Sayba the Clever Judge is a classic folktale from Persia. It tells the story of a wise and fair judge named Sayba, who is famous for solving disputes with clever methods. One day, the king of Persia decides to test Sayba’s skills personally, bringing a difficult case to see if his reputation is true. The story teaches important lessons about justice, observation, and human nature.
Long ago in Persia, there lived a famous judge named Sayba, renowned for his intelligence and fairness in resolving disputes. One day, the king of Persia grew curious about Sayba’s talent and decided to test him personally. Disguising himself as a commoner, the king left the palace on horseback to observe Sayba’s skills without revealing his identity. Along the way, he encountered a man walking under the scorching sun, sweating and exhausted. Concerned, the king called out, “Where are you going? My horse can easily carry two people. Come ride with me and rest!” The man gratefully climbed onto the horse behind him.
The Lion and the Termite is a classic folktale from Laos. It tells the story of a powerful lion who is feared by all animals but feels lonely because he has no true friends. One day, a small termite offers friendship, but the lion rejects it, believing only strong and fierce animals can be helpful. The story teaches important lessons about humility, gratitude, and the value of even the smallest friends.
In the heart of the forest, the lion ruled with unmatched power, and every creature feared its presence. Despite being the king of the jungle, the lion was lonely, wandering the forest without a true friend to share its happiness or sorrow. Determined to change this, the lion decided to find companions among the strongest and fiercest animals, including elephants, tigers, bears, wild boars, buffaloes, and bison. The lion believed that by befriending powerful animals, it would always be safe and well-fed, expecting that strong friends would share prey and help in times of danger.
The Legend of Queen Abla Pokou is a traditional story from the Baoulé people of Ivory Coast in West Africa. It tells of Queen Abla Pokou, a wise and courageous leader, who guided her tribe through hardship to find a safe land. The story highlights her intelligence, bravery, and ultimate sacrifice to protect her people, shaping the origins of the Baoulé Kingdom.
Long ago, there lived a wise and powerful queen named Abla Pokou, who ruled the prosperous land of Kumasi. She was known not only for her intelligence and foresight but also for her ability to guide her people in farming and animal husbandry, helping them build a stable and abundant life. Under her leadership, the kingdom flourished, and the people deeply respected and trusted her.
Learning Wisdom the Hard Way is a traditional folktale about a foolish man who believes that simply copying others will make him wise. Following his wife’s advice, he goes out into the world to learn, but instead keeps making mistakes and getting into trouble. Through these painful experiences, the story shows that true wisdom comes from understanding and good judgment, not from blindly imitating others.
Long ago, there lived a man named Dull Jack who married a woman known as Sharp Clara. Jack lived up to his name. He could barely read, rarely went outside, and relied on his wife for every decision, from daily chores to major life choices. The more he depended on her, the more helpless he became. Clara, by contrast, was confident, outspoken, and quick minded. Their marriage reflected a familiar pattern: a foolish husband and a clever wife, which led to constant arguments and endless scolding. Clara never missed a chance to mock him, calling him hopelessly stupid and reminding him how far behind everyone else he was.
The Poison of Flattery is a cautionary folktale set in ancient China during the Xia Dynasty. It tells the story of a high-ranking official whose love of praise blinds him to truth, leading to injustice and tragedy. Through a simple yet powerful incident, the story warns how flattery can corrupt judgment and how unchecked pride can destroy both reason and humanity.
During the reign of King Jie of the Xia Dynasty, there lived a high ranking official known as Lu San Gong, who served as Grand Tutor at court. He was a man who enjoyed writing poetry. Some of his poems were acceptable, but most were ordinary and unremarkable. Lu San Gong himself understood this well. He never claimed to be a true poet. Instead, he modestly viewed himself as a government official with a fondness for poetry, not someone destined for literary greatness or lasting fame.
The Song That Exposed the Tyrant King is a powerful folktale set in the ancient kingdom of Dagestan. It tells the story of a cruel ruler and a fearless poet whose song reveals the suffering of the people. Through courage and truth, the story shows how an honest voice can challenge tyranny and change the fate of a nation.
Long ago, in the kingdom of Dagestan, there ruled a king who was widely feared for his cruelty and arrogance. Under his reign, the people lived in constant misery, burdened by injustice and oppression. One day, a haunting song began to spread across the land. The song openly condemned the king’s tyranny and revealed the suffering of the people. Adults and children alike sang it with deep emotion, and soon it echoed through towns and villages everywhere.
The Sculptor’s Masterpiece tells the story of Gruppenlo, a famous sculptor in the German town of Duisendort, who was commissioned by the king to create a bronze statue of himself on horseback. Gruppenlo worked tirelessly, shaping every detail with precision. This story shows how his skill and cleverness not only produced a stunning work of art but also taught the king’s jealous ministers a lesson in humility.
