用英语讲中国故事初中组推荐篇目（6篇）

初中组—推荐篇目6篇

（选自《用英语讲中国故事-基础级》）

推荐篇目选段6段（6篇全文附在选段后）：

篇目1：梅 魂归故里化作梅 (王昭君)

塞外遥远又寒冷，宫女们都不愿意去。一位名叫王昭君的宫女为了百姓不再受战争之苦，自告奋勇表示愿意去和亲。她说：“现在匈奴的首领终于愿意和咱们和平相处了。我们谁要是嫁到匈奴，就是和平的使者，这多么有意义啊！原来，我总想着自己是一个弱女子，没有机会像男儿一样报效国家。现在就是一个好机会。”

汉元帝听后心想：这女子有这样的胸襟，真让人敬重。他急忙在大殿上召见了王昭君。

However, the distant land of the Xiongnu was a bleak place, and all of the palace maids were reluctant to go there except Wang Zhaojun, who bravely volunteered to marry the Xiongnu chief for the sake of ending her people’s suffering. She said, “Finally, the leader of the Xiongnu desires peace with us. Whoever of us is willing to marry him will be a peace envoy. This is the real reason I have decided to take this step. I used to think of myself as be­ing no more than a weak woman, who would never have the opportunity of serving my country like a man would. Now I have such a splendid opportunity!”

Emperor Yuan, hearing of her words, thought to himself: “The courage of this woman is really deserving of respect.” He hurriedly summoned Wang Zhaojun to his throne room.

篇目2：七夕 牛郎织女的传说

一天，日落西山，牛郎牵着老牛，拖着疲惫的身体走回家。突然，老牛竟然开口说话了！它告诉牛郎，今晚会有天上的仙女下凡到河边戏水，并劝他前去。

牛郎感到非常惊奇，好奇心让他夜幕降临时来到河边，只见漆黑的夜空中闪现了点点星光逐渐幻化成一个个女子的形象。仙女们果然来了！她们一落地，便将身披的羽衣脱下，跃入水中尽情嬉戏起来。牛郎躲在河边的树丛里，看着仙女们玩耍打闹。他发现其中最小的那个仙女娇小玲珑，笑容像花朵般甜美动人，顿时心中荡漾起爱慕的波澜，情不自禁地悄悄捡起她的羽衣，藏了起来。

One day, as the sun was setting behind the western hills, Herdboy and the ox were plodding their weary way home, when the ox suddenly started to speak. It told Herdboy that fairies would descend from Heaven that very evening to play in a nearby river, and urged him to go there.

Herdboy was amazed, but curiosity compelled him to go to the river just as night was closing in. There in the pitch-dark night he seemed to see the forms of girls twinkling like stars. Fairies had indeed come down to Earth! As they descended, each one took off her winged garment, and began to splash about and play in the water. Herdboy, hiding in a clump of trees near the river, watched the fairies’ graceful movements. He found the youngest fairy particularly attractive. Her smiling face moved Herdboy’s heart, and he in­stantly fell in love with her. On an impulse, he snatched up and hid her winged garment.

篇目3：王安石 王安石的游洞记

五人仿佛误闯入了女神的地宫。再往里走，温度变得更低了，火把也快燃烧殆尽，大家的心思有点动摇了，迈出的步伐也不坚定了。

这时，有一个胆小的年轻人提议道：“要不咱们出去吧，再不出去，火把可能要在半途中燃没了，这样大家都要被困在这洞里了。”

众人听到这话，纷纷不安起来，于是掉头原路返回，不一会儿就走出了山洞。出了山洞，王安石顿时悔恨不已。火把明明还有一大截可以燃烧，洞内的景观还在延续，大家却在中途撤了出来，真是扫兴。王安石后来反思：“听到那个人的提议，我想都没想就跟着他照做了。说明我也是个胆小的人啊。半途而返，错在自躬。自己的定力不强，又怎能怪乎他人呢？”

It was as though the five men had stumbled into a fairyland. As they went further in, the temperature dropped, and their torch started to burn low. Everyone began to feel anxious, and their once-bold footsteps began to falter.

At this moment, a nervous young man said, “We should go back out now, otherwise we won’t be able to get out. If our torch dies, we’ll all be trapped in this cave.”

Alarmed at these words, everyone turned around, and scuttled back out of the cave. However, Wang Anshi was soon filled with regret: The torch clearly could have lasted for much longer. There were many more wonders in the cave, but they had rushed out halfway through exploring it. How disappointing! But then the following thought came to him: “When I heard that man’s call to leave the cave, I did what the others did without even thinking. That shows that I am a coward, too. It was my fault that we turned back. My own resolve is not firm enough; how can I blame others?”

篇目4：三北防护林 绿色屏障锁风沙

他还没来得及多想，突然听到西北风的呼号声。狂风大作，一片沙海直接从天上倾倒下来，白天瞬间变成了黑夜。四周都是砂砾和尘土，老李和自己的马走散了。

“这都遭的什么罪！”老李既担忧又害怕。这个时候，他多么希望有一堵墙，把这些讨厌的沙子全部拦截在塞外。

其实，不光老李在抱怨，其他老百姓也受不了这些黄沙了。不光这里的百姓受不了这席卷的沙土，华北、西北和东北地区有同样沙尘暴遭遇的百姓们都受不了这漫天黄沙了。

Almost before he realized it, he heard the whistling of the northwest wind, and a raging blast brought a virtual sea of sand down upon him from the sky; in the twinkling of an eye, day turned into night, and the air in every direction was filled with sand and gravel. Old Li became separated from his horse.

“Why do we have to suffer from this?” Old Li wondered, worried and afraid. At the same time, he wished that there were a wall of some kind to keep the annoying sand at bay.

