A father teaches his son to read by explaining pictographic characters, illustrating the origins of Chinese writing. The film uses thirty-six animated pictograms to tell an engaging story: a red "sun" in the blue sky, distant "mountains" and nearby "water," a "bird" flying, an "elephant" drinking water, "forests" and "grasslands," all lush and green. A "man" rides a "horse" through a "bamboo" grove and across "fields." Suddenly, the "man" falls off the "horse," and the "horse" runs away. The "man" uses a "knife" to chop "wood," building a "boat." The "elephant" lifts the "man" into the "boat" and pushes it into the "water," where "fish" swim. The "man" casts a "net" to catch "fish," but the "fish" escape. A "swallow" flies across the sky, and dark "clouds" appear beside the "sun." The "clouds" drift, and "rain" begins to fall. The "man" uses an "umbrella" to shield himself from the rain. Suddenly, the "boat" capsizes, and the "man" falls into the water. Waves push him onto a "rock," and he uses "fire" to warm himself. At that moment, a "turtle" swims over, carries the "man" on its back, and returns him to the "boat." Guided by a small "bird," the "man" travels onward and sees a "tiger" chasing a "deer," a "pig," and an "old man." The "man" draws his "bow" and shoots an arrow, killing the "tiger." The "old man" enters a "house" and gives a "goat" to the "man." The "man" leads the "goat" to the riverbank, where "flowers" bloom, and he sees a small "tiger" crying. The "man" finds a way to transport the "tiger," "goat," and "flowers" to the opposite shore. Then he remembers the runaway "horse" and whistles, and the "horse" returns to his side. The "man" leads a large group of animals back to the "forest" and returns home. A "dog" and a "child" come out of the "door," followed by a "woman." The "man" places a "flower" in the "woman's" hair. The "child" happily exclaims, "Dad is putting a flower on Mom!" At that moment, a bright "moon" appears in the sky. This film won the Educational Film Award at the 7th Zagreb World Festival of Animated Films in Yugoslavia in 1986.