Pavilions in the Air: Chinese Proverbs and Their English Equivalents

Gathered here are gems galore, which, while revealing much as to the Chinese national psyche, highlight particular traits and characteristics that span the globe.

We all know Deng Xiaoping s famous It doesn t matter what colour the cat is, as long as it catches mice , but most of us would only recognize an approximate English equivalent of A mighty dragon cannot crush a local snake or, A Phoenix might come out of a crow s nest .

The beasts and birds of legend and folklore provide the inimitable Kathryn Lamb s pen with a feast of hilarious subjects, not least a certain revolution at one ill-fated dinner party...