Category: Folktales Stories

ONCE THERE WERE two brothers who inherited their father’s land. The two brothers divided the land in half and each one farmed his own section. Over time, the older brother married and had six children, while the younger brother never married. One night, the younger brother lay awake. “It’s not fair that each of us… Continue reading Two Brothers Story

In China there once lived a father, his four sons, and three daughters-in-law.  His three older sons had married within a few months of each other and all with young women from the same village.  Recently these three new daughters-in-law had been brought into the house. Their new father-in-law’s wife had died a few years… Continue reading Wise Girl Becomes Head of the Household

Long, long ago there lived at the foot of the mountain a poor farmer and his aged, widowed mother. They owned a bit of land which supplied them with food, and they were humble, peaceful, and happy. The province where they lived was called “Shining.”  Shining was governed by a terrible leader.  He was a warrior… Continue reading The Story of the Aged Mother

There was once a poor farmer who found it a great struggle to get ahead in the world. Though he worked very hard and lived carefully, it was impossible for him to save money year after year. After an entire lifetime of labor he was no better off, it seemed, than he had been on… Continue reading The Poor Farmer’s Wish

LONG AGO IN NIGERIA, there was a man who had been blind and lame all his life. One evening, as he was sitting in front of his house, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for himself. After all, he couldn’t walk or see. All of a sudden, a dove flew into his robe. “Save me,”… Continue reading Man, the Hawk and the Dove

An old man planted a turnip. The turnip grew and grew. It was enormous! The old man started to pull the turnip out of the ground. He pulled and pulled, but could not pull it out. So he called over his wife. The old woman took hold of the old man, the old man took hold… Continue reading The Enormous Turnip

In a small farm in Norway there lived a young man and his wife who loved each other very much.  But if you could see them at home, it may not be so easy to tell. One day when the husband came home, he did not like what he saw.  “This place is a mess!” he… Continue reading Swapping Places

There lived in the valley a very wealthy merchant who was not at all happy with his only son. The boy showed no signs of intelligence or creativity, much less any willingness to work. His mother always thought the best of him, however, and was constantly making excuses for him. When the lad reached the… Continue reading All for a Paisa

A Folktale story from the philosopher Confucius, published in Chinese Fables and Folk Stories (1908), which explains losing one’s temper and the art of self-control.  Confucius once heard two of his pupils quarreling. One was of a gentle nature and was called by all the students a peaceful man. The other had a good brain and a kind heart, but… Continue reading A Story From Confucius

THIS STORY takes place in Rome, where a Greek slave named Androcles escaped from his master and fled into the forest. There he wandered for a long time until he was weary and well nigh spent with hunger and despair. Just then he heard a lion near him moaning and groaning and at times roaring… Continue reading Androcles & the Lion