Teaching & Learning English
Down in the deep, dark den Lies a fox that preys on hens Leaping out after dusk, at night It spreads deadly destruction with its might A beast, destined to never be caught It runs along the road, not to be sought It takes off, done with the hunt Laughing heartlessly at those who grunt … Read more
The legend of Mulan, as popularised by Disney, is one version of female emancipation in ancient China: women sometimes had to disguise themselves as men to get things done. This also serves as the premise of a love story between Yingtai and Shanbo. Set some time between the third and fifth century CE, our heroes … Read more
Having been dispatched to earth, the half-human, half-snake goddess Nüwa found herself utterly alone living on the heights of Mount Kunlun in northwestern China. In a stroke of genius, she moulded clay figurines and breathed life into them. Soon after, there was chaos. Wildfires and floods eradicated the natural habitats of animals; beasts grew desperate … Read more
The Bushongo tribe of Africa believed that even the gods could get tummy aches. One African god in particular, named Bumba, had one of the worst cases of upset stomach in existence. Back when the world was only darkness and emptiness, the god Bumba noticed he was having some digestion pain, but given there was … Read more
Once upon a time there was a beautiful yet spoiled princess. She is the Jade princess. Being proud of her name, she decides she should have the most beautiful and precious jade in the world. Merchants from all over the globe arrived with beautiful stones with them, yet none can impress her. She rejected stone … Read more
A story of a GUY who carved a boat to find his sword which fell into the water. Long long time ago there was a person who went on a trip, and on the trip he went on a boat and when the boat came to the middle of the lake the person (very carelessly) … Read more
The Witch of Wookey is a myth that dates back nearly 1000 years, when she was accused of witchcraft by the local villagers. Suspicion is deadly like poison. Once there’s a rumor, it can spread like disease. Those who were believed to be witches were executed. The villages blamed her for every piece of … Read more
Legends and stories about Lanzhou: 1. The Legend of the “River-Taming Divine Beasts” at the Yellow River Iron Bridge The Zhongshan Bridge (Yellow River Iron Bridge), the first modern bridge over the Yellow River in Lanzhou, has a legendary tale. During its construction, German engineers allegedly faced severe challenges and offered sacrifices to the river … Read more
The ancient Greek myth of Pandora’s Box helps explain modern environmental issues. When Pandora opened her jar, she accidentally let out all the world’s problems , sickness, greed, and destruction. This is similar to how human activities like pollution and overusing resources are damaging our planet today. Just as Pandora’s mistake affected everyone, environmental problems … Read more
**The Story of Xuanzang and Its Global Significance** **1. Historical Journey of Xuanzang** Xuanzang (602–664 CE), a Tang Dynasty Buddhist monk, embarked on a 17-year pilgrimage to India to study Buddhism and retrieve sacred texts. Defying a travel ban, he traversed the Silk Road, enduring harsh deserts and mountains. In India, he studied at Nalanda … Read more
xuanzang, a renowned Buddhist monk in Chinese history, had a remarkable life journey. Born in 602 in Henan Province into a family with a Confucian background, he showed a strong inclination towards Buddhism from a young age. At 13, he became a novice monk, studying Buddhist scriptures intensively. In the early Tang Dynasty, due to … Read more
The Cowherd and Weaver Girl: An Old Story About Taking Care of 1. Living locally At first, the cowherd (farmer) and weaver (clothes-maker) live together: He grows the crops She makes their clothes They don’t waste anything, this shows how communities can provide for themselves without harming nature 2. Being too far apart When they … Read more