Chinese Fables with Google Fonts (落下)

The Foolish Old Man Who Moved the Mountains
(愚公移山)

The Tale...

Long ago, an old man named Yu Gong was troubled by two massive mountains that blocked his village from the rest of the world. Instead of accepting defeat, he began digging and moving rocks each day with simple tools. Neighbors laughed at him, saying the task was impossible. But Yu Gong said, "Even if I can't finish, my children and grandchildren will continue the work." Eventually, the gods were moved by his determination and sent divine help to remove the mountains.

Moral: With perseverance and faith, even the hardest problems can be solved over time.

The Farmer and the Snake
(农夫与蛇)

The Tale...

On a freezing winter day, a kind-hearted farmer found a snake lying in the snow. Thinking it was dead, he picked it up and tucked it into his coat to warm it. But when the snake revived, it bit the farmer, and he died. The snake had only followed its nature.

Moral: Showing kindness to those who are harmful or ungrateful can bring you trouble.

Waiting for a Hare by the Tree Stump
(守株待兔)

The Tale...

A farmer once saw a rabbit running across his field. It hit a tree stump, broke its neck, and died. The farmer happily took the rabbit home for dinner. From then on, he waited by the same stump every day, hoping another rabbit would come. But none ever did, and his crops died.

Moral: Relying on luck and refusing to work leads to failure.

Drawing Legs on a Snake
(画蛇添足)

The Tale...

A group of men had a wine-sharing contest. Whoever finished drawing a snake first could drink. One man finished quickly, but then kept going and added legs to his drawing. While he was busy, another finished his snake and drank the wine. The first man protested, but was told: "Snakes don't have legs."

Moral: Doing more than necessary can ruin what is already good.