The Empty Pot (Read Aloud books for children) | Chinese Folk-Tale Storytime Demi *Miss Jill Classic

Summary

In 'The Empty Pot,' a charming Chinese folk-tale retold by Miss Jill, we travel to ancient China where a boy named Ping faced a unique challenge. The Emperor, who loved flowers, needed to choose a successor and decided to let flowers decide. All children were tasked with growing a flower from a special seed given by the Emperor, but Ping, despite his efforts, was left with an empty pot. In a twist, Ping's honesty earned him the throne, as the Emperor had given them cooked seeds that couldn't grow. This story beautifully highlights the value of honesty and integrity, showing that truthfulness can lead to the greatest rewards.

Highlights

• Ping could grow any flower, but unexpectedly received a seed that wouldn't sprout. 🌻
• The Emperor, needing a successor, tested children with a challenging task. 🤔
• Only Ping presented his empty pot with honesty and courage. 😮
• Despite others having blooming flowers, Ping's integrity shone. 🌺
• The real seed of successor was honesty, not the flower itself. 🚀
• Emperor's crafty plan revealed cooked seeds to test true character. 🧠
• Ping, with an empty pot, was named the Emperor's successor. 👑
• Message: Honesty and truth triumph in the end. 💖

Key Takeaways

• Honesty is the best policy, even if it's difficult. 🌟
• Integrity stands out in a world full of embellishments. 🌸
• Courage can lead to unexpected rewards. 👑
• True character is revealed in challenging situations. 🌱
• Sometimes, doing your best is all that is needed. 💪

Overview

In a land where flowers and beauty were highly treasured, Ping, a young boy, could grow plants effortlessly. This whimsical Chinese tale, narrated by Miss Jill, pulls us into the vibrant life of a kingdom enamored with nature, where even the Emperor gardens daily.

When it came time for the elderly Emperor to choose a successor, he concocted a clever plan: he gave each child in the kingdom a seed, promising the throne to whoever grew the best flower. As children presented their budding pots a year later, Ping faced an unexpected dilemma: his pot was empty.

With honesty and bravery, Ping told the Emperor his seed did not grow. To everyone's surprise, the Emperor revealed the seeds were cooked and couldn't sprout, hoping to find a successor with integrity. Because Ping remained truthful despite his fears, he was chosen to lead, teaching us that truth and courage are the greatest qualities of all.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction - Meet Ping The introduction chapter titled "Meet Ping" introduces a young boy named Ping, who has an extraordinary talent for growing plants. In this Chinese folk tale adapted by Miss Jill, it is noted that anything Ping plants flourishes remarkably, producing flowers, bushes, and even large fruit trees. His talent for gardening is well-known throughout the kingdom, where everyone shares a love for flowers.
• 00:30 - 01:00: The Emperor's Proclamation The chapter 'The Emperor's Proclamation' describes the Emperor's deep affection for nature, as evidenced by his love for birds, animals, and flowers. Despite being old, he remains dedicated to tending his garden daily. However, the pressing matter of the Emperor's succession arises, as he must decide who will inherit the throne and how this successor will be chosen.
• 01:00 - 01:30: The Excitement Begins The emperor, who had a great love for flowers, decided to let them play a role in choosing his successor. He issued a proclamation inviting all the children in the land to visit the palace, where he would give each a special flower seed. The child who could display the best flower after one year would be chosen as the next ruler.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Ping's Hopeful Start The announcement of a chance to become the next emperor stirred excitement all over the country. A multitude of children flocked to the palace to receive flower seeds from the emperor, as both their parents and they themselves nurtured hopes of being chosen. Among them, Ping, who was particularly joyful upon receiving his seed, felt confident in his ability to grow the most magnificent flower.
• 02:00 - 02:30: Challenges in Growing the Flower Ping filled the flower cup with rich soil and carefully planted the seed, eagerly anticipating its growth. Despite his daily watering and care, the seedling failed to sprout. Concerned by the lack of progress, Ping decided to replant the seed into a larger pot with fresh soil, hoping to encourage its growth.
• 02:30 - 03:00: The Palace Presentation The chapter titled 'The Palace Presentation' describes a long period of anticipation. Despite waiting patiently for another two months, nothing significant happens. As time progresses, a whole year goes by, leading to the arrival of spring. This season brings with it a ceremonial event where children don their finest attire to present themselves before the emperor. They excitedly head to the palace, each carrying beautiful flowers, eager for the chance to be selected by the emperor.
• 03:00 - 03:30: Ping's Honesty Ping was ashamed because his pot was empty and feared ridicule from others. His friend had a great plant and questioned Ping about taking an empty pot to the emperor. His friend suggested Ping could have grown a large flower like him. Ping had grown many flowers like those before.
• 03:30 - 04:00: The Emperor Reveals the Truth Ping, despite his best efforts, found that the seed given to him would not grow.
• 04:00 - 04:30: Honesty Rewarded The chapter 'Honesty Rewarded' revolves around an emperor inspecting the flowers brought to him by his subjects. Despite the display of beautiful flowers, he doesn't seem pleased. When he approaches a boy named Ping, who has only an empty pot, he questions him. Ping shamefully admits that he planted the seed given by the emperor but nothing grew from it.
• 04:30 - 05:00: Conclusion and Moral The chapter follows the story of Ping, who diligently cares for a seed given to him to grow a flower. Despite his efforts of watering it daily, providing better soil, and tending to it throughout the year, the seed does not sprout. When the time comes to present his plant to the emperor, Ping brings an empty pot. The emperor smiles and embraces Ping for his honesty and effort, suggesting a moral about the importance of integrity and perseverance, even when results are not as expected.

