成语故事 | A wise mother

Mencius’s mother is a great mother of Zou State. To make her son get a good education, she moved her family three times.

When Mencius was a child, he lived near a graveyard. Therefore, he often played near the grave and imitated people’s crying or digging the tombs. When his mother saw this, she said: “It’s not a good place for a child to live in.” 

Then she moved the family to a house near a market. Soon Mencius began imitating people’s hawking and bargaining. He found it interesting and played again and again.

His mother found this place still not good for a child to live in. She decided to move away again. 

At last they settled down near a school. Before long, Mencius began imitating the students’ reading and writing. He became more polite and hardworking. Then his mother said: this is a good place for a child to live in.

When Mencius grew up, he was well-known for his politeness and talent. 

This story tells us a good educational environment is very important for children.