中国成语故事（英文）

Have a Finished Bamboo in the Mind

Wen Tong, a famous artist in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), was particularly expert at drawing bamboos. The bamboos he drew were vivid, and just resembled the bamboos that grow on the ground.

Wen Tong had spent much work on drawing bamboos. To portrait bamboos vividly, Wen Tong planted a bamboo forest in front of his window, but he was not anxious to draw them. As long as he had time, he would observe various shapes of the bamboos before the window. He observed what small bamboos were like and large bamboos were like; and what they were like in wind or rain.

After the long-term observation, Wen Tong developed a complete understanding of the characteristics of bamboos. He knew how the bamboos would move in wind, and how bamboo leaves shook in rain. All in all, he mastered every tiny change and feature of those bamboos from A to Z.

Only until now, he picked up the painting brush to draw vivid bamboos without stop.

This is because he had an insight into various shapes of bamboos, and knew what the bamboos were like and the properties of this plant. So, his friend praised him, “When Wen Tong draws bamboos, he has the finished bamboos in his mind. The bamboos he draws are very vivid.” “Have a finished bamboo in the mind” means he had developed the perfect image of the bamboos before he drew them.

This story comes from A Collection of Chicken Ribs . The proverb originally meant that an intact image of the bamboos was already built in the mind, and later is used to describe a person who has devised a mature plan before doing something or much confidence in himself or others.

本丛书着重选择在中国流传、广大读者喜闻乐见的经典故事，这些故事不仅展现智慧、品格和灵感，而且有着一定的文学价值。相信国外读者朋友尤其是青少年朋友，在这些美丽故事的感染下，一定会更加了解和热爱中国传统文化。小32开，四色印刷，图文并茂。

Chinese classic stories have inherited and passed on the abundant historic treasury of the Chinese nation that has been accumulated over several thousand years, mirroring the politics, military affairs, culture, folk customs, prevailing moral practices, ideals and interests of ancient China. Through those stories, people can gain an understanding of China's long history and achieve an insight into the profound historical origins of Chinese culture.We have identified stories from the vast number of Chinese classic stories, and complied them into this collection. All stories are illustrated in concise words and expressions, and vivid pictures, which will help the process of reading enjoyable. The series of Classic Stories of China comprises nine books: Scenic Spots Stories, History Stories, Myths Stories, Wisdom Stories, Folk Customs Stories, Ancient Fables, Folk Tales, Idiom Stories, Drama Stories. May those books be your good teacher and helpful friends in learning Chinese culture.

CONTENTS

The Eight Immortals Cross the Sea

Help the Crops Grow by Pulling Them Upward

A Hundred Shots, A Hundred Bull’s-Eyes

Seeing Is Believing

Spoil the Half-finished Cloth

Never Ashamed to Consult One’s Inferiors

How Can You Catch Tiger Cubs Without Entering the Tiger’s Lair

Every Bush and Tree Look Like an Enemy

Beat the Grass and Startle the Snake

Great Minds Mature Slowly

Shake Up the Pillow and Have a Good Sleep

Learn From Others at the Expense of One’s Own Ability

Fear of Disturbance in the Rear

A Youth to be Regarded With Respect

Swallow a Date Whole

Last Touch Added to a Drawing

Adding Feet to a Drawing of a Snake

Flashy But Without Substance

A Treasure Worth Several Cities

Official Jiang Uses Up His Literary Talent

A Hair on Nine Bulls

A Dagger Heart Behind a Honey Mouth

Make Up the Number

An Old Horse Knows the Way

Extreme Joy Begets Sorrow

Green Willows and Red Flowers

Wind and Rain Throughout the Town

Falling After Sun Shan

Vomit Heart, Shed Blood

Cast a Brick to Invite a Jade

Breaking the Pot, Sinking the Boat

The Guizhou Donkey Exhausts Its Tricks

Repeated Commands

Practice Makes Perfect

Water Falls, Stones Appear

Renounce the Pay for the Sword

Return the Jade Intact to the State Zhao

Quench Thirsty by Longing for Plums

Lament Before the Vast Sea

Have a Finished Bamboo in the Mind

A Whole Heart