A jade bi, a flat, ritual carved jade disk with a hole in the middle, from a tomb in Honan province (fifth to third century B.C.).

Chu-po said, “I came all this way to see you.  You must not ask me to leave and give up my moral principle in order to survive.  That Chu-po will never do.”

When the barbarians arrived, they were astounded to find Chu-po there beside his friend.  The whole district was otherwise deserted.  “Our great army is here.  What sort of man are you who dares to remain behind?” they asked.

“My friend is ill,” Chu-po said.  “I can’t abandon him.  I will die here with him.”

The Huns fell to discussing the matter among themselves and decided this:  “We are savages invading a land of high morality.”  Thereupon they gathered their army and left.  Thus the entire district was saved from destruction.

Liu Ling

Liu Ling, who lived in the third century A.D., is one of the "Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove." As scholars and poets they shunned politics and turned to music, wine, and nature. Liu Ling chose drunkenness to shock people.

His hangover made Liu Ling extremely thirsty.  He asked his wife for more wine, but instead of granting his wish she poured out the wine and smashed the jar.  Weeping, she pleaded, “My husband, you are drinking too much!  That’s not the way to conserve life’s energy.  You must stop your drinking.”

“Very well, then,” Liu Ling said.  “But I can’t control myself.  The only thing I can do is take an oath before the deities and pray for their help.  Go and prepare wine and meat for the offering!”

His wife rushed out to make the preparation.  She put wine and meat on the offering table.  Then she told Liu Ling to perform the ritual. 

Liu Ling knelt down and prayed: