dozens of banana trees on the banks of the river. Since he had no children of his own, he tended the trees as if they were his children.

The story happened a long time ago in the village near the Zu Li River. A boy named Golden Chisel has saved his village with the help of a magic stone ram. But how did the boy get the ram? And what kind of magic did this stone ram have?

Zhong Kui is a legendary figure who defeats ghosts. In the old days, people in China used to hang a picture of Zhong Kui in their homes during the Dragon Boat Festival. The Dragon Boat Festival takes place on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The picture of Zhong Kui was supposed to ward off evil spirits. But who was Zhong Kui, and why did people believe he could get rid of ghosts?

Everyone knows the Cinderella story, but did you know that there was a Chinese Cinderella story, from over 1,500 years ago? Instead of a fairy god mother, it was a fish and an old man that helped the Chinese Cinderella get to her ball. Did she have crystal shoes too? Well, sort of but not quite.

The Hua Mountain in China is known for its steepness and legend has it that it was split open by a little boy named Chen Xiang. Why would he do that and how did he do that?

Once upon a time, a White Snake Fairy fell in love with a young man in the mortal world. Marriage followed and all was well until the Dragon Boat Festival came around. What happened during the festival and did the husband ever find out about her true identity?

Have you been to the Great Wall in Beijing or the Pyramids in Egypt? Have you ever wondered how these were built, one stone on top of another, without any modern machinery? These wonders of the world are so awe-inspiring to look at, but on the other hand, they were also built with the lives of so many. Here is one sad legend about the Great Wall.

If you feel like you've had enough of fairies, monsters and magical beasts, don't go away, because today's show will be about ancient weapons, some with magical powers of their own. Swords, daggers and tales of revenge!

If you have the opportunity to travel around the countryside in China, you might notice these fierce looking gods painted on red paper pasted onto the family gates. Who are these and what are they for?

Have you ever wished that you could live like a fairy or some sort of immortal? The immortals are known to live a carefree life in Chinese culture, but there was this really famous gang of Eight Immortals that actually got into a lot of trouble. What happened?

What would it be like to live for 800 years? As far as I know, only a few historical characters could know about that. A man named Peng Zu was among them. What was his secret?

How much damage can a little boy do? Well, a lot I suppose. But this little boy called Ne Zha trumps them all. What kind of waves did he make? Big and mess ones for sure.

Jiang Ziya was an unusual old man, a household name in China, even though he lived some three thousand years ago. Many remember him as this kind and wise old man from the TV series in the 1990s, someone who always knew the right thing to do and also had a clever plan.

People have been celebrating Valentine's Day since the year 496 in the west. Is there a similar celebration in China? Yes and no. We do have a Valentine's Day but it all started with a rather sad story, involving once again, the Queen Mother of the West.

Would anyone like to learn a thing or two about becoming an immortal? What about some pills from the Queen Mother of the West and throw in some doughnut peaches too! Interested?

In the past few episodes, we've talked about some magical creatures in Chinese mythology, have you ever wondered if there were any magical plants? Today, I will introduce two fascinating plants that I hope had really existed. Actually, I wish they were still around.

What do you say to a gold-stuffed piggy bank? Yes, please! That's what I would say. There was such a monster according to Chinese folk tales. Its name is Pi Xiu and it didn't look quite as cute as a pink pig.

After stories of evil monsters, I would like to introduce a nice and good one called “Xie Zhi”. The mythical creature looks a bit like a goat, or at least initially it did, except that it has only one horn. Xie Zhi loathes liars, and his horn was reserved for people who did bad things and then lied about it, basically criminals.

I'm not sure if other cultures have their symbols for greediness, in China, we have the monster named Tao Tie, the two characters also stand for a "big feast"! I guess you can make that connection. So what's he like?

Monsters come in all shape and sizes, but you probably haven't heard of one like this! With a name of Hun Tun, or Chaos, the monster can't be good.

Sure you've heard of the magical bird that arises from ashes, yes, the phoenix. But that's the ancient Greek species. In this episode, we will talk about the Chinese phoenix and also another kind of giant bird. Intrigued?

Today we turn our attention from emperors and giants to magical creatures in Chinese history. The one leading the way is of course the dragon. Hard to say whether or not they actually existed, but it's certainly a crucial symbol for the Chinese people. Have you ever thought about keeping a dragon as a pet? Someone did.

Thirty-one episodes into our podcast we are approaching the end of the ancient part of Chinese history and the start of the first known dynasty in China, called Xia. The founder of the Xia Dynasty was the son of the Great Yu and he was born out of a rock. How did that happen?

Great Yu spent years of his life taming the floods, only to have his work eaten up by a monster with nine heads...of snakes! Would it help to chop off those heads? Yes, but that led to problems of another kind. How did the Great Yu deal with all this?

The great man Yu is so important in Chinese history that we are devoting three episodes related to him. Today's story is about how he tamed the floods and how he passed his own house three times and never went in. Why didn't he?

In some sense, history is a record of the great disasters that have befallen the human race, one of which is flooding. How did ancient Chinese combat the floods? That story would have to start with the Great Yu, and that in turn would have to start with his father, Gun, who fought flood with magical mud. What is that?

Although it took many years, in fact decades, for Shun to eventually become the emperor, it was all worth it. There was finally peace under heaven. How did Shun manage that and who came after Shun?

