Chinese Folk Tales

Special Bonus Episode for UN Chinese Language Day! 
Have you ever wondered where the world's oldest continuous writing system came from? Today, we're stepping back thousands of years to meet Cang Jie, the legendary figure believed to have created Chinese characters. Legend says his innovation was so extraordinary that the heavens were moved to shower the earth with grain as a celestial reward – a miraculous event we still celebrate today as Grain Rain (Gǔyǔ).

Would you lose one race to win the whole match? Ancient strategist Sun Bin proved that smart matchups beat raw speed. And sometimes, what looks like bad luck… isn't. From "Tian Ji's Horse Racing" to "Sai Weng Lost His Horse," two stories about timing, patience, and perspective. 
(01:04) The Story of Tian Ji's Horse Racing — How to Lose One Race and Win the Game
(06:21) The Story of Sai Weng Losing His Horse — When Bad Luck Turns Out to Be Good

From "Bo Le Discerns a Noble Steed" to "Mistaking a Toad for a Horse," two short Chinese horse-related tales tell big lessons about talent, judgment, and flexibility. 
(01:05) The story of Bo Le Discerns a Noble Steed
(06:21) The story of Mistaking a Toad for a Horse

He rarely spoke. He never boasted. But in the Baoxiang Kingdom, when everyone else failed, the White Dragon Horse drew his sword and revealed his true courage. As the Year of the Horse approaches, listen to this powerful chapter from the classic "Journey to the West."

A dragon-turned horse. A punishment-turned pilgrimage. In this episode of Chinese Folk Tales, we tell the story of the White Dragon Horse from the classic "Journey to the West" — a silent hero for the Year of the Horse.