Shudan Guan

Once there was a bird called Hanhao Niao who lived in the Wutai Mountain. Summer was the time they became plump, and they often showed off to others and said, “How beautiful I am!” They spent all the time playing and never built their nests, when winter arrived, their furs fell off and were no longer beautiful. They hide in the stone at night when the sun came out, they comforted themselves by saying, “It’s okay, it’s okay.” [Annotation] 且: Temporarily. [Definition] To live one’s life without direction or a long-term goal. *If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com

Once there was a farmer, he hasn’t seen any growth of his germinated seedlings after transplanting. He was so anxious that he pulled up the seedlings and was exhausted when he returned home. He told his son happily, “I finally help the seedlings grow.” His son hurriedly went to the field, founding all seedings were dead. [Definition] When (someone) catalyses something (a plant, an event) but dismisses its growth cycle, ending with a disastrous result. *If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com

In Tang Dynasty, Han Yu was demoted because he rejected to put the osseous remains of the Buddha in the palace. He later wrote a letter to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, in which suggesting holding a great ceremony of veneration on Mount Tai and asking for the emperor’s permission to participate in this rear event, otherwise, he would live in regret for the rest of his life. The emperor was satisfied with his sincerity and let him hold this event. [Annotation] 载: Year. [Definition] (Something) that hardly occurs in a thousand years, or once in a blue moon. * If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com

In the middle of the Warring States Period, wars occurred frequently, and people were suffering. Mencius said to his students, “Once King Wen of Zhou carried benevolent governance, beginning from a 7500-square-kilometre-land and finally beat King Zhou of Shang, saving all the people. If a big country like Qi can do the same, our wars will be ended with half the effort Zhou paid.” [Annotation] 1. Warring States Period: an era in ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. 2. King Wen: Count of Zhou during the late Shang dynasty in ancient China. 3. King Zhou: The last ruler of the Shange dynasty in ancient China. 4. Qi: A state of the Zhou dynasty era in ancient China, one of the seven most powerful states in the Warring States Period. [Definition] When (something) only requires a small effort to achieve remarkable results. *If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com

Once upon a time, a master of a temple gave a bottle of wine to the guards of the temple. Yet one bottle wasn’t enough for the guards, so one person suggested a competition, he who finished drawing a snake first will get the wine. Guards all agreed and began to draw. A man finished quickly and was bored waiting for others to finish, so he took out the hen and added four feet to his snake. Meanwhile, another man finished drawing, he stopped the man from taking the wine, “Yours is not a snake. Snake doesn’t have a foot.” Then he took the wine and drank. [Annotation] 足: Foot. [Definition] When (someone) has done extra work that leads to an unpleasant/harmful result. *If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com

In the Northern and Southern Dynasties, there was an artist called Zengyao Zhang. It is said that he painted four dragons on the wall of a temple, yet all of them have no eyes. People asked him why, and he answered, “The dragons will fly away if they have eyes.” People thought he was lying, so he has to paint eyes for two of the dragons. Suddenly the sky was thundering and lightning, and two dragons flew away. People were shocked by his painting skill, after that, there were only two dragons with no eyes left on the wall. [Definition] When (someone) adds a punchline to their speeches or articles and makes the content more meaningful. *If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com

During the Warring States Period, a farmer dug out a square jade that was 30cm wide when he was farming. He gave the jade to his King. His King asked an expert in jade to examine, the expert said, “Congratulation my King! You get a rare precious stone.” His King asked, “How much does it cost?” The expert answered, “You can’t buy it with money. One who spends the price of 5 cities on it can only have a look.” His King was happy and rewarded the farmer. [Definition] When something is rare and invaluable. *If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com

One day, many archest were practising archery field. An archery master Yang Youji shot the bull’s eye several times, some men provokingly suggested, “It’s nothing special to shoot the bull’s eye, you should shoot that cottonwood leaves a hundred steps away!” Yang stood steadily, attached an arrow to the bow and shot the cottonwood leaf, people all clasped hands and cheered. [Definition] To describe someone who has a mastery of archery. *If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com

