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.
- 224 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
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Information
Subtopic
Chinese HistoryIndex
HistoryTable of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- About the Author
- Other titles of interest published by Thames & Hudson
- Contents
- 1 A Brief History of Chinese Mythology
- 2 China’s Literary Traditions
- 3 Origin and Creation Myths
- 4 The First Gods
- 5 Demigods and Heroes of the Classical Era
- 6 Sacred Rivers and Mountains
- 7 Buddhist Influences
- 8 Legends of the Ming Dynasty
- 9 Daoism and Popular Beliefs
- Appendix Temples and Festivals in Modern China
- Timeline
- Further Reading
- Sources of Illustrations
- Index
- Copyright
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Yes, you can access The Chinese Myths by Tao Tao Liu in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & Chinese History. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.