The Empty Pot Book

Easily one of my favorite stories I read as a child. After having reread it now, I am still filled with deep admiration for Ping to take his empty pot to the Emperor and cry to the Emperor.

But I had a much more noble vision of Ping, and when his friend had come before him asking why Ping hadn't been able to grow a flower as big as his friend's, Ping retorted, "I've grown lots of flowers better than yours," and "it's just this seed that won't grow". Even if his friend's statement was rude, a noble hero takes the punch. Instead, Ping comes off as a selfish boy who does not deserve to inherit the kingdom, especially after his father encourages Ping to go to the emperor with the empty pot. If there's anyone that is the real heroes in this story, it is the father.

Over the years I had forgotten much of the story and simplified it, ignoring this defect of Ping: his pride for gardening. My simplified version of the story earns five stars because of the noble Ping, who goes before the Emperor without any guidance but because of honesty and sadness in his own work. Ping's retorts and his father forcing him to go to the Emperor really knock this story down to 2 stars.

Update 9 June 2019
With the adoption of my new rating system, a two star rating is befitting. The review explains this in accordance with the new rating system. It should be noted that although I was disappointed with the story, it does not reach a one star rating.

January 2, 2020
I recall a detail that I recall leaving out in this sentence from the original review: "If there's anyone that is the real heroes in this story, it is the father". I enjoyed the father as a character (three star-rating), which helps in maintaining the two star-rating of the book. I also liked the nobleness of the Emperor.