Handbook Of Chinese Mythology

Compiled from ancient and scattered texts and based on groundbreaking new research, Handbook of Chinese Mythology is the most comprehensive English-language work on the subject ever written from an exclusively Chinese perspective. This work focuses on the Han Chinese people but ranges across the full spectrum of ancient and modern China, showing how key myths endured and evolved over time. A quick reference section covers all major deities, spirits, and demigods, as well as important places, mythical animals and plants, and related items.

In Chinese Mythology, Anne Birrell provides English translations of some 300 representative myth narratives selected from over 100 classical texts, many of which have never before been translated into any Western language. Organizing the narratives according to themes and motifs common to world mythology, Birrell addresses issues of source, dating, attribution, textural variants, multiforms, and context. Drawing on exhaustive work in comparative mythology, she surveys the development of Chinese myth studies, summarizes the contribution of Chinese and Japanese scholars to the study of Chinese myth since the 1920s, and examines special aspects of traditional approaches to Chinese myth. The result is an unprecedented guide to the study of Chinese myth for specialists and nonspecialists alike.

This is a concise and entertaining guide to the complex tradition of Chinese mythology. While many around the world are familiar with some aspects of Chinese myth through Chinese New Year festivities or the classic adventures of the Monkey King in Journey to the West few outside of China understand the richness of Chinese mythology, influenced by Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. Offering much more than any competing overview of Chinese mythology, The Chinese Myths not only retells the ancient stories but also considers their place within the patterns of Chinese religions, culture and history. Tao Tao Liu introduces us to an intriguing cast of gods, goddesses, dragons and monks, including: the ancient hero, Yi the Archer, who shot suns out of the sky to save humanity from a drought; Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion, to whom there are temples dedicated all over East Asia; and Madame White Snake, a water snake spirit in the guise of a mysterious widow, her story adapted into countless films and operas. This book is for anyone interested in China, as knowing its myths allows readers to understand and appreciate its culture in a new light.

Popular Hopi kachina dolls and awesome totem poles are but two of the aspects of the sophisticated, seldom-examined network of mythologies explored in this fascinating volume. This revealing work introduces readers to the mythologies of Native Americans from the United States to the Arctic Circle—a rich, complex, and diverse body of lore, which remains less widely known than mythologies of other peoples and places. In thematic chapters and encyclopedia-style entries, Handbook of Native American Mythology examines the characters and deities, rituals, sacred locations and objects, concepts, and stories that define and distinguish mythological cultures of various indigenous peoples. By tracing the traditions as far back as possible and following their evolution from generation to generation, Handbook of Native American Mythology offers a unique perspective on Native American history, culture, and values. It also shows how central these traditions are to contemporary Native American life, including the continuing struggle for land rights, economic parity, and repatriation of cultural property.

If you're looking for a collection of Chinese myths that speaks to all ages and want to get insights into the Chinese culture without reading a college textbook, then keep reading... Most Americans know about Greek, Roman and Egyptian mythology. But folk stories from ancient China give different viewpoints and a deeper understanding of society's roots. It can be challenging for Americans to find a comprehensive collection of Chinese myths considering that there are several versions and translations available. How many of these Americans miss out supernatural Chinese tales that could educate and excite them...without even realizing? Could you be one of them? You see, most readers make the same mistakes - they either can't find a good collection of Chinese myths, or they only find dull textbooks. You may even fall asleep while reading them. But now, you have the opportunity to go on a remarkable journey that will spark your imagination. Introducing... Chinese Mythology: A Captivating Guide to Chinese Folklore Including Fairy Tales, Myths, and Legends from Ancient China. This amazing collection of Chinese myths will allow you to enter the Chinese mind so you can gather secrets and wisdom from a proud and respected country. And best of all, this new book is written in an exciting language and has an easy-to-read format that doesn't require you to be a specialist in order to understand. In this book, you will discover: A Story about Origin of Earth and Humans A Captivating Tale about the Poor Boy Ma Liang and the Paintbrush Stories about Natural Disasters Li Tieguai - A Taoist Myth Sun Wukong - The Monkey King The Investiture of the Gods A Story about Three Kingdoms Modern Mythology And much, much more! So if you want a collection of powerful Chinese myths that can cause some people to scream for more as oppose to falling asleep, click the "Add to Cart" button!

Curated new Myths and Tales. Great floods and river Gods, snake spirits, and Immortals, China's unique set of mythological tales are derived from its vast expanse, diverse culture and the endless wars between tribes and dynasties. The result is a rich landscape of humanity, gods and spirits introduced here in this comprehensive book of folk tales and legendary exploits. The latest title in Flame Tree's beautiful, comprehensive series of Gothic Fantasy titles, concentrates on the ancient, epic origins of modern fantasy.

"China, unlike ancient Greece and Rome, had no Homer or Ovid to retell its ancient myths in an eloquent literary record. Viewed with great skepticism by Chinese scholars of the early Chinese empire, myth was preserved orally, and finally converted into the written tradition only in a very fragmentary way. As a consequence, classical Chinese myth has remained largely unavailable to students and scholars of Chinese culture." "In Chinese Mythology, Anne Birrell provides English translations of some 300 representative myth narratives selected from over 100 classical texts, many of which have never before been translated into any Western language. Organizing the narratives according to theme and motif classes common to world mythology, Birrell addresses issues of source, dating, attribution, textual variants, multiforms, and context. Drawing extensively on works in comparative mythology, she surveys the development of Chinese myth studies, largely in the West; summarizes the contribution of Chinese and Japanese scholars to the study of Chinese myth since the 1920s; and looks at special aspects of traditional approaches to Chinese myth. The result is an unprecedented guide to the study of Chinese myth for specialists and nonspecialists alike."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Important subjects of Chinese mythology include Emperor Huang Di, the goddess of immortality Xiwangmu, and the winged dragon Yinglong. Chinese Gods, Heroes, and Mythology explores the gods, heroes, creatures, and stories of Chinese mythology, in addition to examining their influence today. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Core Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.