Throughout history, mothers have played a profound role in shaping cultures and values. In ancient China, the phrase “when you drink water, think of its source” illustrates the deep appreciation for one’s origins and the foundational role of mothers. This article, the first in a three-part series, explores the lives of some of the most ...
The virtue of repaying kindness has been passed down through the ages. Generations upon generations have been educated about the value of this timeless principle. Untold stories have been told of people who engaged in repaying the kindness extended to them. Such is the story of Confucius and his disciples’ acts of kindness being rewarded ...
In various epochs of human history, we find leaders and thinkers who stand out for their wisdom, wit, and a keen understanding of human nature. From the corridors of American politics to the enlightening teachings of ancient China, the following anecdotes unveil glimpses of wisdom from some of history’s most esteemed figures, such as Abraham ...
Readers who are fond of history might notice that there were usually wise and insightful mothers behind many accomplished people. As the most critical person in a child’s life, a mother’s values and outlook deeply affect the family and children. For a family, even if it is a poor family, an upright, kind, hardworking, optimistic, ...
In both Chinese and Western cultures, there is a belief in the Mandate of Heaven and the existence of divine beings and spirits. The West celebrates Christmas as the day a divine being was born into this world, while the Chinese acknowledge the Divine by careful consideration of auspicious days when choosing when to hold ...
Since ancient times, the Chinese have paid special attention to family discipline and family education. Famous scholars in history, from the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and on down to the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912), have all left advice for their family members based on their own experiences. There are also many forms of ...
This is a story about devout thought from the compilations in Liezi, an ancient Chinese philosophical text. An elderly farmer was named Shangqiu Kai. His family was impoverished and often suffered from hunger. One day, two men from the wealthy family of Fan Zihua stayed at Shangqiu’s house as guests. In their chat, they said that ...
Are you as clever as these people from ancient China? The following stories raise some perplexing questions. See if you can unravel these brainteasers. Confucius examines Xiang Tuo In the Spring and Autumn period (around 770 to 476 B.C.), Confucius and his students once went out for a ride in a carriage. They saw many ...
Traditional Confucian values — “benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust” — sound like rather staid notions, more suitable for a refined scholar of literature than a go-go entrepreneur. But cases abound through Chinese history of Confucian businessmen who built vast commercial empires relying on those ideas. Take the case of Hu Xueyan, a banker who went out ...
The Huizhou merchants, also known as Hui merchants, were one of the merchant societies in the six counties under the Huizhou Prefecture during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, also known as the “Hui Gang.” They were highly respected and known for their “Confucian way” of doing business. The Legend of the Huizhou merchants The Huizhou ...
© 2024 nspirement. All rights reserved
