《An Idioms a Day 3》

"When a big tree falls, the monkeys will disperse" is a Chinese expression suggesting that when a powerful leader is removed, his underlings will also vanish. More than 90 other examples appear in this book, which is part of a series that introduces a wide array of Chinese idioms, the origins of which are sometimes unknown even to those who use them. Wise and often humorous, the folk proverbs are a window on Chinese history and culture. A short tale provides the history of each quotation, illustrated here by colorful cartoons that demonstrate the application of these picturesque expressions.