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 at least in part a factual recording of history.

Historians have conjectured that the Chinese mythology began in 12th century B.C.. The myths and the 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

Myths and Legends

A unique characteristic of Chinese culture is the relatively late appearance in Chinese literature of creation myths. Those that do exist appear well after the foundation of Confucianism, Taoism, and Folk Religions. The stories exist in several versions, often conflicting, with the creation of the first humans being variously ascribed to Shangdi, Yu Huang, Heaven, Nuwa, Pangu. The following presents common versions of the creation story in roughly chronological order.

Nuwa and Fuxi represented as half-snake, half-human creatures.Shangdi , appearing in literature probably earlier than 700 BC as Huangtian Dadi very occasionally as, (the dating of these occurrences depends on the date of Oracle Bones and the Shujing, aka “Book of Documents”), is possibly an attempt to christianise Chinese god by religious advocates. When Huangtian Dadi was used it refers to Jade Emperor or Yu Huang, and Tian and Jade Emperor were synonymous in Chinese prayers.
Yu Huang (Yudi or Jade Emperor), appear in literature after the establishment of Taoism in China, but the position of Yu Huang dates back to beyond the times of Huangdi, Nuwa or Fuxi.
Tian (Heaven), appearing in literature probably about 700 BC, or earlier (the dating of these occurrences depends on the date of the Shujing, aka “Book of Documents”). There are no “creation” oriented narratives for ‘Heaven’, although the role of a creator is a possible interperatation. The qualities of ‘Heaven’ and Shangdi appear to merge in later literature (and are worshipped as one entity in, for example, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing). The extent of the distinction (if any) between them is debated. The sinologist Herrlee Creel proposes that an analysis of the Shang oracle bones shows Shangdi preceded ‘tian’ as a deity, and that Zhou Dynasty authors replaced the term Shangdi with tian to cement the claim of their influence. Again this is possible christianization of Jade Emperor into God in the Christian Bibles.
Nüwa appearing in literature no earlier than about 350 BC. Her companion was Fuxi, 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.
Pangu written about 200 AD by the Daoist author Xu Zheng, was a later myth claiming to describe the first sentient being & creator.

Creation and the Pantheon
The hierarchy of heaven according to Tiantang Yiuchi and The Feast of Immortal Peaches starts broadly with the primodial unity Xuanxuan Shangren, transformed into the Three Pure Ones the Daoist Trinity who reigned on matters related to Tao and De. The primordial unity then manifested as the Five Elders or Five Supremes made up of five supra-beings at the cardinal south Chi Jingzi, at the cardinal north Shui Jingzi, cardinal east Mu Gong, cardinal west Jin Mu and in the cardinal center Huang Lao.

Together these eight supra-beings form the core advisory elders, counsel the administration of heaven on the principles of absolute morality. Underneath these elders the administration operation arm of heaven is presided over by the Jade Emperor, Yudi, Yu Huang or the divine sovereign, who has a tenure of sixty years, and the current Jade Emperor is Guan Shengdi or Guan Yu. The Jade Emperor is charged with running of the three realms heaven, hell and that of the living. The Jade Emperor adjudicates and metes out rewards and remedies to actions of saints, the living and the deceased according to a merit system loosely called the Jade Principles Golden Script. When judgments proposed were objected to, usually by other saints, the administration would occasionally resort to the counsels of the advisory elders.

Dragon

The Chinese dragon is one of the most important mythical creatures in Chinese mythology. The Chinese dragon is considered to be the most powerful and divine creature and is believed to be the controller of all waters. The dragon symbolised great power and was very supportive of 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 in different places pray to him in order to receive rain. In Chinese mythology, dragons are believed to be able to create clouds with their breath. Chinese people often use the term “Descendants of the Dragon” as a sign of ethnic identity.

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

Religion and mythology

There has been extensive interaction between Chinese mythology and the major belief systems of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.

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.

One possible explanation available is that there is no distinction between the religion factions in heaven, whether it is Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Islam or Catholicism, according to the text of Pantao Yen Log or The Feast of the Immortal Peaches, Tiantang Yiuchi both of which alleged the five religions shared the same origin or source. These distinctions were made on earth, originally due to geography. Appellations to the purified and enlightened yuanling do contain distinctions, collectively these are known as Sheng Fok Xian Zhen.

Sheng is the honorary title for a deity from the Confucian school or mortal worthy of canonization due to deeds Confucian in nature. Guan Yu for his unwavering loyalty to the two brothers and to his king was a deified as Sheng. This term is also used for deity in the west.

Fok (budda) is the appellation for the enlightened Buddhist mortal. Ji Gong started out as a monk and thus became Fok. The correct way to address him is Ji Fok.

Xian (immortal) would be immortalised Taoist or adherents, like the famous Eight Immortals were all Taoist

Zhen is a general title applicable to all schools including the occidental saints.

Xian used in conjunction with Sheng, as in Shengxian, a general title applicable to all saints.
All mortals including the likes of kings e.g. Three August Ones and Five Emperors or commoners like Ji Gong, Zhong Kui, Mulian, with deeds worthy of commendation, using yardstick similar to the Taoist Jade Principles Golden Script, would eventually be considered as enlightened being, or as a yuanling. To be a deity or god in the pantheon these enlightened would need to further carry out work or deeds on behalf of heaven, and eventually additional titles added.

Mythical creatures

Bai She - a snake reputed to swallow elephants
Birds: Fenghuang - Chinese Phoenix

Jian - A mythical bird supposed to have only one eye and one wing: a pair of such birds dependent on each other, inseparable, hence, represent husband and wife.

Jingwei - 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 - a mythical bird, also variously described as a water bird, like the crane.
Peng (a mythical bird of giant size and terrific flying power) Also known as Chinese roc.

Qing Niao - 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.
Jiaolong, a dragon of floods and the sea.

Qilin, chimeric animal with several variations. The first giraffe sent as a gift to a Chinese emperor was believed to be the Qilin. An early Chinese painting depicts this giraffe replete with the fish scales of the Qilin.
Long Ma Similar to the Qilin - the dragon-horse.
Kui - a mythical one legged monster.
Kun, also known as Peng - a mythical giant monstrous fish.
Jiang Shi
Luduan can detect truth.
Yaoguai — demons.
Huli jing — fox spirits.
Nian, the beast
Ox heads & horse faces - messenger boy in Hell.
Pixiu
Rui Shi
Q?ng Lóng, Azure dragon of the east.
Xuán W?, black warrior of the north.
Bái H?, white tiger of the west.
Zh? Què, vermillion bird of the south.

Tao Tie 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 - A mythical mountain spirit or demon.
Xiezhi - a unicorn beast
The Xing Tian (”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.
Chinese Monkey Warded off evil spirits and was highly respected and loved by all Chinese people.
Yifan Zhang - Cat goddess, lead a legion of cats to uphold righteousness before the Shang Era. Descendant of Huang Di.

Mythical places

Xuanpu - a mythical fairyland on Kunlun Mountain.
Yaochi - abode of immortals where Xi Wang Mu lives.
Fusang - a mythical island, interpreted as Japan or the Americas.
Queqiao - the bridge formed by birds across the Milky Way.
Penglai - the paradise, a fabled Fairy Isle on the China Sea.
Longmen - the dragon gate where a carp can transform into a dragon.
Di Yu - the Chinese hell

Important Mythologies, Gods or Deities