In fact, it was not only Old Li but the other local people, too, who harbored a deep resentment against the scourge of the drifting sand. And it was not just the people in this area either; all of the inhabitants of North, Northwest and Northeast China, too, suffered equally from sandstorms which filled the sky with yellow sand.

篇目5：古乐 伯牙与钟子期

第二年中秋时节，伯牙如期而至，谁料想此时已与好友阴阳相隔，子期已离他而去。伯牙在子期的坟前，抚琴而哭，弹了一曲《高山流水》，曲终，以刀断弦，并仰天而叹：“知己不在，我鼓琴还能有谁听呢？”说毕，将琴砸在地上，琴破弦绝……

从此以后，伯牙与钟子期的故事被世代流传，两人心心相印。高山流水则成为知音的代称，让世代人们为之向往与感动。

In autumn the following year Bo Ya went to pay a call on his friend, but was devasted to learn that his soul mate had passed away. In front of Zhong Ziqi’s grave, Bo Ya took up his zither, weeping. He then played the tune Mountains and Streams. At the end of the tune, he took out a knife, and cut the zither’s strings. Raising his face to Heaven, he lamented, “The person who really understood me is gone forever. For whom shall I play my zither now?” With these words, he smashed the zither on the ground. The zither was broken and the strings were severed...

From that time on, the story of Bo Ya and Zhong Ziqi has been passed down from generation to generation. The hearts of the two men responded to each other in perfect understanding. The words Mountains and Streams have been used to describe closeness and affection between soul mates.

篇目6：义 季札献剑

季札出使回来，又来到了徐国，原来他当初就想把宝剑献给徐国君王，此次是专程来献剑，完成心愿。表明来意后，竟得知徐国君王已经去世了。季札顿时震惊又悲伤，缓过神后，他解下宝剑，将其系在徐国君王墓冢旁的树上，遗憾离去。

季札的随从看见了，不解，问季札：“徐国君王已经不在了，这宝剑挂在这里又有什么用呢？”

季札摇摇头，答道：“不能这样说。上次来徐国，看到君王喜欢这把佩剑时，我就决定回来时把宝剑献给君王，只是没想到出了这样的意外，但又怎么能因为他去世了就背弃当初的想法！”说罢，黯然神伤地离开了。

His mission accomplished, on his way back Ji Zha once again passed through Xu. This time he fully intended to give the sword to the ruler of Xu, but upon his arrival he learned that his friend had already passed away. Momentarily stunned and grief-stricken, Ji Zha took off his sword and dedicated it to the dead man by hanging it on a tree near his tomb.

Ji Zha’s attendants were puzzled at his action, saying, “Sir, the ruler of Xu is already dead; what is the use of leaving him your sword?”

Ji Zha shook his head, and replied, “Let me explain. When I came to the State of Xu last time, I noticed that my friend admired my sword, and so I decided that when I came back I would give it to him. However, I never expected this turn of events, but how could I change my mind just because the man has died?” With these words, he left the place, gloomy and heart-broken.

全文6篇：

中国风物

梅

魂归故里化作梅

梅、兰、竹、菊被古人称为四君子。尤其是梅花，一直为国人赞赏。

“墙角数枝梅，凌寒独自开。遥知不是雪，为有暗香来。”这是宋代政治家王安石写的一首诗。这首诗的主角就是梅花。那么梅花有什么特点呢？“凌寒独自开 ”是梅花与其他花的不同点。别的花都是春夏开放，只有梅花能够忍耐冬天刺骨的寒冷，而且越是寒冷，花开得越饱满，越精神！

传说每一种花每个月都有一位花神负责管理。正月管理梅花的花神是王昭君。昭君是古代四大美女之一，她有梅花一样不俗的容貌。除此之外，昭君和梅花还有哪些相似之处呢？

西汉年间，汉朝和北方民族匈奴之间征战不断，双方都希望能和平相处。匈奴首领呼韩邪单于三次到长安拜见汉朝皇帝，并向汉元帝请求和亲。“和亲 ”就是两国通过婚嫁实现交好。汉元帝十分重视与匈奴的关系，决定从后宫中选出一位女子远嫁匈奴。

塞外遥远又寒冷，宫女们都不愿意去。一位名叫王昭君的宫女为了百姓不再受战争之苦，自告奋勇表示愿意去和亲。她说：“现在匈奴的首领终于愿意和咱们和平相处了。我们谁要是嫁到匈奴，就是和平的使者，这多么有意义啊！原来，我总想着自己是一个弱女子，没有机会像男儿一样报效国家。现在就是一个好机会。”

汉元帝听后心想：这女子有这样的胸襟，真让人敬重。他急忙在大殿上召见了王昭君。

王昭君花容月貌，气质高贵，端庄得体，举止优雅。从帝王到臣子都惊呆了。汉元帝被昭君的美貌与气节打动，重赏昭君，让她远嫁到匈奴。

昭君嫁到匈奴后，与匈奴人民和睦相处，并把中原的文明传到了匈奴。从此，汉朝和匈奴半个多世纪没有交战。昭君为双方的和平贡献了自己的力量。

昭君的故事讲完了。你是否觉得昭君和其他宫女很不同呢？她能从家国利益出发，不怕塞外艰苦的生活环境，也克服了自己对远离家乡的恐惧，做出了和其他宫女不一样的选择。这正是梅花精神 “不惧艰难，质本高洁 ”的体现！传说她死后灵魂回到了汉朝化成了梅花。

中华民族历史上有许多如梅花一样铮铮铁骨的人物，他们是民族的脊梁，也许这就是中国人民喜欢梅花的原因吧。

故事要旨

梅花以其不怕风欺雪压的铮铮铁骨受到中国人民的喜爱。中华民族的历史上也出现了许多有梅花品格的人物。许多文人更是借赞美梅花抒发自己坚强、独立的精神气质。

The Plum Blossom

Returning Home as a Plum Blossom

The plum blossom, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum were called by the ancient Chi­nese the “Four Gentlemen.” The plum blossom was especially appreciated.

