Chengyu are traditional Chinese idioms, typically composed of four characters, that convey profound wisdom, historical events, or moral lessons in a concise and poetic form. Some are well-known in the west, such as “Kill the goose that lays the golden egg” and “The frog in the well.” Others are almost unknown. But all of them provide fascinating insights into Chinese culture, attitudes, and day-to-day life. Rooted in ancient literature, philosophy, and folklore, chengyu offer insight…

Who was Confucius, and why has his influence lasted for more than two thousand years? This biography, written in easy-to-read Simplified Chinese, introduces readers 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…

Everyone (well, almost everyone) knows the story of Chang’e, the young woman who fell from heaven, married Hou Yi the Archer, drank some magic elixir, and flew up to the moon to become the Moon Goddess. But whatever happened to Hou Yi after his wife left? This book tells the story of Chang’e from his perspective, and covers the events in his life afterwards. The book is available on Amazon.com and many other ebook stores,…

We just released the second book in our new series, Heroes of Ancient China. It’s called Chang’e the Moon Goddess, and it’s written by the best-selling team of Jeff Pepper and Xiao Hui Wang. Here’s the back cover blurb: 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…