Once upon a time, there was an unbribable official. One day, he interrogated a storehouse manager who stole a coin. The manager said, “It’s merely one coin!” He then wrote down a line, “A coin a day, a thousand coins a thousand days; strings can cut the log, constant dripping wears away the stone.” This means if one steals a coin each day, it would be one thousand coins after one thousand days; a string can cut the log if one cuts constantly, and the stone can be pierced if water constantly drips on it. One should always keep in mind that little effort can have a great impact. [Annotation] 水滴石穿: Constant dripping wears away the stone. [Definition] Persistence can help you achieve a difficult or unlikely object. *If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com

Chen Yaozi was a master in archery in Song Dynasty and was proud of it. One day an oil salesman* passed by when Chen was practising archery in his yard, and the oil seller stopped and watched, merely nodding his head when Chen frequently hit the bull’s eye. Chen asked him, “Do you know archery? Am I not good at archery?” The oil seller said, “It’s nothing special but merely because you’ve practised a lot.” Chen said angrily, “How dare you look down on my skill!” The oil seller said, “By my skill of pouring oil.” He put a Calabash bottle on the ground and covered it with a cash*. He used a spoon to steadily pour the oil into the calabash bottle without wetting the coin. He said, “There is nothing special about me, it’s just because I’ve practised a lot.” Chen smiled and let him go. [Annotation] 1. Oil salesman: Sole proprietor who sells oil for cooking in ancient China. They usually carry two large wooden containers that are filled with oil and walk on the street to find buyers. 2. Cash: Cash is a type of coin in ancient China with a hole around 0.8 cm wide inside. [Definition] Practice makes perfect. If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com

There was a famous artist in Song Dynasty called Wen Yuke, who was a master at painting bamboo. He has planted many bamboos in his yard and observes their shapes and changes constantly; thereby, he will have a vivid picture of bamboo in mind every time before painting it. [Annotation]成: Ready-made or made beforehand. [Definition] When (someone) is well-prepared before doing something. If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com/?invite_code=NkNYWkVvwCyX5IJDcpMJ

Zhuangzi, a famous ancient philosopher writes a story in his biography, “Once I dreamed myself to be a butterfly, dancing vividly and beautifully, I was so fascinated that I almost forgot my own existence in the real world.” [Annotation] 栩栩: Vivid and lively. [Definition] When a vivid and lively image of humans or other species is provided by literature or artworks. * If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com/?invite_code=NkNYWkVvwCyX5IJDcpMJ

During the Tang Dynasty, there was a famous painter who was good at painting landscapes, pines, and rocks called Zhang Zao. Zhang is different from other painters because he can paint with two brushes at the same time: one paints the green branches while the other paints the dry twigs, thus becoming a pine tree, everyone who sees him painting finds it incredible. [Annotation] 管: It means painting brush in this context. [Definition] When (someone) does two things simultaneously or uses two methods to address one problem. If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com/?invite_code=NkNYWkVvwCyX5IJDcpMJ

There was an official called Feng Xiang in Song Dynasty. One day, he came into the court in a pair of new boots. A colleague asked him, “How much does your boost cost?” He lifted one foot and says, “900.” The colleague said surprisingly, “Why would my boosts cost 1,800?” Feng lifted another foot and said, “This one cost 900 too.” People in the court all laughed. [Definition] When people in the house/room all laugh. * If you are interested in Chinese folk tales or ghosts stories, have a look at: https://chinesestoriesfolktales.quora.com/?invite_code=NkNYWkVvwCyX5IJDcpMJ

There was a master in Go named Qui in ancient times, so people called him Yi Qui (Yi is the old name for Go). He has two students, one is curious and listens carefully, so he improved very soon; the other, although listens in class every day, is very distracted. He looks at the teacher while thinking if there would be swan geese flying in the sky, thus missing every word the teacher said, so he has made no improvement. [Annotation] 致：extreme, all; 志：interest, mind [Definition] (Someone) is very concentrated and not distracted.

I might help you but could you explain detailedly about the story, I'm not sure I've heard a Chengyu about flowers and underwear as a Chinese.