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“Journey to the West” is probably the most famous and best-loved novel in China and is considered one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature. Its place in Chinese literature is roughly comparable to Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey in Western literature. Wikipedia sums up the book’s role perfectly, saying, “Enduringly popular, the tale is at once a comic adventure story, a humorous satire of Chinese bureaucracy, a spring of spiritual insight, and an extended allegory in which the group of pilgrims journeys towards enlightenment by the power and virtue of cooperation.”

The Last King of Shang is a retelling, in modern Mandarin Chinese, of the classic novel Investiture of the Gods. It is a gripping story set in ancient China, weaving together mythology, magic, and heroism. It is a story of the rise and fall of powerful gods and mortals amidst a backdrop of political intrigue and celestial conflict. Seduced by Daji, his beautiful fox demon concubine, the Shang king brings his kingdom to the brink of ruin through cruelty and neglect.

Born with miraculous powers and a fearless spirit, young Nezha is destined for greatness, but his path is far from easy. From his legendary battle with the Dragon King to his rebirth through a lotus flower, Nezha’s journey is one of resilience, justice, and transformation. Guided by his master Taiyi Zhenren and armed with divine weapons, he takes a stand against tyranny, joining Jiang Ziya in an epic battle to destroy the corrupt Shang dynasty.

Folk tales are immensely popular in China. Passed down orally over the centuries from grandparents and parents to children, they serve as an unwritten handbook for living in society. Within every Chinese folk tale is an underlying moral message derived from one of the three major schools of spiritual thought–Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism.

Chang’e, eldest daughter of a powerful sky god, makes a foolish mistake and is exiled from the heavenly world, condemned to live out her days as an earthbound mortal. The archer Hou Yi dives through the clouds to follow her, and together they save the human world from destruction.

These four tales are based on very old stories collected and retold by Lin Yutang in Famous Chinese Short Stories, originally published in 1948. Lin wrote dozens of books in Chinese and English, and has been recognized for his witty and warm style of writing, and for bringing Chinese culture to an English-speaking audience. We have selected four of his best stories for inclusion in this book, and have retold them to appeal to modern listeners and use a limited vocabulary of just 700 different Chinese words.

These six wonderful folk tales are based on stories told by Norman Hinsdale Pitman in A Chinese Wonder Book, originally published in 1918. Pitman collected and published several collections of folk tales and other Chinese books. We have taken the liberty of retelling all six stories to be appropriate for a modern audience, and to use a limited vocabulary, most of which are in the standard 1200-word HSK4 vocabulary.

Written in Simplified Chinese and English, Nüwa the Creator retells one of China's oldest and most profound myths—the story of the mother of humankind—in easy-to-understand Mandarin Chinese. Follow Nüwa’s journey of love, sacrifice, and hope, and discover how one goddess changed the world forever.

When the skies break and floodwaters cover the land, one man rises to meet the challenge. This is the inspiring story of Yu, who dedicates his life to taming the great floods, not by fighting nature, but by listening to it. Through thirteen years of hardship, sacrifice, and perseverance, Yu transforms disaster into harmony, laying the foundation for China's first dynasty.

This biography, written in easy-to-understand Simplified Chinese, introduces listeners to the life and ideas of Confucius (Kongzi), one of the most influential thinkers in Chinese history. Born during a time of political conflict and social instability, Confucius developed a philosophy centered on ethics, learning, family, and responsible leadership. Although he faced challenges in his own lifetime and struggled to find official support for his reforms, his teachings were preserved by his students and have shaped generations of Chinese society.

Before he became the legendary author of The Art of War, Sun Tzu was a quiet boy named Sun Wu, with sharp eyes and deep questions. Born into a noble family in ancient Qi, he watched as truth-tellers were silenced and principled generals cast aside. Determined to change the fate of nations, he walked away from comfort and into the mountains, where he began crafting a philosophy that would shape history.

A long time ago in ancient China, the sky was home to ten blazing suns. They took their turns lighting the earth, until one day they rose together. They scorched the land, dried up rivers, and burned crops to ash. The people suffered, unable to survive under the relentless heat.