Once upon a time, in the small German town of Duisendort, there was a famous sculptor named Gruppenlo. His talent was so remarkable that the king commissioned him to create a bronze statue of himself on horseback. Gruppenlo became completely absorbed in the work. He labored day and night, carefully shaping every detail, often working until late at night, determined to make the statue perfect.
When a child faced the threat of death from rabies, Louis Pasteur courageously administered his rabies vaccine, which had only been tested on animals, to a human for the first time. This decision not only saved the boy’s life but also opened a new chapter in medical history.
In 1885, Joseph Meister, a nine-year-old boy from a remote village in Alsace, was bitten fourteen times on the arms by a rabid dog while trying to protect his face. His desperate mother brought him to Paris seeking help from Louis Pasteur. Although the dog was killed, the boy’s life was hanging by a thread, and historically, rabies had always been fatal once symptoms appeared. Pasteur was deeply moved by the child’s suffering and the mother’s anxious eyes. He knew that if untreated, Meister would soon experience furious convulsions, paralysis, and death. That night, Pasteur sat at his desk, exhausted and troubled, pondering how he could save the child. The rabies vaccine he had developed had been tested successfully on animals, but never on humans. Using it on a child was uncharted territory, and the risks were enormous. Yet if he did nothing, the boy would certainly die.
Thạch Sanh is a classic Vietnamese folktale about a brave and virtuous young hero born to a poor elderly couple. Despite his humble beginnings, Thạch Sanh possesses extraordinary strength and magical abilities. The story follows his adventures as he overcomes dangerous monsters, rescues a princess, and triumphs over deceit, highlighting values such as courage, loyalty, and moral integrity deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture.
Long ago, there lived a poor elderly couple who earned a living by chopping wood. Despite being sixty, they had never had children. Although poor, they were well known for their kindness and generosity, always helping their neighbors without hesitation. Touched by their virtue, the Jade Emperor sent his son to be reborn as their child. After three years and nine months, the wife gave birth to a son just as the father passed away. The baby was named Thạch Sanh. From birth, he was extraordinary, able to stand and sit immediately. His mother survived by struggling day by day on meager meals to raise him.
The Legend of the Kitchen Gods is a traditional Vietnamese folktale that explains the origin of the Kitchen Gods, also known as Táo Quân. The story tells of a poor couple, their struggles, and the events that led them to be transformed into divine figures. Every year, these Kitchen Gods are believed to travel to Heaven to report on the household’s behavior, a tradition that inspired the Vietnamese custom of offering carp at the end of the lunar year. This tale reflects values of loyalty, compassion, and moral responsibility in Vietnamese culture.
Long ago, there lived a poor married couple who had been together for many years but never had children. Life was hard, and one day, during a moment of frustration and sorrow, they argued fiercely. In a burst of anger, the husband struck his wife. Deeply hurt and humiliated, she left home and wandered away. By fate, she later met another man in the highlands, a hunter, and eventually became his wife. Meanwhile, the first husband was overwhelmed by regret. After several days, he set out to search for her. He searched endlessly but failed. Penniless, sick, and exhausted, he became a beggar, drifting from place to place just to survive.
The Forest Rabbit and the Gray Tiger is a traditional folktale that tells the story of a clever rabbit and a fearsome tiger in the heart of the forest. Through a tense encounter between intelligence and brute strength, the tale shows how quick thinking and wisdom can overcome even the most powerful enemy.
That morning, the Forest Rabbit hopped along the woodland path in a cheerful mood, proud of how he had recently outsmarted the Old Wolf, who ended up burned and left with a badly scorched tail after trying to steal food. The Rabbit felt light and carefree, enjoying his clever victory, until a sudden chill ran through his body.
The Turtle Dove is a Vietnamese folktale about greed, cleverness, and the misuse of authority. Through a brief encounter between a corrupt local official and two quick witted boys, the story shows how desire can blind those in power and lead to public shame.
A certain local official was widely known for his greed. One mild and overcast day, he brought several guards with him to inspect a river dike. From a distance, he noticed two young boys arguing fiercely over something in a large grassy field, though he could not clearly see what it was. Curious, he walked closer. All he saw was a single straw hat placed upside down between the two boys. Realizing the man was an official with guards, the boys felt nervous, yet they continued to cling tightly to the hat and argue loudly.
The Magpie and the Crow is a Vietnamese folktale that explores how reputation and perception influence the way people respond to us. Through a simple encounter between two birds, the story shows that the same action can lead to very different outcomes, depending on who performs it and how they are known.
A Guest Bird once landed on the gate of a house and called out a few clear notes. Hearing the sound, the homeowner was delighted and said to his child that when a Guest Bird calls, it means an honored visitor is coming, so the bird deserved a reward. The child obeyed, went inside, and brought out a handful of food to offer the bird.
