Chinese Folk Tales
China Plus
Immerse yourself in the enchanting narrative of Chinese Cinderella, the romantic tale of the cowherd and the fairy, and the heroic legend of the fearless female general, Mulan...... These mythical stories blur the lines of reality, featuring epic protagonists. Join us on a wondrous journey into a new world, imbued with tradition, mythology, and enduring wisdom. Subscribe and listen now.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 12, 2020 • 9min
The giant who chased the sun
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!
Oct 8, 2020 • 7min
The bird who tried to fill the ocean
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.
Oct 5, 2020 • 8min
The invention of the written characters
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.
Oct 1, 2020 • 10min
The Fashionista Goddess of Silk
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.
Sep 28, 2020 • 10min
Mr. Curious the Botanist
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!
Sep 24, 2020 • 12min
Mr. Courageous and Fire
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!
Sep 21, 2020 • 7min
Mr. Handyman the Chinese Baron on the Trees
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.
Sep 17, 2020 • 8min
Fu Xi and the Eight Diagrams
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?
Sep 14, 2020 • 10min
Goddess Nv Wa saving her human babies
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?
Sep 10, 2020 • 9min
Goddess Nv Wa and her human babies
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?