The Empty Pot (Read Aloud books for children) | Chinese Folk-Tale Storytime Demi *Miss Jill Classic Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 the empty pot by demi a chinese folk tale creatively read and adapted by miss jill a long time ago in china there was a boy named ping who loved flowers anything he planted burst into bloom up came flowers bushes and even big fruit trees as if by magic everyone in the kingdom loved flowers
• 00:30 - 01:00 too they planted them everywhere and the air smelled like perfume the emperor loved birds and animals and flowers most of all and he tended his own garden every day but the emperor was very old he needed to choose a successor to be on the throne who would his successor be and how would the emperor choose
• 01:00 - 01:30 because the emperor loved flowers so much he decided to let the flowers choose the next day a proclamation was issued all the children in the land were to come to the palace there they would be given a special flower seed by the emperor whoever can show me their best in a year's time he said will succeed me to the throne
• 01:30 - 02:00 this news created great excitement throughout the land children from all over the country swarmed to the palace to get their flower seed all the parents wanted their children to be chosen emperor and all of the children hoped that they would be chosen too when ping received his seed from the emperor he was the happiest child of all he was sure he could grow the most beautiful flower
• 02:00 - 02:30 ping filled the flower cup with rich soil he planted the seed in it very carefully he watered it every day he couldn't wait to see it sprout grow and blossom into a beautiful flower day after day passed but nothing grew in his pot ping was very worried he put new soil into a bigger pot then he transferred the seed into the
• 02:30 - 03:00 rich black soil [Music] another two months he waited still nothing happened by and by the whole year passed spring came and all of the children put on their best clothes to greet the emperor they rushed to the palace with their beautiful flowers eagerly hoping to be chosen
• 03:00 - 03:30 ping was ashamed of his empty pot he thought the other children would laugh at him because for once he couldn't get a flower to grow his clever friend ran by holding a great big plant ping he said uh you're not really gonna go to the emperor with an empty pot are you couldn't you grow a great big flower like mine uh i've grown lots of flowers like yours
• 03:30 - 04:00 said ping it's just the seed won't grow ping's father overheard this and said son you did your best and your best is good enough to present to the emperor holding the empty pot in his hands ping went straight away to the palace the emperor was looking at the flowers slowly one by one
• 04:00 - 04:30 how beautiful all the flowers were but the emperor was frowning and did not say a word finally he came to ping hung his head in shame expecting to be punished the emperor asked him why did you bring an empty pot [Music] ping started to cry and replied i i planted a seed that you gave me
• 04:30 - 05:00 and i watered it every day but it didn't sprout i put it in a better pot with better soil but still it didn't sprout i tended it all year long but nothing grew so today i have to bring an empty pot without a flower and it's the best i could do when the emperor heard these words a smile slowly spread over his face and he put his arm around ping
• 05:00 - 05:30 then he exclaimed to one and all i have found him i have found the one person worthy of being emperor where you all got your seeds from i don't know for the seeds i gave you had all been cooked and when they're cooked it is impossible for anything to grow i admire ping's great courage to appear before me
• 05:30 - 06:00 with an empty truth and now i will reward him with my entire kingdom and make him emperor of all the land [Music] the end it pays to be honest no matter how difficult it is thanks for watching if you want to be kept up to date for when i post a new one go ahead and hit the subscribe button