Hunting Rabbits by Waiting by a Stake

Author: He Jia
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: "Little Kids Cinema" is another innovative product launched by Jilin Fine Arts Publishing House under its Little Kids series. It includes ten famous Chinese and foreign children's fairy tales, fables, and traditional virtue stories, such as The Crow and the Water Pot, Pulling Out the Radish, The Three Little Pigs, The Tortoise and the Hare, Little Rabbit and the Grandma, The Wolf is Coming, Mr. Dong, Waiting for a Rabbit to Come Out of a Tree, Sima Guang Breaking the Pot, and Kong Rong Letting Go of a Pear. These stories have been passed down through generations and loved by young readers across generations. The reason lies in the fact that these traditional classics not only teach children the basic principles of being a good person but also embody the beautiful moral sentiments of the Chinese nation and even all of humanity.
For example, in The Crow and the Water Pot, the story tells of a thirsty crow that finally finds a way to drink water, demonstrating that wisdom often triumphs over strength. Pulling Out the Radish, a children's fairy tale popular in many countries, carries a clear message: "Many hands make light work" or "Unity is strength." In The Tortoise and the Hare, the rabbit, though naturally swift, loses the race to the turtle because it becomes complacent and falls asleep during the competition. This shows how arrogance can harm one. In Mr. Dong, the scholar applies the principle of "universal love" to a wolf, only to suffer misfortune. This teaches young readers that even in human relationships, such issues exist—people should genuinely love others but show no mercy to those like wolves. In Waiting for a Rabbit to Come Out of a Tree, the farmer mistakes a one-time coincidence for a recurring pattern, treating it as an inevitable law. This reveals his lack of basis and recklessness. That's why he foolishly waits under the tree every day, neglecting his crops. Sima Guang Breaking the Pot vividly portrays Sima Guang's diligence from a young age, his loyalty to his companions, his calmness and composure in emergencies, as well as his intelligence and cleverness. Kong Rong Letting Go of a Pear praises Kong Rong's kindness and humility, even though he was young, for his willingness to endure a loss and share the better with others.