As the legend goes, during ancient times, in the expansive open country of North China, there was a kind of birds called "rocs".
The roc was very huge, with its back like a big mountain, and its wings like a stretch of cloud which could cover the sky. When it spread its wings, it could break through a storm and soar at a height of 90,000 li (1/2 kilometre) in the sky towards the sea in the south.
A small bird called the quail1 bounced on the ground, free and happy. It looked up at the roc soaring in the sky and couldn't help laughing: "Hey, see how cocky you are! Look at me, one jump can take me over 10 chi. How delightful2! Every day I come and go amid these weeds and thickets3 and fly freely. Don't I fly quite well too? But, where can you fly to anyway?"
传说,古时候中国北方的原野上有一种鸟,它的名字叫“鹏”。
鹏长得很大,背脊像一座大山,翅膀像一大片云,能把天空遮住。它张开翅膀能冲破风暴,在九万里高的天空中飞翔,一直飞向南方的大海。
有一只叫鹦雀的小鸟,在地上蹦蹦跳跳,自由自在,非常快活。它望着天空中展翅飞翔的大鹏,忍不住发笑,说:“咳,看你神气活现的!我呀,一蹦一跳,就有十几尺,多么痛快啊!我每天在这些杂草和树丛里,来来去去,自由飞翔,不也飞得挺好吗?可是,你又能飞到哪里去呢?”