While dragons and Chinese astrology are well embedded in popular culture, many other fascinating Chinese myths remain little-known. In this fascinating and readable new edition, author Te Lin explores the world of Chinese mythology, both telling us the timeless stories, and providing an explanation of what they may mean. A must-read for anyone interested in either Chinese culture, or mythology generally.

Readers are introduced to the elaborate mythology of ancient China. This book provides detailed discussion of the mythology's importance to its own culture and the impact it had on subsequent cultures. The numerous deities worshipped by the ancient Chinese are described and their importance to different groups and in different regions within the empire are explained. Stories are retold along with explanation of how they reflect the values and concerns of Chinese culture.

Chinese mythology is a rich and intricate tapestry of stories, legends, and beliefs that have shaped the cultural and spiritual landscape of China for millennia. These myths not only entertain but also convey moral lessons, cultural values, and historical narratives that resonate deeply with the Chinese people. In a society where tradition and heritage are highly esteemed, mythology plays a vital role in connecting individuals to their past, providing a framework for understanding their identity and place in the world. The role of mythology in Chinese culture extends beyond mere storytelling; it serves as a lens through which people view the cosmos, nature, and humanity's place within it. Myths explain natural phenomena, the creation of the world, and the origins of important cultural practices, creating a sense of continuity and belonging across generations. Characters such as the Dragon, a symbol of power and auspiciousness, and the Jade Emperor, a central deity in Taoist cosmology, exemplify the deep-rooted connections between mythology and cultural identity. These figures embody qualities that the Chinese people aspire to, reinforcing ideals of strength, wisdom, and harmony.

This book focuses on reinterpreting mythical China from the perspective of the cultural theory of big tradition. It is divided into two parts: the first explains the theoretical development and features of the Chinese version of big tradition, identifying the differences between the Eastern and Western cultural traditions (big tradition and great tradition). The second part then reinterprets the core values and mythical ideas of Chinese civilization and traditional culture from the perspective of big tradition. Moving beyond the small tradition of text centrism and using new methods and materials, the book reveals the original meaning and the cultural coding function of big tradition during the preliterate period. Drawing on integrated evidence from literature handed down from ancient times, oral and intangible cultural heritage, tangible culture, cross-cultures, image culture and unearthed documents, the book interprets Chinese cultural traditions and spiritual values from local, archaeological, experiential and survival perspectives, to help readers better understand the mythical codes and genes of early Chinese culture.

Unlock the mystical world of ancient China's ghostly folklore with our new adaptations of classic Chinese literary works. Immerse yourself in the supernatural realm while honing your Chinese skills and uncovering centuries-old mythology, traditions, and beliefs. In this collection, we have carefully curated 15 intriguing ghost or supernatural stories, presented in both Chinese and English. These stories are new adaptations of selected tales from renowned literary works in China, including Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio 《聊斋志异》, Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang 《酉阳杂俎》, Anecdotes About Spirits and Immortals《搜神记》, and more. We adapt these stories for a couple of reasons. First, classic Chinese literature is often written in a style that differs significantly from modern Chinese, posing challenges for contemporary readers. Second, some of these works serve not merely as entertainment but as records of extraordinary events and folklore, employing straightforward language without elaborate storytelling. Our new adaptations preserve the original plots while presenting them in modern standard Mandarin with a more engaging narrative. This approach allows readers to enjoy the stories while learning common and useful vocabulary and expressions. The 15 stories are: 1. The Ghost Pressing Down on the Bed 咬鬼 2. The Ghost with Painted Skin 画皮 3. The Headless Ghost 无头鬼 4. Hanba the Drought Demon 旱魃鬼 5. The Lonely Wandering Soul 孤魂野鬼 6. The Vengeful Spirit 冤鬼 7. Zhong Kui Kills Ghosts 钟馗杀鬼 8. The Fox Spirit 狐狸精 9. The Tree Demon 树妖 10. The Water Demon 水鬼 11. Soul Snatching 勾魂 12. Underworld Official 鬼吏 13. Deceased Son Visits in Dream 亡儿托梦 14. Body Possession 附身 15. Reincarnation 投胎 Furthermore, we provide bilingual explanations of key terms at the end of each story. This helps our readers understand the story better, enrich their reading experience, and further explore Chinese mythology, beliefs, and culture. Upon finishing the book, readers will have gained a fundamental grasp of the Chinese perspective on spirits and ghosts. This knowledge not only enhances their appreciation of Chinese cinema and literature but also offers insights into Chinese culture.

