Chinese mythology

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Chinese Mythology is a collection of cultural history, folktales, and religions that have been passed down in oral or written form. There are several aspects to Chinese mythology, including creation myths and legends and myths concerning the founding of Chinese culture and the Chinese state. Like many mythologies, some people believe it to be a factual recording of history.

Historians have conjectured that the Chinese mythology began in 12th century B.C. (close to the time of the Trojan War). The myths and legends were passed down in oral format for over a thousand years, before being written down in early books such as Shui Jing Zhu and Shan Hai Jing. Other myths continued to be passed down through oral traditions such as theatre and song, before being recorded in the form of novels such as Fengshen Yanyi.

The writing of such stories sparked various writers, influenced by the alchemist's ideas and Taoist and Buddhist superstitions, were interested in inventing stories about gods and ghosts. Some of them show their unusual imagination and mastery of the written language. This practice was continued in the next period, the period of Southern and Northern Dynasties.

But the dawn of fiction, in the true sense of the term, came much later, in the middle of the Tang Dynasty, when many well-known writers and poets went in for story-writing. Their stories have a wide range of subject matter and themes, reflecting various aspects of human nature, human relations and social life. In form they are not short notes or anecdotes like the tales produced before them, but well-structured stories with interesting plots and vivid characters, often several thousand words in length. Among them are many tales whose main characters are gods, ghosts, or foxes.

Mythical stories of the Song Dynasty show strong influence of Tang fiction, but hardly attain the Tang level. One achievement in the field of fiction worthy of special mention is the compilation of the great Taiping Guangji or Extensive Records Compiled in the Taiping Years (976-983), which is a collection of about seven thousand stories published before and in the first years of the Song Dynasty. The stories were selected from over three hundred books, many of which have long been lost to us. A large portion of the seven thousand stories are about gods, deities, fairies, and ghosts.

In Song times there were stories written in the vernacular, called "notes for story-tellers". In the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties that followed the best-known works of fiction were novels in the vernacular, such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms,Water Margin, Pilgrimage to the West, The Scholars, and Dream of the Red Mansions.



Contents

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Records of Myths

A number of works record ancient Chinese mythology in their settled forms. Most myths extant today are derived from their recording in these works.

  • Shan Hai Jing - Literally Mountain and Sea Scroll, the Shan Hai Jing describes the myths, witchcraft, and religion of the ancient China in great details and also has a record of the geography, sea and mountain, history, medicine, customs, and ethnicities in ancient time. It has been called an early encyclopedia of China. In Wu Chinese, "talking about the Shan Hai Jing" is an idiom meaning gossip or idle chats.
  • Shui Jing Zhu - Literally Commentaries on the Water Scroll, this work began as commentaries on the briefer work of the Water Scroll, but became famous of its own accord because of its extensive record of geography, history, and associated legends.
  • Hei'an Zhuan - Literally Epic of the Darkness, this is the only collection of legends in epic form preserved by a community 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 philosophical canons such as Shiji, Lushi Chunqiu, Liji, Shangshu

Some myths survive in theatrical or literary formats, as plays or novels. Important mythological fiction which is seen as definitive records of these myths include:

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Myths and Legends

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Creation myths

A number of creation myths exist as to the creation of the cosmos and the first humans. However, several versions exist for each myth, and there are sometimes conflicts: for example, the creation of the first humans is sometimes ascribed to Pangu, and sometimes to Nuwa. As a result, the following presents only one of the most common versions of the story, and in rough chronological order.

Image:Nuva fuxi.gif

  • Pangu was the first sentient being and creator of the world as we know it. In the beginning there was nothing but a formless chaos. Out of this chaos there was born an egg for eighteen thousand years. When the forces of Yin and Yang balanced, Pangu emerged from the egg, and set about the task of creating the world. He separated Yin and Yang with a swing of his great axe. The heavy Yin sank to become the Earth, while the light Yang rose to become the Heavens. Pangu stood between them, and pushed up the sky. At the end of eighteen thousand years, Pangu laid to rest. His breath became the wind; his voice the thunder; left eye the sun and right eye the moon; his body became the mountains and extremes of the world; his blood formed rivers; his muscles the fertile lands; his facial hair the stars and milky way; his fur the bushes and forests; his bones the valuable minerals; his bone marrows sacred diamonds; his sweat fell as rain; and the little creatures on his body (in some versions, the fleas), carried by the wind, became human beings all over the world.
  • Nüwa (女媧) is said to have created humanity. Her companion was Fuxi (伏羲), the brother and husband of Nuwa. These two beings are sometimes worshipped as the ultimate ancestor of all humankind. They are often represented as half-snake, half-human creatures. Nüwa was also responsible for repairing the sky after Gong Gong damaged the pillar supporting the heavens. (See below)
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Three August Ones and Five Emperors

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Following on from the age of Nuwa and Fuxi (or cotemporaneous in some versions) was the age of the Three August Ones and Five Emperors (三皇五帝), a collection of legendary rulers who ruled between c. 2850 BC to 2205 BC, which is the time preceding the Xia dynasty.