What is an ideal leader like, in the minds of the Chinese people? I think the answer can be best demonstrated by learning about the two ancient Chinese emperors, Yao and Shun. Today we will talk about Emperor Shun, who had a quite unfortunate childhood. Why is that?

How great would someone have to be, to be remembered as virtuous, kind and magnanimous thousands of years later? In this episode and the next, we will introduce Emperor Yao and Emperor Shun, who have been admired and loved by the Chinese people and looked up to by Chinese leaders. What is a perfect leader like in the eyes of the Chinese people?

What did your Mom say when you asked her "Where did I come from"? The stories about the births of the founders of Shang and Zhou Dynasties might come handy when your child asks you the same question. So where did they come from?

Separating heaven and earth, wait a minute, didn't Pangu the giant already do that? Yes, he was the first one to do so but not the last. Who else tried to separate heaven and earth and why?

Being an emperor was no easy job, especially at a time when giants and monsters roamed the land, too. In this episode, a giant fought with the Yellow Emperor with his head cut off. How did he manage that?

The first major battle in Chinese history was the one between the Yellow Emperor and Chi You. It wasn't just a simple mortal affair though. Some interesting supernatural creatures were involved, too. What were they like and what did they do?

Why do Chinese people call themselves the descendants of the Yan and Yellow Emperors? Were these emperors real or mystical?

This story is mainly about the God of Spring and the God of Autumn, but it's much more than that. The God of one thing in ancient China could be the God of so many things.

We've spent some time talking about the great hero Hou Yi. Was this handsome archer single or already taken? In fact, he was very happily married, to a fairy that was even more famous than he is!

Hou Yi is a very familiar name to the Chinese people and not just because he shot down the extra nine suns. Monsters of various sorts were out there haunting humans. Guess who stood out to tackle the challenge?

Did you know there were once ten suns in the sky? At least according to Chinese mythology. That couldn't have been good. Who saved the day? It was a hero named Hou Yi.

Today's story is about some Chinese fairies, who look nothing like Tinker Bell. What do they look like and what do they do all day?

There is a saying in China that all the major rivers flow to the east. Why is that? Are there magical powers that draw them to the sea? Well, the story has to start with the Chinese God of Water and all the fights that he managed to get into. Click on the play button to listen to his stories.

People everywhere worship the sun, but maybe only the Chinese once had ten suns instead of one. How did that work out? The story starts with their Sun Goddess, the mother of the ten suns.

Every child in China has heard of Yu Gong, the Foolish Old Man. I mean, he was 90 years old when he decided to remove the two mountains in front of his house. Hmm...so how did that go？You might be surprised to hear how that ended.

Today I want to tell you about the Forest Gump of ancient China, a man not really known for his sharp wits but revered for his courage and persistence. Why did he chase the sun? Did he get there? Let me tell you all about it!

Growing up in China, I often heard of the story of a little bird named Jing Wei that tried to fill the ocean, one beakful of rocks and twigs at a time. But not until I was grown did I fully understand the fury and spirit of that legendary bird. Why did she want to fill the ocean? Let's listen and find out.

The difficulty of learning Chinese characters might be frustrating for foreigners, but you got to admit, it's better than drawing everything out in pictures like they used to do during the cave-dwelling days. How were Chinese characters invented? And by whom? We'll find out today. And, if it's of any comfort, they are not easy for Chinese to learn neither.

For some odd reason, raising silkworms as a "pet" was in fashion when I was in second grade and for someone who gets goose bumps from seeing worms, it was a difficult time. But, I have no problem with wearing silk, so shiny, smooth and cool to the touch. Who first made the connection between silkworm cocoons and the making of silk? You will find out in this episode.

With better housing and fire for cooking, life was a lot better. As a result of that, population grew and food supply ran short. Hunting and berry picking couldn't cut it anymore. Luckily, Mr. Curious the Botanist came along. What did he discover? Well, much more than you can imagine!

What would you say to sashimi everyday? Sounds fantastic! But wait, what if it's sashimi roots, vegetables, bloody raw kills, everything except salmon and tuna and the other yummy stuff? Then I think having fire would be a grand idea! So how was fire discovered according to Chinese mythology? Let me introduce Mr. Courageous!

It's no surprise that humans lived in caves back in the ancient times. But did you know that some also lived on trees? They were not quite tree houses but at least human nests. Join us on this episode and get to know the first architect in Chinese history, Mr. Youchao.

Have you heard of the Eight Diagram from ancient China that contains the secrets of the universe? Do you know who invented nets and brought about the domesticating of animals? They all have to do with an ancient Chinese God called Fu Xi, who had the body of a human but the tail of a serpent. Intrigued?

With the creation of humans, Goddess Nv Wa was no longer lonely, but the future was not all rosy for the little human creatures. One day, without warning, the sky crackled open and fire rained down. The earth rumbled with the coming of a flood. What to do? Who could save them?

The world that the Giant Pan Gu had created was beautiful, with the sun and the moon, mountains and rivers. But something was missing, something that's the source of cries and laughter, of arts and imagination, of science and culture. That's right! I'm talking about humans. How were humans created, the Chinese way?

We all know about the Big Bang Theory, but to say that our world was created from a big explosion sounds a bit too catastrophic for the taste of the ancient Chinese. So how did the world start the Chinese way? We will have to start with the giant named Pan Gu.

A million, a billion or maybe a gazillion years ago, a giant hacked open an egg. Then there was the sky, the earth, and the world as we know……Welcome to season 2 of Chinese Folk Tales and we will explore the ancient mystical world together, available in September.