The Empty Pot

Modern Adaptation of a Chinese Folktale, Retold by The Legendary Connection

Tales of Honesty & Integrity

You’ll find the full text of this classic story below… free to enjoy anytime.

It’s also part of our more immersive experience – Once Upon A Virtue: Tales of Honesty & Integrity. Each tale comes with bonus storytelling tools: quick summaries for easy retelling, journaling prompts, and children’s activity sheets that make honesty and integrity lessons more engaging for your family. Read the story below, then explore the complete experience.

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In a bustling, colorful city in modern-day China, there lived a kind-hearted boy. He loved gardening more than anything else. His tiny apartment balcony was bursting with green vines, tiny lemon trees, and the brightest daisies you’ve ever seen. Every morning, before school, he watered his plants, sang little songs to them, and whispered encouraging words like, "Grow strong, little ones!"

One day, a surprising announcement buzzed across the school loudspeakers. The Principal, wise and loved by all, had decided it was time to find someone to award a very special scholarship. But he had a very unusual way of choosing. He declared, "Anyone who wishes to enter must come to the school gym tomorrow. You will be given a seed, a pot, and soil. In six months, bring back the best plant you can grow. The winner will receive a full scholarship!"

The boy’s heart raced with excitement. The thought of meeting the Principal, and maybe even winning, filled him with wonder. Early the next morning, he lined up with hundreds of others at the school gym. Everyone was given a small clay pot, a handful of rich soil, and a single black seed, no bigger than a raindrop.

At home, the boy planted the seed with great care. He patted the soil gently, gave it a sip of water, and set the pot on his sunny balcony. Every day, he watched and waited. He made sure the soil stayed moist but not too wet. He moved the pot to catch the best light. He even played his favorite music, hoping the seed would feel happy and grow strong.

But weeks passed, and nothing happened.

The boy worried. He asked his mother, who shrugged and said, "Sometimes seeds take time." He asked his neighbor, an old gardener, who scratched his head and said, "Just keep caring for it. That's all you can do."

The other kids around school began to brag about their plants. One girl said her seed had sprouted into a tall, twisting vine. Another boy claimed his had bloomed with purple flowers as big as dinner plates. Whenever the boy heard these stories, his heart sank a little more. He would run home, check his pot, and find only the same damp soil, empty and still.

As the months flew by, the boy tried everything. He changed the soil. He repotted the seed. He whispered new songs and gave it new water. Still, nothing. His little pot stayed stubbornly bare.

The day of the final presentation arrived. The boy stared at his empty pot and felt a lump grow in his throat. Maybe he should stay home. Maybe he should find another plant to bring, but no, that wouldn't be right. The Principal had said to bring what they grew from the seed he gave them.

So the boy wiped his tears, brushed the soil neatly, and carried his empty pot to the school gym.

The gym buzzed with excitement. Rows of contestants showed off magnificent plants: fiery red roses, leafy towering ferns, delicate orchids shining like jewels. The poor boy’s cheeks burned with shame as he clutched his lonely pot.

The Principal entered, wearing a smart suit and a warm smile. His eyes twinkled as he slowly walked past each contestant, nodding thoughtfully at every lush plant. When he reached the young boy, he paused. The room grew silent. The boy silently bowed his head.

"Where is your plant, young man?" the Principal asked, his voice gentle. The boy’s voice shook as he answered, "I’m sorry, Principal. I planted the seed you gave me. I watered it, sang to it, gave it light... but it never sprouted. I wanted to bring you something beautiful, but this is all I have."

The Principal's face broke into a wide smile. He turned to the crowd and declared, "Here! Here is the one I have been searching for!" Gasps filled the room. Students looked at each other in confusion. Some teachers whispered curiously.

The Principal raised his hands for silence. "Six months ago, I gave everyone a seed, but it was no ordinary seed. It was a pebble. A stone. Nothing could ever grow from it. I wanted to see who would be honest enough to show me their empty pot. All these plants you see here," he said, his voice sad now, "were grown from seeds not given by me."

He turned back to the boy. "But you stayed true. You followed the rules and had the courage to be honest. For that, you will receive the scholarship."

The crowd burst into applause. The boy felt his heart swell with pride and relief. His mother ran up and hugged him tightly, laughing and crying at the same time.

That evening, the school buzzed again, but this time with joy and admiration. The boy, who had once feared bringing an empty pot, was celebrated as a hero. He didn't just win a scholarship that day; he won the Principal's trust and the hearts of all who heard his story.