Do you love Chinese fantasy? Do you want to understand it better? Maybe you're a longtime fan who would like a handy reference guide. Maybe you're new to the genre and don't have the time to watch hours of videos to catch up. Or maybe you're an aspiring writer hoping to create authentic cultivation or xianxia content. Regardless, this is the book for you. Here's why. I took some of the most popular videos in my Chinese Fantasy Novel FAQ YouTube series and put them into written form. 25 chapters, each packed with vital language and cultural information. I've also added examples from existing Chinese fantasy novel translations to make things more interesting, relevant, and understandable. Get it now! If you want to know exactly what content is inside, check out this complete chapter list: Chapter 1: The Industry and the Genres Chapter 2: Clans and Sects Chapter 3: Alcohol and “Wine” Chapter 4: Harems and Polygamy Chapter 5: Sworn Brotherhood Chapter 6: Courting Death Chapter 7: “Beat You to Death” Chapter 8: Forms of Address Among Family Members Chapter 9: Forms of Address in Sects and Other Organizations Chapter 10: “I, Your Father” Chapter 11: Confusion About Stars and Planets Chapter 12: Differences between Daoist Magics, Divine Abilities, and Magical Techniques Chapter 13: "Devils" and "Demons" Chapter 14: Clones Chapter 15: Spirit Stones Chapter 16: Qi Deviation, Fire Deviation, and Cultivation Deviation, etc.? Chapter 17: Nascent Souls Chapter 18: Breakthroughs and Bottlenecks Chapter 19: Why Immortals aren't "Immortal" Chapter 20: What is Cultivation? Chapter 21: The Ruthlessness and Brutality of the Cultivation World Chapter 22: What is the Jianghu? Chapter 23: Unheroic Heroes? Chapter 24: Unrealistic Sizes and Distances Chapter 25: Why Immortal Cultivators often don’t “act their age” Appendix 1: List of Chinese terms with pinyin Appendix 2: References

Step into a world where dragons soar through the heavens, wise immortals guide mortals on their paths, and mythical creatures bring both wonder and terror. Are you a lover of fantastical tales and ancient legends? Do you find yourself captivated by the rich history and vibrant mythology of China? Do the intriguing stories of gods and goddesses, demons and spirits, and the eternal battle between good and evil pique your curiosity? If so, this book is tailor-made for you. Step into a realm where mythical beings come to life and ancient tales are woven into the fabric of everyday life. From the majestic dragon to the mischievous fox spirits, prepare to be enchanted by a world brimming with magic and wonder. In this book, you will: Explore the legend of the Monkey King and his journey to the West Discover the captivating story of the White Snake Learn the myth behind the Qixi festival in China Uncover intriguing details about the shapeshifting fox spirit Learn lessons about love, bravery, and sacrifice Understand the deep-rooted cultural significance of these tales in shaping the beliefs and values of the Chinese people

Drawing on the sun, moon, dragon, phoenix, Nuwa, Yandi, Huangdi and other widely circulated cultural elements as examples, this book addresses the development and evolution of the most representative Chinese creation myths regarding nature, totems, ancestors and saints. The book not only interprets key creation myths, but also elaborates on the connection between the myths and some of the core values and concepts in Chinese civilization. For example, the long and jade culture is rooted in the Yellow Emperor’s revered jade weapon. Further, the book reveals the kernels of truth in the myths by presenting new research findings and research methods.

The three-volume set LNCS 12771-12773 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Cross-Cultural Design, CCD 2021, which was held as part of HCI International 2021 and took place virtually during July 24-29, 2021. The total of 1276 papers and 241 posters included in the 39 HCII 2021 proceedings volumes was carefully reviewed and selected from 5222 submissions. The papers included in the HCII-CCD volume set were organized in topical sections as follows: Part I: Cross-cultural experience design; cross-cultural product design; cultural differences and cross-cultural communication; Part II: Culture, arts and creativity; culture, learning and well-being; social change and social development; Part III: CCD in cultural heritage and tourism; CCD in autonomous vehicles and driving; CCD in virtual agents, robots and intelligent assistants.

Chinese is one of the rare languages that was created thousands of years ago and has been in continuous use ever since. As language signs, Chinese characters reflect how ancient Chinese residents observed and understood the universe and themselves. These characters carry the fundamental ideas of man and nature, which have further developed into Chinese philosophies that have shaped Chinese personality traits and the landscape of contemporary China. This book explores the origin and evolution of selected Chinese characters that best represent the cognitive process and core values of Chinese culture. The study of Chinese characters provides an insight into Chinese wisdom of harmony, love and resiliency from which people draw strength in face of challenges today. The book is unique in its inclusion of featured Chinese calligraphy in character studies, accounting for the aesthetic enjoyment of traditional Chinese art in the history of Chinese characters’ evolution.