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Chinese mythology

 

Chinese mythology

Chinese mythology is the mythology of Chinese civilization. Many of the legends of Chinese mythology take place during the period of Sanhuangwudi.

by E. T. C. Werner

Important mythologies and deities

Mythical creatures

  • Ba She (巴蛇 ba1she2) a snake reputed to swallow elephants
  • Birds:
  • *Fenghuang (Chinese Phoenix)
  • *Ji Guang (吉光 ji2guang1)
  • *Jian (鶼 jian1) A mythical bird supposed to have only one eye and one wing: 鶼鶼 a pair of such birds dependent on each other, inseparable, hence, represent husband and wife.
  • *Jing Wei (精衛) a mythical bird which tries to fill up the ocean with twigs and pebbles.
  • *Shang-Yang (a rainbird)
  • *Nine-headed Bird Used to scare children.
  • *Su Shuang (鷫鵊 su4shuang3) a mythical bird, also variously described as a water bird, like the crane.
  • *Peng (鵬, a mythical bird of giant size and terrific flying power) Also known as Chinese roc.
  • *Qing Niao (青鳥 qing1niao3) a mythical bird, the messenger of Xi Wangmu.
  • *Zhu (a bad omen)
  • Chinese dragon
  • *Yinglong, a powerful servant of Huang Di.
  • *Dragon King
  • *Fucanglong, the treasure dragon
  • *Shenlong, the rain dragon
  • *Dilong, the earth dragon
  • *Tianlong, the celestial dragon
  • *Li (hornless dragon), lesser dragon of the seas. Is hornless.
  • *Jiao, another hornless dragon. Lives in the swamps. The lowest dragon.
  • Qilin (in Japanese, Kirin), chimeric animal with several variations.
  • Long Ma Similar to the Qilin- the dragon-horse.
  • Kui (夔 kui2) a mythical one legged monster.
  • Kun (鯤 kun1) a mythical giant monsterous fish.
  • Hopping corpse
  • Yaoguai - demons.
  • Fox Spirit
  • Nian, the beast
  • Ox heads & horse faces 牛頭馬面 messenger boy in Hell.
  • Pixiu (貔貅)
  • Rui Shi (瑞獅)
  • Tao Tie (饕餮 tao1tie4) a mythical gargoyle like figure, often found on ancient bronze vessels, representing greed. It is said to be the fifth son of dragon and has such an appetite that it even eats its head.
  • Xiao (魈 xiao1) A mythical mountain spirit or demon.
  • The Transcendent Pig

    Mythical places

  • Xuan Pu (玄圃 xUan2pu3), a mythical fairyland on Kunlun Mountain (崑崙).
  • Yao Chi (瑤池 yao2chi2), abode of immortals where Xi Wang Mu lives.
  • Fu Sang (扶桑 fu2sang1), a mythical island, often interpreted as Japan.
  • Que Qiao (鵲橋 qUe4qiao2) the bridge formed by birds across the milky way.
  • Peng lai (蓬萊 peng2lai2) the paradise, a fabled Fairy Isle on the China Sea.
  • Long Men (龍門 long2men2) the dragon gate where a carp can transform into a dragon.
  • Feng Du the Chinese hell

    Literary sources of Chinese mythology

  • Zhiguai, a literary genre that deals with strange (mostly supernatural) events and stories
  • Journey to the West, by Wu Cheng'en, with a bestiarium of malevolent animal yougui
  • Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, by Pu Songling, with many stories of fox demons
  • Creation of the Gods or Fengshenyanyi (封神演義)
  • Heian Zhuan or Epic of the Darkness: the only collection of legends in epic form preserved by a population classified as part of the Han nationality of China, namely, inhabitants of the Shennongjia mountain area in Hubei, containing accounts from the birth of Pangu till the historical era.
  • Imperial historical documents and confucian cannons such as Shiji, Lushi Chunqiu, Liji, Shangshu
  • Verse poetry of ancient states such as Lisao by Qu Yuan of the Chu state.

    See also

  • Chinese astrology
  • Religion in China
  • List of deities
  • I Ching

    External links

  • Chinese mythology at Godchecker
  • 汉族中原古帝神话传说
  • 汉族神话


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