Guided Reading:

GR/LI: To explore the meaning within a Chinese fable.

I understand and can describe what a Chinese fable is.

I can identify the lesson within a Chinese fable and explain why it is important.

Chinese fables are mainly short stories which tell great life lessons. They focus on how to show specific values and the consequences that occur from not showing the values.

The Chinese have passed them on through generations by telling the stories verbally. As these stories were never actually written down, people have no other choice but to remember the stories and retell them through word of mouth.

Chinese fables are so important in China because they represent the main values of the Chinese culture and all Chinese people must remember these and live by them, a bit like us at Cuxton and our values!

Chinese fable 1: The man who was obsessed with dragons.

“There was a man who was obsessed with dragons. He admired their shape and the way they looked. He would get very excited when looking at pictures of them, breathing fire through their mouths and killing all their enemies. This man was so obsessed with dragons that he memorised every single tale that mentioned them. He also had gigantic dragons painted all over the walls and ceilings of his house. His house looked like a temple dedicated to dragons.

One night, when he least expected it, a dragon head burst through one of the windows of his house. Without giving the man time to react, the dragon began to breathe fire all over the place. Consequently, the man ran away and started screaming.”

Questions:

1. This Chinese fable teaches us to love concrete realities instead of the ones we create in our minds. What do you think this means?
2. Create a mind map of concrete realities (things that are in your life in reality and not in your imagination) that you cherish. Challenge: can you explain why each of these things are so special to you?