“The plum blossom sprigs in the corner of the wall/

Alone bloom in the frosty chill/

Seen from afar I know it is not snow/

For a hint of the fragrance to come.”

These verses were written by the Song Dynasty (960-1279) statesman Wang Anshi (王安石), in praise of plum blossoms. But what are the special characteristics of plum blos­soms? “Alone bloom in the frosty chill” points out the difference between plum blossoms and other flowers. Other flowers bloom only in spring and summer; only the plum blos­som has the hardihood to withstand the bone-piercing cold of winter; in fact, the colder it is the more luxuriantly the plum blossom blooms, and the sturdier its spirit.

Legend has it that every flower and every month have an official patron. The official guardian of the plum blossom in January is Wang Zhaojun (王昭君). As one of the Four Great Beauties of ancient China, her appearance was said to be strikingly like that of the plum blossom. But apart from this, what other similarities were there between Wang Zhaojun and the plum blossom?

During the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-25 AD) there was constant warfare between the Han and the northern tribe of the Xiongnu. When finally both sides wanted peace be­tween them, the Xiongnu leader Khan Huhanye visited the Han capital Chang’an three times to pay his respects to Emperor Yuan of the Han Dynasty and ask for a marriage al­liance. This was a political arrangement whereby two countries could become related by marriage. Emperor Yuan valued highly such a connection with the Xiongnu, and decided to select a palace maid to go and marry the Xiongnu leader.

However, the distant land of the Xiongnu was a bleak place, and all of the palace maids were reluctant to go there except Wang Zhaojun, who bravely volunteered to marry the Xiongnu chief for the sake of ending her people’s suffering. She said, “Finally, the leader of the Xiongnu desires peace with us. Whoever of us is willing to marry him will be a peace envoy. This is the great significance of such a step. I used to think of myself as be­ing no more than a weak woman, who would never have the opportunity of serving my country like a man would. Now I have such a splendid opportunity!”

Emperor Yuan, hearing of her words, thought to himself: “The courage of this woman is really deserving of respect.” He hurriedly summoned Wang Zhaojun to his throne room.

Wang Zhaojun was extremely beautiful, had a lofty character, and was dignified and graceful. She captivated the whole court, from the emperor to his ministers. Moved by both her beauty and her nobility of character, Emperor Yuan gave Wang Zhaojun rich re­wards, and allowed her to go and marry the leader of the Xiongnu.

After she had done so, Wang Zhaojun not only devoted herself to maintaining peace between the Han and the Xiongnu, she also actively introduced the civilization of the Central Plain to the latter. There followed over half a century during which there were no more clashes between the two countries. Wang Zhaojun dedicated all her efforts to peace between the Han and the Xiongnu.

Such is the story of Wang Zhaojun. Do you feel that there was a difference between her and the other palace ladies? In order to benefit her country, Wang Zhaojun braved the harsh life of a far-off land, conquering her own fears about leaving home and making a choice the other palace ladies had refused. This was the embodiment of the plum blossom spirit – a “noble character fearless of hardship.” The legend goes that after her death, Wang Zhaojun returned to the Han court in the form of a plum blossom.

Chinese history contains many accounts of staunch figures as unyielding as plum blos­soms. They were the backbones of our people. That is probably the reason why the Chi­nese people cherish plum blossoms so much.

The Moral of This Story

The sturdiness of the plum blossom in defying the wind’s bluster and the snow’s op­pression has won the Chinese people’s admiration. Throughout its history, the Chinese race has produced many figures with plum-blossom-like characters. Moreover, many Chi­nese scholars have borrowed the fine features of the plum blossom to describe their own steadfast and independent spirit.

 中国习俗

七夕

牛郎织女的传说

每年农历七月初七，被称为 “七夕 ”。关于这个节日，有一个美丽的传说。

相传，古时候有个名为牛郎的男孩，父母很早就去世了。他在哥哥嫂嫂家里生活。嫂嫂嫌他累赘，常常对他又打又骂。他刚到 16岁，哥哥嫂嫂就把他赶出家门，给了他一头老牛，让他自立门户。从此，他与老牛一道耕田犁地，相依为命。

一天，日落西山，牛郎牵着老牛，拖着疲惫的身体走回家。突然，老牛竟然开口说话了！它告诉牛郎，今晚会有天上的仙女下凡到河边戏水，并劝他前去。

牛郎感到非常惊奇，好奇心让他夜幕降临时来到河边，只见漆黑的夜空中闪现了点点星光逐渐幻化成一个个女子的形象。仙女们果然来了！她们一落地，便将身披的羽衣脱下，跃入水中尽情嬉戏起来。牛郎躲在河边的树丛里，看着仙女们玩耍打闹。他发现其中最小的那个仙女娇小玲珑，笑容像花朵般甜美动人，顿时心中荡漾起爱慕的波澜，情不自禁地悄悄捡起她的羽衣，藏了起来。

天要亮了，仙女们纷纷上岸，穿起羽衣飞回天上去。只有最小的仙女——织女，始终找不到自己的羽衣，急得哭了起来。牛郎赶忙从树林中跑出来，把羽衣交还给她，并羞涩地向她表达自己的情意。织女破涕为笑，决定留下来和他多相处几天再回到天上。

