Chinese Myths & Legends: Legends of the Universe,Deities and Heroes - Cultural China Series

Author: Chen Lianshan
Language: English
ISBN/ISSN: 9787508513232
Published on: 2009-01
Paperback

Myths and legends have been an important part of the spiritual wealth of mankind throughout history．．They are a repository of the wisdom and imaginationof our ancestors．Myths tell the stories of deities and heroes，of the origin of theuniverse l of how God controls the universe？how deities fightfor it，the mysterious relationship between human and deities，as well as the extraordinary tales of bravery and courage ofancient heroes．According to these stories，God is the origin ofhuman life；the significance of human existence lies in God；andhuman destiny is decided by God．Mythological stories touchupon a wide variety of fields such as ancient beliefs，morality,philosophy,science and history,representing a microcosm ofancient spiritual life．
Every nation has its share of legends，and SO does China．Therewere three main nationality groups in ancient times——Huaxia（Hannationality），Dongyi（Eastern Tribes）and Miaoman（SouthernTribes）．Now,after thousands of year,these have given rise to amultiple Chinese nationality．Chinese mythology has evolvedgradually with Han tales at the core，while absorbing part of thetales of the Eastern and Southern Tribes．China’S mythologicalhistory is quite different from that of Greece．

Preface 1
The Origin of the Universe 5
Ⅰ. Chaos 6
Ⅱ. The Beginning of the World 6
The Origin of Mankind 9
Ⅰ. The Image of Nvwa 110
Ⅱ. The Creator of Human Beings 10
Ⅲ. Nvwa Mendingthe Heaven 11
Ⅳ. Nvwa and Marriage 14
Ⅴ. The End of Niiwa 16
Universe in Myth 17
Ⅰ. The Heaven and Earth 18
Ⅱ. Ten Suns and Twelve Moons 20
Ⅲ. Mount Kunlun, City of Deities on Earth 22
Ⅳ. Deities' World in the Sea 26
Ⅴ. Capital of Ghost and Taodu Mountain 28
Fuxi, the God of East Heaven 31
Ⅰ. The Birth of Fuxi 32
Ⅱ. Fuxi and Nfiwa: Human Creator and Goddess of Marriage 33
Ⅲ. Cultural Civilization of Fuxi 37
Ⅳ. Fuxi, the God of East Heaven 41
Yandi, the God of South Heaven 43
Ⅰ. The Contribution of Emperor Yandi 44
Ⅱ. Later Generations of Emperor Yandi 47
Ⅲ. Chaos in the Emperor Yandi's Era 50
Emperor Huangdi, the God of Central Heaven 51
Ⅰ. The Birth of Emperor Huangdi 52
Ⅱ. The War Between Emperor Huangdi and Emperor Yandi 52
Ⅲ. War Between Emperor Huangdi and Chiyou 53
Ⅳ. Xingtian Scrambles for the Throne 60
Ⅴ. Daily Life of the Central God Huangdi 62
Ⅵ. Contributions of Emperor Huangdi and His Subordinates 64
Shaohao, the God of West Heaven And Zhuanxu ,the
God of North Heaven 71
Ⅰ. Shaohao in Chinese Myth 72
Ⅱ. Birth of Zhuanxu 76
Ⅲ. Cutting off the Link Between Heaven and Earth 78
Ⅳ. War Between Zhuanxu and Gonggong 79
Ⅴ. The Origin of the Mengshuangshi Tribe 81
Ⅵ. The End of Zhuanxu 83
Ⅶ. The Offspring of Zhuanxu 83
Myths in the Era of Emperor Diku 85
Ⅰ. Diku and His Five Wives 86
Ⅱ. The Conflict Between Ebo and Shichen 89
Ⅲ. Ebo Steals Fire 89
Ⅳ. Diku's Daughters 92
Myths & Legends in the Era of Yao 97
Ⅰ. The Birth of Yao 98
Ⅱ. M{racles in Yao's Rule 98
Ⅲ. Miracle]udge Gaoyao xoo
Ⅳ. Ten Suns in the Sky and the Severe Drought lO2
Ⅴ. Yi Shot Suns 104
Ⅵ. Yi and Luoshen's Love Affairs 107
Ⅶ. The Legend of Hebo's Wedding 110
Ⅷ. Chang'e Flying to the Moon 111
IX. Gun Tamed the Raging Waters 114
X. EmperorYao's Demise 116
Myths & Legends in the Era of Shun 117
Ⅰ. Birth of Shun and His Youth 118
Ⅱ. Shun Ascends to the Throne 120
Ⅲ. Buried at the Jiuyi Mountain 121
Myths & Legends in the Era of Dayu 123
Ⅰ. The Birth of Dayu i24
Ⅱ. Orders to Control the Floodwater 124
Ⅲ. Dayu's Tragedy of Marriage 127
Ⅳ. Having All the Rivers Under Control 129
Other Myths & Legends 131
Ⅰ. Ruafu Chasingthe Sun 132
Ⅱ. Yugong Moving Mountains 134
Ⅲ. Cowboyand Vega i35
Appendix 1: Major Characters in Chinese Myths & Legends 139
Appendix 2: Chronological Table of the Chinese Dynasties 143
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