Myths And Legends Of Ancient China

The book provides highlights on the key concepts and trends of evolution in Myths and Legends of Ancient China, as one of the series of books of “China Classified Histories”.

The West's first encounters with the folk tales and myths of the East proved to be a heady experience, as they were based on an entirely different value system and worldview than those that are reflected in the Greek myths and most subsequent Western folk tales. In Myths and Legends of China, author E.T.C. Werner offers up a rich tapestry of Chinese folk narratives. A must-read for fans of world myths, fairy tales, and legends.

We have in China the universal worship of ancestors, which constitutes (or did until A.D. 1912) the State religion, usually known as Confucianism, and in addition we have the gods of the specific religions (which also originally took their rise in ancestor-worship), namely, Buddhism and Taoism. (Other religions, though tolerated, are not recognized as Chinese religions.) It is with a brief account of this great hierarchy and its mythology that we will now concern ourselves. Besides the ordinary ancestor-worship (as distinct from the State worship) the people took to Buddhism and Taoism, which became the popular religions, and the literati also honoured the gods of these two sects. Buddhist deities gradually became installed in Taoist temples, and the Taoist immortals were given seats beside the Buddhas in their sanctuaries. Every one patronized the god who seemed to him the most popular and the most lucrative. There even came to be united in the same temple and worshipped at the same altar the three religious founders or figure-heads, Confucius, Buddha, and Lao Tzŭ. The three religions were even regarded as forming one whole, or at least, though different, as having one and the same object: san êrh i yeh, or han san wei i, “the three are one,” or “the three unite to form one” (a quotation from the phrase T’ai chi han san wei i of Fang Yü-lu: “When they reach the extreme the three are seen to be one”). In the popular pictorial representations of the pantheon this impartiality is clearly shown.

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!

Illustrated Myths & Legends of China is a profusely illustrated collection of 32 carefully chosen tales of Chinese myth and legend. With more than 100 illustrations drawn over two thousand years of all aspects of Chinese art—including painting, pottery and porcelain, jade, bronzes and tomb decoration—Illustrated Myths & Legends of China is a vividly written collection of tales of the universe's emergence from chaos, the creation of the world in which the first Chinese people appeared and a depiction of how the many strands of myth and legend have influenced Chinese culture. An impressive array of heroic figures and rich storytelling are at the center of these tales including: Pangu opening heaven to save the earth from chaos. Nuwa creating man and repairing the vault of heaven. Fuxi fixing the calendar by observing the heavens. Shennong creating agriculture. Cangjie inventing writing thus creating the basis for Chinese culture. Fragments of these myths and legends are found in Chinese paintings, wood artifacts, relief carvings, and lacquer art which are illustrated in this book along with informative text. Anyone interested in Chinese culture, mythology, history or art will find this collection a must-have volume for their bookshelf.

An illustrated introduction to the stories of deities, heroes and the origins of the universe that underpin traditional Chinese culture.

Collects stories from ancient Chinese mythology, including the creation of the world, the story of the Yellow Emperor, and the importance of dragons who would intervene to help the Chinese people.

A collection of traditional tales from around the world, reflecting the cultures and religions from which the stories come.