英文版孔融让梨.docxVIP

KongRongandthePear:ATimelessLessoninVirtue

Introduction:TheStoryThatOutlivedEmpires

TheScene:APlateofPears,aChild’sChoice

Accountsfromclassicaltextsrecounttheincidentsimply,yetvividly.KongRong,amemberoftheesteemedKongfamily(descendedfromConfuciushimself),wasfouryearsoldwhenhisfatherhostedagathering.Amongtherefreshmentswasaplateofpears,varyinginsize—someplumpandripe,otherssmaller,lessimposing.Asthechildrengathered,thefatherurgedthemtotaketheirpick.Mostreachedforthelargest,theirsmallhandseagerforthem