结果，几天、几个月过去，织女渐渐爱上了勤劳朴实又聪明能干的牛郎，决定嫁给他。结婚后，牛郎与织女男耕女织，又生育了一双儿女，生活得非常幸福。织女是所有仙女中最擅长纺织和刺绣的，她织出来的布匹让全村全镇都赞叹不已。

天帝听闻这件事，怒不可遏，让王母娘娘将织女带回天上。牛郎眼看着爱妻被强行带走，心如刀割却无可奈何，两个孩子更是哇哇大哭。老牛见到此景，便将自己的牛角折断，化成了一艘小船。牛郎抱着两个孩子，乘着小船向天上追去。就要追上织女时，却见王母娘娘拔下头上金簪向后一划，一条波涛汹涌的银河凭空出现，将牛郎拦住了。牛郎与织女只得隔水相望，但他们的心却紧密相连。终于，他们坚贞的爱情打动了天帝，允许他们每年七月初七相会。那一天，无数喜鹊相聚于银河，为他们搭起连通两岸的鹊桥，牛郎带着儿女与织女在桥上团圆。

这就是牛郎织女的故事。后来，古代女子羡慕织女高超的女红技巧，敬佩她对爱情的坚贞，向她乞巧求福，“七夕 ”也逐渐成为中国民间极富人情味的节日。

故事要旨

中国古代，从来不曾缺少对于爱情与自由的追求。牛郎织女的故事就表达了人们对爱情圆满、家庭和睦、生活自由的向往。牛郎织女对爱情坚贞的守望也感动着一代又一代中国人。

The Double-Seventh Day

The Legend of Herdboy and Weaving Maid

Every year in China a festival is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month by the lunar calendar, called the “Double Seventh.” Connected with it is a beautiful legend.

It is said that in ancient times there was a young man known as Herdboy (牛郎). His parents had died and left him an orphan at an early age, and he lived with his elder brother and sister-in-law. The latter resented him bitterly, and often beat and scolded him. When Herdboy reached the age of sixteen his brother and sister-in-law expelled him from the house with only an old ox as his inheritance. Herdboy engaged in farming, the ox draw­ing the plow.

One day, as the sun was setting behind the western hills, Herdboy and the ox were plodding their weary way home, when the ox suddenly started to speak. It told Herdboy that fairies would descend from Heaven that very evening to play in a nearby river, and urged him to go there.

Herdboy was amazed, but curiosity compelled him to go to the river just as night was closing in. There in the pitch-dark night he seemed to see the forms of girls twinkling like stars. Fairies had indeed come down to Earth! As each one descended, she doffed her winged garment, and began to splash about and play in the water. Herdboy, hiding in a clump of trees near the river, watched the fairies’ graceful movements. He found the youngest fairy particularly attractive. Her smiling face moved Herdboy’s heart, and he in­stantly fell in love with her. On an impulse, he snatched up and hid her winged garment.

Just before dawn, the fairies scrambled back onto the river bank. Donning their winged robes, they flew back to Heaven – all except the youngest, known as Weaving Maid (织女), whose job was to make beautiful clouds in the sky. Unable to find her own clothes, she burst into tears. Herdboy rushed out of the trees, handed to her her winged robe, and bashfully confessed his love for her. Weaving Maid, changing her tears into smiles, de­cided to stay with Herdboy for a few days before returning to Heaven.

But the days turned into months, and Weaving Maid gradually came to love diligent, clever and capable Herdboy. She decided to marry him. One year later, their son and daughter were born. With Herdboy farming and Weaving Maid weaving, together with their children, they led a happy life. Weaving Maid had been the most skilful weaver in Heaven, and of course the cloth she wove in her new life was the wonder of the village and famous for miles around.

When the Lord of Heaven heard what had happened, he was exceedingly angry. He ordered the Queen Mother of the West to fetch Weaving Maid back. As Herdboy watched his beloved Weaving Maid being forcibly taken away, he felt as though a knife had pierced his heart. But there was nothing he could do. The babies wailed loudly. Seeing this, the old ox shed one of his horns, which turned into a small boat floating in the air. Herdboy took the two babies with him, got on to the boat, and soared up to Heaven in pursuit of Weaving Maid.

Just as they were catching up with the Queen Mother, she took a hairpin from her hair, and drew a magic line behind her, which turned into a raging river known as the Milky Way. This barred the progress of Herdboy. He and Weaving Maid could only gaze help­lessly at each other across the chasm, still linked, however, in their hearts. At length, their pure love moved the Lord of Heaven, and he gave permission for them to meet once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh Lunar month. On that day countless numbers of magpies flock to the Milky Way to form a bridge with their bodies so that Herdboy and Weaving Maid can be reunited in the middle.

This is the story of Herdboy and Weaving Maid. From then on, girls in ancient China had great admiration for Weaving Maid’s superior skill at weaving, as well as for her steadfast love. They prayed to her specially to give them needlework skills and good for­tune. The “Double Seventh” gradually became a festival full of emotion for the Chinese people.

The Moral of This Story

In ancient China the pursuit of love and freedom continued without a break. The story of Herdboy and Weaving Maid represents the people’s yearning for perfect love, a harmo­nious family and a free life. The steadfast love of Herdboy and Weaving Maid has moved generation after generation.

中国人物

王安石

王安石的游洞记

王安石是北宋的政治家、思想家。他主持的变法（史称 “王安石变法 ”）对中国产生了深远影响。

他一生游历甚多且每一次出游总能收获心得。一次，游览褒禅山给他留下了深刻的印象。

褒禅山原来是唐朝僧人慧褒定居的地方，最终安葬在这里，山名由此而来。王安石和同伴一路登山。在半山腰一处平坦的地方，同行者五人发现了一座隐蔽的山洞。一位胆大的年轻人提议不如大家手持火把进洞一寻究竟。王安石也犹豫不决。一方面，洞穴幽邃深不可测，而且里面的气温低，谁也不敢保证进洞安全；另一方面，人越少的地方，像这隐蔽的洞穴，里面的景观就更有可能、鲜为人知。正所谓世间奇巧的事物都不会被摆在很显眼的地方。最终好奇心战胜了顾虑，五人小心翼翼地进了山洞。

果不其然，洞内的景色不同寻常。暗泉在石缝中涓涓地流淌，洞四周结满了水晶一般的石笋。各种石花、钟乳石立柱和晶体都悬挂在壁上。五人仿佛误闯入了女神的地宫。再往里走，温度变得更低了，火把也快燃烧殆尽，大家的心思有点动摇了，迈出的步伐也不坚定了。

这时，有一个胆小的年轻人提议道：“要不咱们出去吧，再不出去，火把可能要在半途中燃没了，这样大家都要被困在这洞里了。”

众人听到这话，纷纷不安起来，于是掉头原路返回，不一会儿就走出了山洞。出了山洞，王安石顿时悔恨不已。火把明明还有一大截可以燃烧，洞内的景观还在延续，大家却在中途撤了出来，真是扫兴。王安石后来反思：“听到那个人的提议，我想都没想就跟着他照做了。说明我也是个胆小的人啊。半途而返，错在自躬。自己的定力不强，又怎能怪乎他人呢？”

经过此事，王安石收获了一些心得。他感慨道，游览山洞就跟做成事一模一样。山洞景色独好，却只为那些心有定力，不半途而废不随波逐流的人呈现。研究一门艰深的学问，最终能成功的也只能是那些有准备，不半途而废不随波逐流的学者。只有他们才能看到穷尽学问那一刻的万千世界啊。

从此以后，王安石立下了志向，为了成为那个看遍美景、内心坚定的人，再也不会随大流，人云亦云了。他要有自己的坚持和想法。也正因为王安石培养起了坚定自我的性格，最终执北宋变法之牛耳。

故事要旨

自古学者和政客最怕人云亦云随波逐流，没有自己独立的想法。王安石游山，从观赏美景中悟出了这一道理。坚定自我，不任人改变，那么最后一定能够览尽万千芳华。

Wang Anshi

Exploring a Cave

Wang Anshi (王安石 ) was a prominent statesman and thinker of the Northern Song Dy­nasty (960-1127). The reform which he advocated (known in history as the Wang Anshi Reform) had a wide-ranging influence on China.

Wang Anshi did a great deal of sightseeing throughout his life, and every time he trav­eled, he would learn something new. His trip to Mount Baochan left him with a particu­larly deep impression.

The Tang Dynasty (618-907) monk Huibao had once lived on this mountain, and in fact was buried there. It was from this monk that the mountain had got its name. When Wang Anshi and his four companions climbed the mountain, at a flat area about halfway up, they found a secluded cave. One of them, a bold young man, suggested exploring the cave with a flaming torch. But Wang Anshi hesitated. For one thing, they didn’t know how deep the cave was; also, the temperature inside the cave was low and there was no guarantee of their safety once inside it. However, it was likely that there would be unique sights in this cave which few had seen before, as it was in a sparsely-inhabited area. It is said that the world’s wonders are not laid out where they can be easily seen. Eventually, curiosity overcame Wang Anshi’s scruples, and all five gingerly entered the cave.

Sure enough, the interior of the cave was extraordinary: Water from hidden springs trickled sluggishly from cracks in the stone walls; crystal-like stalagmites were all around; there was every kind of rock florescence; stalactites and rock-crystal swellings hung from the walls. It was as though the five men had stumbled into a fairyland. As they went further in, the temperature dropped, and their torch started to burn low. Everyone began to feel anxious, and their once-bold footsteps began to falter.

At this moment, a nervous young man said, “We should go back out now, otherwise we won’t be able to get out. If our torch dies, we’ll all be trapped in this cave.”

Alarmed at these words, everyone turned around, and scuttled back out of the cave. However, Wang Anshi was soon filled with regret: The torch clearly could have lasted for much longer. There were many more wonders in the cave, but they had rushed out halfway through exploring it. How disappointing! But then the following thought came to him: “When I heard that man’s call to leave the cave, I did what the others did without even thinking. That shows that I am a coward, too. It was my fault that we turned back. My own resolve is not firm enough; how can I blame others?”

This experience taught Wang Anshi a lesson. He sighed to himself as he realized that the trip to the cave had been like any other endeavor: The cave had unique sights to offer – but only to people of perseverance, people who do not abandon the effort halfway and drift with the flow of other people. Those who wish to grasp any subject of learning deeply are, in the end, scholars who are fully prepared, refuse to give up halfway, and do not drift with the current. Only such people can fathom the multifarious aspects of the world.

From this time on, Wang Anshi made up his mind that he would not go with the flow or parrot others’ words; in order to see the true beauty of the world, he had to have a will of iron. He had to stick to his own method of thought. And it was just by cultivating his own adamantine character that Wang Anshi finally took the lead in the reform of the Northern Song Dynasty.

The Moral of This Story

From ancient times, what Chinese scholars and statesmen have been most wary of has been parroting what others say and drifting with the flow. This was what Wang Anshi learned from his sightseeing trips. By making himself firm, despite the waverings and changes of others, Wang Anshi finally managed to appreciate the myriad beauties of the world.

