Illustrated by Ho Shen Chyang, Chong Chee Fong & Low Kim Han Translated by Yang Liping

Transcription

1 Illustrated by Ho Shen Chyang, Chong Chee Fong & Low Kim Han Translated by Yang Liping

2 Publisher s Note Stories of Peace is yet another offering in the Values for Success series. We continue to uphold the belief that whilst much emphasis is placed on quick information in our knowledge-based economy, any 'learning nation' must have the wisdom to discern critical attitudes which will help her people withstand the stress of modern living. And the leader of the new millennium is one who creates a culture or a value system centred upon principles. This collection of 26 stories run along one common vein: Conflicts and disputes can be resolved peacefully without violence. History has shown that fighting begets more fights, hatred and the endless cycle of revenge. Only the resolve to follow the path of peace will bring about forgiveness, acceptance, reconciliation and love. We would like to express our gratitude to artists Ho Shen Chyang, Chong Chee Fong and Low Han Kim for promoting harmony in this portrayal of peace, and Yang Liping for the translation. Our thanks, too, to the production team for putting in their best efforts in the publication of this book.

3 VALUES FOR SUCCESS STORIES OF LOYALTY Illustrated by Ren Changhong, 210 x 150mm, 144pp, ISBN Confucius says: To all you serve, be loyal. Whether it is towards the country, people or friends, one should be always loyal. STORIES OF FILIAL PIETY Illustrated by Tan Choon Wai, 210 x 150mm, 144pp, ISBN Contains accounts of people in ancient China known for their extraordinary devotion to their parents. STORIES OF KINDNESS Illustrated by Huang Qingrong, 210 x 150mm, 136pp, ISBN Find out how the respect for life is expressed in acts of kindness. STORIES OF LOVE Illustrated by Huang Qingrong, 210 x 150mm,136pp, ISBN Love inspires us to live each day to the fullest. It also nurtures the soul for when we love others, we make them feel significant. STORIES OF PROPRIETY Illustrated by Ren Changhong, 210 x 150mm, 136pp, ISBN X. Important historical figures such as Zhou Gong and Liu Bei show us the importance of propriety. STORIES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS Illustrated by Goh Ngoh Seng, 210 x 150mm, 136pp, ISBN Accounts of Chinese historical figures who did righteous deeds will rekindle in us the spirit of love and kindness. STORIES OF INTEGRITY Illustrated by Huang Qingrong, 210 x 150mm, 136pp, ISBN Integrity is one of the virtues which make up the moral fabric of a society. You will be inspired by fine examples of integrity. STORIES OF HONOUR Illustrated by Fu Chunjiang, 210 x 150mm, 136pp, ISBN Many historical personages have endured shame innocently and made a decisive comeback.

4 About the Illustrators

5 Contents 1 Christmas on No Man s Land 1 2 The Dove of Peace 9 3 A Battle on the Snail s Horns 11 4 The Mantis Catches the Cicada 15 5 Zi Gao and the Guard 16 6 Watering the Neighbours Melons 20 7 Wat Phu Temple 22 8 Mecca Becomes a City of Peace 24 9 A Dispute over the Kaaba Respect for a Fellow Human Being A Drop of Honey** Jesus and a Sinful Woman The End of an Avaricious Whale 47 Note: All stories illustrated by Ho Shen Chyang except indicated otherwise. * Illustrated by Chong Chee Fong **Illustrated by Low Kim Han

6 14 The Foolish Dog The Ant and the Dove Cycles of Life The Frog and the Snake Resolve Resentment through Forgetting Asoka the Great The Game of Pulling the Ball A Peasant and a Snake The Quarrels on a Face Be Content with My Life Romulus and Remus* The Stolen Wives* The Man Who Cut Down Trees* 101 Epilogue 110

7 Christmas on No Man s Land In 1914, during the First World War, the German troops launched an invasion of France. The allied troops of France, Belgium and England halted the German s advance at No Man s Land. 1

8 Both sides dug a large number of trenches and went into a long-term confrontation. Wow! How close! The opposing trenches were quite close. The wetland lying in between was called No Man s Land. 2

9 The soldiers on both sides had to spend long days in a dull yet vigilant way. They are in the same situation. I wonder if their provisions are better than ours... The Germans I was in London for a short stint. There was a famous bakery there that sold wonderful cakes. Let s go and taste them when the war is over! Apart from sporadic crossfires, they remained in the trenches most of the time, with dirt all over their bodies. Let s ask the soldiers on the other side if the bakery still exists? 3

10 London has a very good bakery. Is it still there? The British Hi, there! The Germans Oh, you mean that bakery? It is still operating. I like its cakes too! They have answered us! Hi, it is said that you Thus the two sides started talking, which sometimes would be an exchange of curses. Gradually, this became the soldiers favourite pastime. Ha! Ha! The British 4 The Germans

11 On the eve of Christmas that year The German soldiers gathered many Christmas trees. What tricks are they playing there? The British Silent night, holy night (song) The Germans It is a Christmas song! Yes! It s Christmas eve. I have forgotten this. The British 5

12 Silent night, holy night Hearing the Christmas song from the opposing side, the British soldiers could not help singing along. The song drifted over the battlefield as if there was no such thing as a war going on. Silent night, holy night Silent night Let us celebrate together! Let s party! 6

13 On this night, the soldiers from two opposing sides came together. They talked and laughed and ate like close friends. They seemed like ordinary people longing for a peaceful life. Once the war is over, I will marry her. This is my girlfriend. Isn t she pretty? I also have some photos! Let me have a look! 7 My parents are old. I hope to go back in time My wife and children

14 Look, here it is. Isn t it cute? My wife just gave birth to a baby. Give me back my photos! They are playing football! Some of the soldiers started playing soccer on No Man s Land. I will. But you should agree to keep the goal! The others cheered. The game ended when the ball hit barbed wires and became flat. 8 A miraculous event took place on the battleground during the Christmas of What a wonderful picture of peace!

15 The Dove of Peace During the Second World War, the German troops occupied France. The famous painter Pablo Picasso was in Paris then. An old man and his 12-year-old grandson lived next door to the artist. The boy s parents had joined the guerillas. The boy had a flock of white doves. Every day, he would guide the doves to leave their cages for a flight in the sky with a bamboo pole wrapped with a piece of white cloth. At the boy s beckoning, the doves would return to their cages.. Soon afterwards, bad news came from the frontline. The boy s parents had died in a battle. That day, the boy wrapped the bamboo pole with a piece of red cloth, expressing his revengeful mind. Discovering this, the German soldiers came to the house. They killed the boy and shot at the doves. The boy s grandfather rushed into Picasso s studio with a bleeding dove in his hands, in tears entreating the artist to portray the bird in memory of those who had sacrificed their lives for peace. Picasso agreed. He placed the 9

16 wounded dove on the desk, and to his surprise the bird fluttered its blood-shed wings and stood up. When Picasso gave his painting the finishing touch, the bird dropped down and shut its eyes. Picasso presented the painting titled Peace to the International Peace Conference in Paris. From then on, the dove became a symbol of peace. 10