The list of names comprising the Three August Ones and Five Emperors vary widely between sources. The version in the widest circulation (and most popularly known) is:

  • The Three August Ones:
    • Fuxi (伏羲) - The companion of Nuwa.
    • Shennong (神农) - Shennong, literally meaning "Divine Farmer", reputedly taught the ancients agriculture and medicine.
    • Huang Di (黄帝) - Huang Di, literally meaning, and commonly known as, the "Yellow Emperor", is often regarded as the first sovereign of the Chinese nation.

(Source: Shangshu (尚书))

  • The Five Emperors:
    • Shaohao (少昊) - Leader of the Dongyi or "Eastern Barbarians"; his pyramidal tomb is in present-day Shandong province.
    • Zhuanxu (颛顼) - Grandson of the Yellow Emeperor
    • Emperor Ku (帝喾) - Great grandson of the Yellow Emperor; nephew of Zhuanxu.
    • Yao (尧) - The son of Ku. His elder brother succeeded Ku, but abdicated when he was found to be an ineffective ruler.
    • Shun (舜) - Yao passed his position to Shun in favour of Yao's own son because of Shun's ability and morality.

These rulers were generally regarded as extremely moral and benevolent rulers, examples to be emulated by latter day kings and emperors. When Qin Shi Huang united China in 221 BC, he felt that his achievements had surpassed those of all the rulers who have gone before him. Hence, he combined the ancient tiles of Huang (皇) and Di (帝) to create a new title, Huangdi (皇帝), usually translated as Emperor.

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Great Flood

Chinese mythology shares with Greek and Judaism a period known as the Great Flood. The Chinese ruler Da Yu, with the help of the goddess Nüwa, helped dig the canals that controlled the flood and allowed people to grow crops.

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Xia Dynasty

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Shang Dynasty

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Other myths and Legends

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Deities

Not least of all is deity worship. The Jade Emperor is believed to be the most important god. It is unknown which was the source of the Jade Emperor as a deity, or how he originated. Also known as Yu Huang Shang-ti, his name means “the August Personage of Jade.” He is considered to be the first god and to be in charge of all the gods and goddesses. Many myths of well-known gods and goddesses exist that were in charge of different areas of Chinese culture, though they answer to the Jade Emperor.

A Dragon is one of the most important mythical creatures in Chinese mythology. The dragon is considered the most powerful and divine creature and is believed to be the controller of all of waters. The dragon-symbolized great power and very supported to heroes and gods. One of the most famous dragons in Chinese mythology is Ying Long, or Responding Dragon. He is said to be the god of rain. Many people pray to him in different places in order to receive rain. In Chinese mythology, many people believe that dragons can fly in the sky and make clouds with its breath. People believe whenever clouds are in the sky so is the dragon. Image:Dragons.gif

For the most part, Chinese myths often involves moral issues, which inform people of their culture and values. There are many stories that can be studied or excavated in China.

Image:Dragon gods - Project Gutenberg eText 15250.jpg

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Religion and mythology

There have been extensive interaction between Chinese mythology and the major belief systems of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. (see Religion in China)

On the one hand, elements of pre-existing mythology were adapted into these belief systems as they developed (in the case of Taoism), or were assimilated into Chinese culture (in the case of Buddhism). On the other hand, elements from the teachings and beliefs of these systems became incorporated into Chinese mythology. For example, the Taoist belief of a spiritual paradise became incorporated into mythology, as the place where immortals and deities dwell. Meanwhile, the myths of the benevolent rulers of the past, in the form of the Three August Ones and Five Emperors became a part of the Confucian political philosophy of Primitivism.

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Taoist mythology

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Buddhist mythology

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Folk religion mythology

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Important mythologies and deities

Image:Spirit of the well - Project Gutenberg eText 15250.jpg

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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.
    • Jingwei (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
  • Qilin (in Japanese, Kirin), chimeric animal with several variations. Originally referred to the giraffe.
  • Long Ma (龍馬) Similar to the Qilin- the dragon-horse.
  • Kui (夔 kui2) a mythical one legged monster.
  • Kun (鯤 kun1) a mythical giant monstrous fish.
  • Hopping corpse(aka Jiang shi)
  • Iuduan can detect truth.
  • 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
  • The Hsing t'ien (刑天 "punished one" or "he who was punished by heaven") is a headless giant. He was decapitated by the Yellow Emperor as punishment for challenging him. Because he has no head, his face is in his torso. He wanders around fields and roads and is often depicted carrying a shield and an axe and doing a fierce war dance.
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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
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Literary sources of Chinese mythology

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See also

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External links

es:Mitología china fr:Mythologie chinoise he:אגדות סיניות ko:중국 신화 it:Mitologia cinese nl:Chinese mythologie pl:Mitologia chińska pt:Mitologia chinesa sr:Кинеска митологија sv:Kinesisk mytologi zh:中国神话

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