When I was young, my mother often told me a story titled “Mencius Meets King Hui of Liang,” and I vaguely understood it. Upon growing up and reading the story in the first chapter of “Mencius,” I was completely impressed by Mencius’ grand spirit and eloquence.

Today we are discussing “Family Instructions for the Yan Clan” written by Yan Zhitui, a trusted attendant to the emperor in the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-577).

Xunzi, whose given name was Kuang, was a figure from the State of Zhao in the late Warring States period (475-221 B.C.). He was the final great master of Confucianism in the pre-Qin period. His works were later compiled into a 32-chapter collection known as “Xunzi.”

Confucian culture highly esteems harmonious brotherly relationships. Yan Zhitui (531-597) once said, “Brothers should be like an object and its shadow, the sound and its echo.” Today, let’s hear a story of the brothers Su Shi and Su Zhe in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).

Duke Wen of Jin was about to end his exile and return to the State of Jin (1033-376 B.C.). When he reached the banks of the Yellow River, he ordered the throwing away the bamboo utensils used for serving food, as well as the mats and cushions. He pushed the rough-looking people to the back and brought forward the good-looking ones.

Many know that Qu Yuan (340-278 B.C.) was of noble character and had great ambitions, but due to his integrity, he suffered exile. He detested the world where slanderers thrived while honest people remained unrecognized. To vent his frustrations, he turned to divination.

Today, let’s hear a story about Zhao Jianzi, prime minister of the State of Jin during the late Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.). Governing a country involves utilizing capable individuals.

In the spring of 458, during the reign of Emperor Wencheng of Northern Wei, there’s a story about the construction of the Taihua Palace in Pingcheng.