The Empty Flower Pot

Once, there was a well-loved Emperor Tz'u-hsi who lived in seventeenth century China. Now Tz'u-hsi had no one to take over his rule at his death. He knew that he was aging and had not many more years to live, so he sent messengers all over the province to bring children of twelve years of age to his court.

When they had been assembled, the Emperor told them that he was looking for someone special to take his place. Then, to each child present, he gave a flower seed and instructed them to grow the best flower possible in a favorite pot.

The children were delighted and shouted with joy. As the children left the presence of the emperor, one little boy, Woo San, remained behind staring at the big seed in his little hand. He then looked up at the emperor and told him that he would grow the biggest and prettiest flowers that he had ever seen--and with that proclamation, Woo San left the smiling emperor.

At home, Woo San asked his mother for a beautiful flower pot. After searching near and far for the best rich, black soil, he happily filled his pot and pushed the white seed into the dark earth. He watered it and placed it in the sunniest spot he could find.

Every day her cared for and nurtured his planting. Spring passed into summer. Summer changed to fall. Winter came and soon spring would return. Through all of this time Woo San waited for the seed to sprout. Nothing! He sat close to it, looking. He talked to it. He sang to it. But nothing happened.

Then one day, the emperor called all of the children to bring their flowers to him. One by one they entered and presented him with the most beautiful flowers he had ever seen. But Woo San was nowhere to be found.

The emperor sent a messenger to find him. Woo San was sitting on the steps crying. The messenger brought the little boy before the emperor and Woo San showed him the empty pot. He told his liege all that he had done to get the seed to grow, and tearfully bowed under failure.