Essential Chinese Mythology

For Westerners, China still exudes a certain air of mystery: an enigmatic mixture of rich cultures and traditions. This fascinating volume is the only one of its kind to contain all the core myths of Chinese mythologies that have helped shape the Chinese psyche. The popular folk stories of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism are included here. They recount the earlist legends and creation myths and reveal a world of heroes, sage hermits, the secrets of immortality, the formation of dynasties, just teachers, dutiful sons and speaking animals. Some have been adapted to fit the politics and culture of the prevailing dynasaties, but many remain remarkably untouched and still underlie the tradtional religion of China today. All the stories provide profound insight into the development of Chinese culture, and into the differences and points of contact between Eastern and Western traditions.