The Two Warts is a traditional Czech folktale that tells the humorous story of an old woodcutter who loses a wart after dancing with mischievous forest spirits, and a greedy rich man who ends up with two warts trying to imitate him. The tale highlights themes of luck, cleverness, and the folly of envy.
Long ago, there lived an old woodcutter whose right cheek bore a large wart. One stormy evening, as he was deep in the forest chopping wood, heavy rain and fierce wind prevented him from returning home. Seeking shelter, he hid inside a hollow tree. As dusk fell, he heard laughter, chatter, and the sound of many footsteps approaching. Puzzled, he muttered to himself, “How strange! I thought I was alone in this part of the forest.”
This humorous Vietnamese folktale tells the story of a man who tries to give his clever cat grand names, only to discover that its true nature never changes. The tale highlights the humor in human pride, the simplicity of logical thinking, and the truth that no matter what label we assign, a thing remains what it truly is.
Once upon a time, there was a man who owned a cat. He believed his cat was the wisest, cleverest, and most extraordinary creature anyone could imagine. Thinking that a simple name like “Cat” would not do justice, he decided to give it a grand name and called it “Sky.”
The Ever-Changing Sign is a funny Vietnamese folktale about a fish shop owner whose sign keeps changing because of passing customers’ comments, teaching a humorous lesson about people’s criticism.
In a small fish shop, the owner proudly hung a large sign that read, “Fresh Fish for Sale.” No sooner had it gone up than a passerby stopped, chuckled, and said, “Has this place been selling bad fish all this time that now it has to claim the fish are fresh?” Embarrassed by the comment, the owner quickly erased the word fresh from the sign.
The Origin of the Quoc Bird is a traditional Vietnamese folktale that tells the story of two devoted friends, Quac and Nhan. The tale explores themes of loyalty, friendship, and selfless devotion, showing how true bonds endure through hardship. It also explains the mythical origin of the quoc bird, highlighting the cultural significance of loyalty and the consequences of greed and disrespect.
Once there were two inseparable friends, Quac and Nhan. Both were orphans from poor scholarly families. Quac had studied more, so he became a teacher for children. Although his income was modest, Quac often helped Nhan whenever he could. In return, when Quac fell seriously ill one time, it was Nhan’s care and constant attention that saved his life. Despite their strong bond, circumstances forced them apart, each following a different path. Quac continued his life teaching children, while Nhan wandered from place to place, taking odd jobs to survive. Eventually, his honesty and hard work impressed a wealthy merchant, who trusted him completely and even married his daughter to Nhan. Through this marriage, Nhan acquired considerable wealth, yet he never forgot his vow to Quac, a promise to stand by each other through life’s ups and downs.
The Obedient Boy and the God Zanahary is a traditional Malagasy folktale about a kind and humble orphan boy who overcomes challenges through patience, respect, and obedience. Guided by the village elder, he completes a difficult journey with integrity, earning the favor of the god Zanahary and transforming his life. The story highlights the importance of virtue, self-discipline, and respect for wisdom in achieving true reward and happiness.
Once upon a time, there was a family whose parents had passed away when the children were still young. Among seven brothers, the youngest was born weak and unattractive, and because of this, his older brothers often treated him coldly and excluded him, even though he was gentle and kind-hearted. Feeling sad about his difficult life, the boy decided to seek advice from the oldest elder in the village. He asked politely, “Sir, I want to meet the god Zanahary. How can I do that?”
Isaac Newton: The Journey of a Young Genius tells the story of how a boy born into a humble farming family in England grew into one of the most influential scientists in history. From facing ridicule at school to dedicating himself to learning and self-education, Newton’s early life reveals the power of determination, curiosity, and hard work in shaping a true genius.
Isaac Newton was born into a humble farming family in England. At the age of twelve, he moved to the city to begin his formal education. At first, he was an ordinary student with no special distinction. However, a significant event during his second year at school marked a turning point in his academic journey.
The Shepherd’s Daughter is a classic Persian folktale about a prince who falls in love with the daughter of a humble shepherd. Determined to marry her, he must prove his dedication by learning a skill, showing that true love requires effort, patience, and cleverness. This story highlights courage, resourcefulness, and the power of devotion in overcoming challenges.
Once upon a time, a king of Persia had a son who fell deeply in love with a shepherd’s daughter. The prince wanted to marry her, but the king was concerned. He said, “I am the king, and you are my son. One day I will pass, and you will inherit the throne. How can you marry a shepherd’s daughter?” The prince replied firmly, “Father, I love her, and I want her to be my queen.” The king realized he could not change his son’s mind, so he sent a messenger to the shepherd’s daughter to ask for her hand in marriage.