中国成就

三北防护林

绿色屏障锁风沙

牵着马赶集的老李重重地喘了一口粗气。他发现天气越来越不对头了。

老李最担心的，就是出门赶集遇上大风天。这里是乌素苏木，离库布齐沙漠最近的一个小镇子。库布齐沙漠周围是一片荒芜的砂石地带，天然植被因为过度放牧和耕种已经所剩无几了。每到大风天，西北风会强有力地卷起漫天黄沙，向沙漠周边村子吹去。当地老人说，历史上曾经有几次很严重的沙尘暴，只需短短的一夜，黄沙就能堆上房顶。晚归的人顺着沙丘走上自家屋顶，有可能从另一侧房檐上摔下来。

现在，老李就遇到了这个问题。他还没来得及多想，突然听到西北风的呼号声。狂风大作，一片沙海直接从天上倾倒下来，白天瞬间变成了黑夜。四周都是砂砾和尘土，老李和自己的马走散了。

“这都遭的什么罪！”老李既担忧又害怕。这个时候，他多么希望有一堵墙，把这些讨厌的沙子全部拦截在塞外。

其实，不光老李在抱怨，其他老百姓也受不了这些黄沙了。不光这里的百姓受不了这席卷的沙土，华北、西北和东北地区有同样沙尘暴遭遇的百姓们都受不了这漫天黄沙了。

老百姓渴望治理黄沙的愿望被政府知道了。他们很快召集专家讨论研究。在试点实践成功后，一个新工程便落地生根了。这就是的 “三北防护林 ”工程。

“三北防护林 ”，顾名思义，就是在中国的三北地区（西北、华北和东北）建设大型人工林起到固沙、防沙和治沙的功能。中国幅员辽阔，三北地区需要整治的沙地面积共四百多万平方公里。在这么大的面积上变沙地为绿林，需要怎样的决心和毅力啊。

修建 “三北防护林 ”的消息传来，老李和乡亲们拍手称快，这实在是一个功在当下、利在千秋的惠民工程啊！整个地区的男女老少都被动员起来，自己建设自己的绿色屏障。专业技术人员还结合当地实际情况发明了很多成活树种的办法。

一年，三年，五年 ……现在，三北地区已经是一片绿色的沃土了，风沙终于被遏制住了。

老李高兴坏了。他认为，以前看着自家门口的那一片沙漠，觉得是魔鬼。现在隔着一片森林看沙漠，觉得那里还挺美的。毕竟人与沙子已经和谐相处了嘛。

故事要旨

土地荒漠化防治是功在当代、利在千秋的伟大事业。中国历来高度重视荒漠化防治工作，取得了显著成就，为推进美丽中国建设作出了积极贡献，为国际社会治理生态环境提供了中国经验。

The “3-N” Shelterbelt

Blocking Drifting Sand

Leading his horse to the market, Old Li (老李) struggled to catch his breath. He found that inclement weather was coming.

Old Li’s greatest worry was the severe wind he often had to battle against when he left home to go to the market. His home was in Ususumu, the nearest town to the Kubuqi Desert. This desert was a vast tract of sand and stones, virtually devoid of plant cover due to over-grazing and tillage. On windy days the northwest wind would be strong enough to obscure the sky with clouds of yellow sand, causing most of the villages on the edges of the desert to be abandoned. The local elders said that there had been a number of severe sandstorms in the past which had piled sand to the rooftops in one short night, and the residents coming home late would find themselves climbing sand dunes onto the roofs of their own houses, and sometimes tumbling down from their own eaves on the other side.

And now Old Li was about to encounter the same problem: Almost before he realized it, he heard the whistling of the northwest wind, and a raging blast brought a virtual sea of sand down upon him from the sky; in the twinkling of an eye, day turned into night, and the air in every direction was filled with sand and gravel. Old Li became separated from his horse.

“Why do we have to suffer from this?” Old Li wondered, worried and afraid. At the same time, he wished that there were a wall of some kind to keep the annoying sand at bay.

In fact, it was not only Old Li but the other local people, too, who harbored a deep resentment against the scourge of the drifting sand. And it was not just the people in this area either; all of the inhabitants of North, Northwest and Northeast China, too, suffered equally from sandstorms which filled the sky with yellow sand.

When the government realized how eagerly the people yearned for a solution to the sand problem, it lost no time in calling together experts to find counter-measures. As a result, a pilot project was launched, and it turned out to be successful – the famous “3-N” shelterbelt.

As its name implies, this project involves planting large-scale man-made forests in three regions (Northwest, North and Northeast) of northern China to fix the sand dunes and stop the sand moving. China’s territory is vast, and the area of sand to be controlled in the three northern regions covered a total of over four million square kilometers; to turn this extent of sand into areas of green trees would take a great amount of determina­tion and dedication.

When the news about the “3-N” shelterbelt spread, Old Li and his fellow-townsmen clapped their hands in delight: This was a project which would benefit the people not just of this generation but of a thousand generations to come! All the people of the region – men, women, the young, the old – were mobilized, and each worked to put up his or her own green screen. Specialist technicians worked out ways to ensure the survival of tree seeds suited to the actual conditions of each area.

One year, three years, five years... Many years’ effort has paid off. Now, the three northern areas have become green and fertile, and wind-whipped sand has been held in check.

Old Li is overjoyed. He used to consider the desert just outside his house as some kind of evil spirit, but now he appreciates the beauty of that same desert separated from him by a belt of forest. At last, man and sand had found their places side by side in harmony.

The Moral of This Story

The transformation and control of soil desertification are mankind’s tasks for the pres­ent and a great benefit to people for a thousand years to come. China has continuously paid close attention to this work, and achieved notable successes, contribu­ting positively to the Construction of Beautiful China. Moreover, China’s experience can be used by other countries in putting right the ecological environment.

