Life is unpredictable. So what good is accumulating vast wealth and possessions since no one can take them away upon leaving this world? This wise and worldly principle will enable parents to consider: “What is the most important and long-lasting wealth you can impart to your children?” Traditionally, there has been a well-known saying among ...
“Sincerity and truth are the basis of every virtue.” – Confucius This is a story from the compilations in Liezi, an ancient Chinese philosophical text, about how having a heart of sincerity can create miracles. There was an elderly farmer with a heart of sincerity named Shangqiu Kai whose family was impoverished and often suffered from ...
There is a famous saying in the West: “Man plans, and God laughs.” Though man may compete and strive for things like wealth or a prestigious position, what actually determines if he will have these things in his lifetime? It seems that just because someone wants these things, it does not mean that he will have ...
Is there a “Gate of Goodness” in the world? Are gods watching people in the dark? Here, we will introduce two stories from the Ming and Qing dynasties. In the stories, a suitable hall collapsed suddenly, but some people survived for different reasons. The way Gods protect people is beyond our imagination. A Ming Dynasty dream ...
Sima Guang (1019-1086), courtesy name Junshi, was a native of Shanxi Xia County, a litterateur, and a historian in the Northern Song Dynasty. He consecutively served as an official across four emperors, taking charge of the compilation of the first Chinese general history, History as a Mirror. He was a paradigm of Confucian education and ...
You are typically taught patience is a virtue from a very young age. Few people, though, are taught or demonstrated how to be patient. Being patient is something you choose to do; it’s not something you are not born with. The more you exercise patience, the more tolerant you become, just like any other discipline ...
The ancient moral tale Getting Good Returns With No Pursuit comes from Treasured Tales of China Vol. 2. This book is filled with historical stories and legends that foster morality and virtue. The short stories take us back to ancient times in China and the book sparkles with wisdom. It is translated by Dora Li and edited by Evan Mantyk and ...
In today’s world of instant beauty fixes, Instagram posts, and social media influencers, it is easy to forget that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. While some think that contouring makeup and padded underwear make a woman beautiful by current standards, the ancient Chinese people had other ideas, and “ugly women” were not ...
A family home is where everyone’s life begins and is an inevitable destination for those born into this world. Traditionally, around the world, and in particular for Chinese people, a home is considered to be their secure fortress or a place of refuge. In The Book of Rites, it states: “When fathers and sons are close and ...
The framing of Monk Jingman In ancient China, under the reign of Queen Wu Zetian during the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 624-715), there lived a monk named Jingman who resided in Luquan Temple, Heng County. Monk Jingman was very upright, strictly followed the precepts of Buddhism, and conducted himself well. However, other monks in the temple ...
© 2024 nspirement. All rights reserved
