Wisdom & Cleverness
Explore 315 folk tales about wisdom and cleverness from cultures around the world. These stories celebrate the power of the mind — featuring clever jackals, wise sages, resourceful heroes, and quick-thinking tricksters who outwit stronger opponents through intelligence rather than force. From Panchatantra’s cunning animals to Aesop’s shrewd fables, these moral stories about wisdom teach children that brains are mightier than brawn.
Chinese Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Two Scholars
The Two Scholars: Once upon a time there were two scholars. One was named Liu Tschen and the other Yuan Dschau. Both were young and handsome. One spring day
Chinese Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
The Three Ruling Gods
The Three Ruling Gods: There are three lords: in heaven, and on the earth and in the waters, and they are known as the Three Ruling Gods. They are all
Chinese Folk Tales
All Ages
The Tragedy Of The Yin Family
The Tragedy Of The Yin Family: In a certain district in one of the central provinces of China, there lived a man of the name of Yin. He was possessed of
Chinese Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
The Three Rhymsters
<p>Three sisters discover that clever words must serve kindness; inner virtue matters more than wit alone.</p>
Chinese Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Sorcerer Of The White Lotus Lodge
The Sorcerer Of The White Lotus Lodge: Once upon a time there was a sorcerer who belonged to the White Lotus Lodge. He knew how to deceive the multitude with
Chinese Folk Tales
All Ages
The Monk Of The Yangtze-Kiang
The Monk Of The Yangtze-Kiang: Buddhism took its rise in southern India, on the island of Ceylon. It was there that the son of a Brahminic king lived, who had
Chinese Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Maiden Who Was Stolen Away
The Maiden Who Was Stolen Away: In the western portion of the old capital city of Lo Yang there was a ruined cloister, in which stood an enormous pagoda
Chinese Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
The Magic Cask
The Magic Cask: Once upon a time there was a man who dug up a big, earthenware cask in his field. So he took it home with him and told his wife to clean it out.
Chinese Folk Tales
All Ages
The Kingdom Of The Ogres
The Kingdom Of The Ogres: In the land of Annam there once dwelt a man named Su, who sailed the seas as a merchant. Once his ship was suddenly driven on a
Chinese Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The King Of Huai Nan
The King Of Huai Nan: was a learned man of the Han dynasty. Since he was of the blood royal the emperor had given him a kingdom in fee. He cultivated the
Chinese Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Herd Boy And The Weaving Maiden
The Herd Boy And The Weaving Maiden: The Herd Boy was the child of poor people. When he was twelve years old, he took service with a farmer to herd his cow.
Chinese Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
The Halos Of The Saints
The Halos Of The Saints: In ancient China, during a time when Buddhism was spreading throughout the land and changing how people understood the world, there