中国艺术

古乐

伯牙与钟子期

琴棋书画一直是中国古代文人喜欢的艺术。其中古乐，更为文人雅士喜欢。古乐寄托了作曲者与演奏者的精神追求与人生志趣。欣赏者则可以在听曲中体会作曲与演奏的精神。这样的关系，被人们称为知音。

古时候楚国有个读书人，名叫做伯牙，酷爱弹琴。他在一位那里体会到乐曲中的自然野趣。他在弹琴时，感受到一幅奇景挂在眼前：云中见飞瀑，雾中流清泉，水花四溅似珍珠，水声回荡如仙乐。他的琴艺达到了炉火纯青的境界，但却始终没能找到一个知音，感到有些孤独。

后来，伯牙到晋国做了大夫。一日，他奉命出使楚国。因遇大风，只好在汉阳江口停留。待风平之后，一轮仲秋之月便从浮云中漫步而出。伯牙站立船头，仰视明月，俯视江面水波，琴兴大发，便开始抚琴。一曲即终，忽从草丛中跳出一个樵夫来，对伯牙的琴艺赞叹不已。

伯牙闻赞，颇为惊异，便问道：“你会听琴？你能识琴之优劣吗？”

樵夫笑着说道：“您可否再奏一曲？”伯牙欣然应允，便又调弦抚琴。那琴声时而雄壮高亢，樵夫便点头感叹说：“真的很好，你的琴声让我仿佛看到了巍峨的泰山。”琴声又时而舒畅温和，樵夫又点头感叹说：“太好了，你的琴声使我仿佛看到了潺潺的流水。”

伯牙听到樵夫这样说，非常快乐，推琴而起，向他行礼后问道：“这位贤士，请教您高名雅姓？”樵夫还礼，说：“在下姓钟，贱字子期。”伯牙叹曰：“相识满天下，知心能有几人啊。”即命童子焚香燃烛，与子期结为兄弟，并约定来年中秋再在此地相会。

第二年中秋时节，伯牙如期而至，谁料想此时已与好友阴阳相隔，子期已离他而去。伯牙在子期的坟前，抚琴而哭，弹了一曲《高山流水》，曲终，以刀断弦，并仰天而叹：“知己不在，我鼓琴还能有谁听呢？”说毕，将琴砸在地上，琴破弦绝 ……

从此以后，伯牙与钟子期的故事被世代流传，两人心心相印、互相理解的感情也被比喻为 “知音 ”之情。高山流水则成为知音的代称，让世代人们为之向往与感动。

故事要旨

中国古代艺术的灵感多来自自然，能读出艺术魅力的人多被认为是知音。古琴古乐是古代文人雅士钟爱的艺术，高山流水寄托了他们的审美情趣。他们一直希望有知音能够理解自己，知音的可贵也成为历代文人的共识。

Classical Music

Bo Ya and Zhong Ziqi

The arts which the ancient Chinese were fond of were those of the zither, chess, callig­raphy and painting. Of these, classical music (played on the zither) was the favorite of scholars and other men of high class. The composers and performers of classical music pursued the expression of human aspiration and interest while qualified listeners could understand and appreciate this spirit embodied in the composition and performance. The relationship between a talented musician and a qualified listener was called “sound per­ceivers,” or soul mates.

In ancient times in the Kingdom of Chu, there was a scholar called Bo Ya (伯牙 ). He was extraordinarily fond of the zither, being especially noted among the music masters of his time for capturing the wild beauties of Nature. When he played the zither he sensed a scene of grandeur appear before his very eyes: Waterfalls poured from the clouds, and springs sparkled in the mist, sprinkling drops of water like jewels. The sound of the wa­ter was like divine music. Bo Ya’s mastery of the zither reached the acme of perfection. However, as he could find no one who could properly appreciate his playing, he felt somewhat lonely.

Later, Bo Ya took up an official post in the State of Jin. One day he was sent on a mis­sion to Chu. On account of a strong wind, he was forced to halt at the entrance to the Hanyang River. When the tempest passed, a full moon appeared, making its slow way through the clouds. Bo Ya stood at the prow of his boat, gazing up at the moon and then down at the water, when a sudden urge seized him to play his zither. No sooner had he finished a tune than a woodcutter burst from behind the bushes, uttering words of fulsome praise for Bo Ya’s playing.

Surprised, Bo Ya asked him: “You can hear the zither, but can you tell whether it’s be­ing played well or badly?”

The woodcutter smiled, and said, “Could you play another tune for me?” Bo Ya happily complied. He adjusted the strings of the zither, and played a resounding air. The woodcut­ter nodded, with a heartfelt sigh: “Wonderful! Your zither conjured up for me the majestic loftiness of Mount Tai.” Bo Ya played again. This time his zither recreated a world of perfect peace. The woodcutter again nodded, and said with a sigh: “Excellent! Your zither conjured up for me the waters of a gently flowing stream.”

Bo Ya was delighted to hear the woodcutter’s comments, put aside his zither, rose, and addressed the man courteously: “Sir, may I ask your name?” The other returned his bow, and replied, “My name is Zhong Ziqi (钟子期 ).” Bo Ya said, with a sigh: “I have ac­quaintances all over the country, but few really understand me.” He then told his servant to light incense and candles, and formed a bond of fraternal friendship with Zhong Ziqi, pledging to meet him again in the same place the following Mid-Autumn Day.

