Chinese Myths

Xueting C. Ni has written extensively on Chinese culture for over a decade, working with companies, institutions and festivals, to help improve understanding of China’s heritage, culture and innovation. She is the author of From Kuanyin to Chairman Mao: An Essential Guide to Chinese Deities. Her curated anthology of Chinese science fiction Sinopticon, won Best Anthology at the BFS Awards, 2022. She is currently translating and editing a collection of horror fiction.

Introduction
Daoist religious background. Influence of Buddhist myth and doctrine.

1. Cosmology
One typical view is of a square earth separated from a round sky by pillars. Above the sky is the Heavenly Realm. Below was a vast underground land, also known as Diyu, Yellow Springs or Hell.
Four Symbols of Chinese cosmology: the Azure Dragon of the East, the Black Tortoise of the North, the White Tiger of the West, and the Vermillion Bird of the South.
Qi: the essential life force out of which everything – inanimate matter, humans and animals, the sky, ideas and emotions, demons and ghosts – is made.
Yin and yang: symbolically, the two sides of anything.
FEATURE: Chinese cosmos: Five Planets and Five Agents; Four Quarters of the Sky; 28 Constellations; Nine Layers of the Sky
FEATURE: Chinese Zodiac animals

2. Creation Myths
These include symbolic narratives include the origins of the universe and everything, the origins of humans, or the origins of specific groups, such as a Han Chinese in descent from Yandi and Huangdi.
Examines sources such as the Tao Te Ching, Songs of Chu, the Daoyuan and Huainanzi. Explores concept of Dao, “the Way”.
Pangu: The first living being and the creator of all in some versions of Chinese mythology.
Nüwa: The goddess Nüwa repaired the fallen pillars holding up the sky, creating human beings either before or after.

3. Heroes and Legends
Mythological emperors: Three Primeval Emperors; Five Premier Emperors; Three Dynasties (Xia, Shang, Zhou)
Houji – cult hero from agricultural background; introduced millet to Xia Dynasty Chiyou – metallurgical engineer, specializing in weaponry
Nuwa and Fuxi (also known as Paoxi) are sometimes worshiped as the ultimate ancestor of all humankind and are often represented as half-snake, half-humans. Shennong and the Flame Emperors
Huangdi, the “Yellow Emperor”
Di Ku – considered the ancestor of the ruling families of certain subsequent dynasties. Yao and Shun were important mythological rulers, exemplars of propriety in rulership FEATURE: The Mad Monk Ji Gong
FEATURE: Gun, Yu and the Great Flood

4. Deities, Spirits and Immortals
Shangdi – the greatest ancestor and deity who controlled victory in battle, harvest, the fate of the capital, and the weather
Jade Emperor – in Chinese culture, traditional religions and myth is one of the representations of the first god
Eight Immortals – said to live on a group of five islands in the Bohai Sea, which includes Mount Penglai.
Astronomical deities: Xihe, goddess of the sun; Kua Fu, a giant who followed the sun; Houyi and the Ten Suns; Changxi, goddess of the moon
Deities of places: Xi Wangmu, meaning Queen Mother of the West; Mazu, goddess of the sea; Xiang River goddesses
Zao Jun, the kitchen god
Gao Yao: ancestor of the imperial house of Li of the Tang dynasty
Tam Kung: sea deity with the ability to forecast weather
Yuqiang: Yellow Emperor's descendant, god of north sea and wind Daoji: compassionate folk hero known for wild and eccentric behaviour FEATURE: Buddhist deities, spirits and Bodhisattvas

5. Mythological Creatures
The Four Intelligents: dragon, the phoenix, the unicorn, and the tortoise
Dragons: considered to be the most powerful and divine creature; Yinglong, god of rain; Zhulong, the Torch Dragon; Dilong, the Earth Dragon; Tianlong, Celestial Dragon
Snakes and reptiles: Ao the tortoise; the hydra Xiangliu
Birds: cranes; Vermillion Bird; Peng; Qingniao; Bi Fang bird; Shang-Yang rainbird Huli jing – fox spirits
Rui Shi – Guardian Lions
Four Fiends: Hundun (chaos), Taotie (gluttony), Taowu (Ignorance), Qiongqi (Deviousness)
FEATURE: The Monkey King – Journey to the West

6. Mythological Plants and Objects
Peaches of Immortality Yao Grass
Eight Treasures Marquis of Sui’s pearl
Nine Tripod Cauldrons

Index