The township grew around a single miraculous lotus blossoming in the centre of its pond. Eventually the pond shrunk and disappeared into the mud of its alleyways. But the sound of the lotus blooming could still be heard, on moonlit nights, in every bathhouse, sink and privy, from the Mayor's palace to the poorest districts.

In order to ensure that the plot of land would be his and his alone to build on, Master Liu ringed it with shallow graves in the shape of the word for hunger. Nevertheless, two beggars took shelter behind a freshly raised tombstone, and an obese local magistrate asked to be buried there when his time came.

Madam Chao was born in a hovel her father had built. Growing up in an apartment he'd bought, she got married in the bungalow he gave her as dowry, and died when a rotted roofbeam collapsed while she was visiting, with her tribe of sixty-two descendents, the location of her birth.

Everyone agreed that the residence of the Courtesan Imisha was the reason for her tremendous favour. How could anyone who dwelled day and night in that gleaming edifice of marble and rubies be anything but beautiful? In truth she was a toothless crone who secluded herself behind a scented screen, bewitching her suitors with fine manners, rambling stories, excellent tea, and an accomplished gloved fist.

The house of the great poet Kiam Huat was built over a network of secret underground tunnels, which led to the rooms of his mistress the Treasurer's daughter, the ancient ruins of the state library, and the largest wine cellar in the city, owned by a foreign merchant who wept at the music of songs written in a language he still could not read after thirty lonely years.

Having achieved world-wide recognition after decades of neglect in his hometown, the potter Sa'am was approached by several leading architects wanting to build him the perfect studio gallery for his work. To each he smiled and showed his two cracked, clay-encrusted hands.

Desiring to erect his supreme masterwork, the Engineer-In-Chief incited a war on a neighbouring territory with several carefully placed border monuments designed to provoke an ill-advised military incursion. After the anticipated conflict, a new city wrought from glass and sand emerged from the barren wasteland.

Five consultative committees could not decide what to do with the home of the late President Emeritus, until a regime change proved their contentions futile. The mansion later became an authoritative museum for unfinished state-commissioned statues.

"I cannot build you the palace of your heart's desire," said the petulant Master Builder to the Minister, "until you clear away the fences so it can be seen clearly."