In autumn the following year Bo Ya went to pay a call on his friend, only to find to his great chagrin that his soul mate had passed away. In front of Zhong Ziqi’s grave, Bo Ya took up his zither, weeping. He then played the tune Mountains and Streams. At the end of the tune, he took out a knife, and cut the zither’s strings. Raising his face to Heaven, he lamented, “The person who really understood me is gone forever. For whom shall I play my zither now?” With these words, he smashed the zither on the ground. The zither was broken and the strings were severed...

From that time on, the story of Bo Ya and Zhong Ziqi has been passed down from generation to generation. The hearts of the two men responded to each other in perfect understanding, and their affection became “sound perceivers,” a proverbial expression for “empathy.” The words Mountains and Streams have been used to describe closeness and affection between soul mates.

The Moral of This Story

China’s ancient arts draw their inspiration mostly from Nature. People who can ap­preciate the attraction of art are generally called “bosom friends.” The ancient music of the zither was an art attractive to refined gentlemen of olden times, and Mountains and Streams encapsulates their aesthetic feelings. They had a constant longing for the empa­thy with which others could understand them. Throughout the ages there has been a consensus among scholars as to the value of empathy.

中国精神

 义

季札献剑

春秋时期，有个人叫季札，是吴王的第四子，仁德宽厚，知书达理，吴王很喜欢他，并想把王位传给他。季札认为王位应该传给长子，坚辞不受。后来，他多次代表吴国出使各国。

有一次，季札出使鲁国，沿途经过徐国。徐国的君王接见季札时，看上了季札的佩剑，心里特别喜欢，不过没好意思直说。心细的季札看在眼里，但因还要出使鲁国，所以他并没有献上这把宝剑。

季札出使回来，又来到了徐国，原来他当初就想把宝剑献给徐国君王，此次是专程来献剑，完成心愿。表明来意后，竟得知徐国君王已经去世了。季札顿时震惊又悲伤，缓过神后，他解下宝剑，将其系在徐国君王墓冢旁的树上，遗憾离去。

季札的随从看见了，不解，问季札：“徐国君王已经不在了，这宝剑挂在这里又有什么用呢？”

季札摇摇头，答道：“不能这样说。上次来徐国，看到君王喜欢这把佩剑时，我就决定回来时把宝剑献给君王，只是没想到出了这样的意外，但又怎么能因为他去世了就背弃当初的想法！”说罢，黯然神伤地离开了。

这个故事让我们了解了一位很重信义的季札。没人知道季札献剑的打算，那只不过是他心里的一个承诺，他却恪守承诺，不会因为徐国君王去世了就违背自己的初心。“季札献剑 ”的故事也体现了古人重承诺、讲信义的优良品质，唐朝的诗人杜甫也曾引用这个故事来抒发自己与友人的情义。

这则故事带给我们什么样的思考呢？做人，很多时候离不开情与理，而架在情理之间的就是 “义”，因为有正义、情义、道义，人与人的关系才更有人情味儿，才会涌现出那么多的感人事迹，人间才会充满更多的正能量。让我们都做个重 “义” 的人吧！

故事要旨

“义”是中华民族的传统美德，集中体现了中华民族的魄力与灵魂，中华儿女从来都是重信义、讲情义。它凸显了中国的格局与风度。

Righteousness

Ji Zha Gives Up His Sword

In the Spring and Autumn Period (475-221 BC) there lived a man named Ji Zha (季札). He was the fourth son of the king of the king of Wu. Because of Ji Zha’s high minded mo­rality and extensive learning, he was his father’s favorite, and the king wanted to make him his heir. However, Ji Zha refused this honor on the grounds that the king’s eldest son should be the one to inherit the throne. Later, Ji Zha served as an ambassador representing Wu to a number of other states in China.

Once, on a mission to the State of Lu, Ji Zha passed through the State of Xu. The ruler of Xu received him as a friend, and cast covetous eyes on the precious sword Ji Zha was wearing.Although his host did not mention it, Ji Zha could see his desire. However, as his mission to Lu still lay ahead, Ji Zha did not give the ruler of Xu his sword as a present.

His mission accomplished, on his way back Ji Zha once again passed through Xu. This time he fully intended to give the sword to the ruler of Xu, but upon his arrival he learned that his friend had already passed away. Momentarily stunned and grief-stricken, Ji Zha took off his sword and dedicated it to the dead man by hanging it on a tree near his tomb.

Ji Zha’s attendants were puzzled at his action, saying, “Sir, the ruler of Xu is already dead; what is the use of leaving him your sword?”

Ji Zha shook his head, and replied, “Let me explain. When I came to the State of Xu last time, I noticed that my friend admired my sword, and so I decided that when I came back I would give it to him. However, I never expected this turn of events, but how could I change my mind just because the man has died?” With these words, he left the place, gloomy and heart-broken.

This story helps us to understand Ji Zha, a man with a deep devotion to righteousness. Nobody realized that, having made up his mind to give the sword to the ruler of Xu, he would not waver in his determination to carry out his promise even though his friend had died.

The story “Ji Zha Gives Up His Sword” illustrates how seriously the ancient Chinese people regarded the keeping of promises and their fine trait of sticking to righteousness. Du Fu, a Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet, once referred to this story to illustrate the affec­tion between himself and a friend.

What thought does this story provoke in us? There are many occasions upon which a person cannot separate affection from duty. The basic framework binding together affec­tion and duty is righteousness (义). It gives a human flavor to the relationship between one and another in the aspects of correctness, love, right behavior, etc. It is what gives rise to impressive achievements and instills in people positive energy. Let us all pay max­imum attention to righteousness!

The Moral of This Story

Righteousness is a fine traditional virtue of the Chinese people. It incorporates the daring and depth of the Chinese soul. The sons and daughters of China have always laid stress on righteousness in the areas of good faith and affection, making prominent the stature and elegance of China.