Legend of China A Brief Retelling in English
Legend of China: A Brief Retelling in English
The Beginnings
The earliest Chinese legends date back to the Shang Dynasty, around 1600 BCE. These stories were passed down orally and later recorded on oracle bones and silk scrolls. They revolved around gods, goddesses, mythical creatures, and supernatural beings.
Gods & Goddesses
In ancient Chinese mythology, there existed a pantheon of gods who ruled over various aspects of life. The Jade Emperor was the supreme ruler while other deities oversaw weather, war, agriculture, and more. The Eight Immortals symbolized longevity and good fortune.
Mythical Creatures
Dragons represented power and wisdom; phoenixes signified rebirth; unicorns symbolized purity; Qilin represented benevolence; Phoenix Firebird embodied both destruction & creation; And the Xiwangmu guarded immortality.
Heroes & Legends
Journey to the West tells the story of Monkey King Sun Wukong's adventures with Tang Sanzang (Buddha), Zhu Bajie (Pigsy), Sha Wujing (Sandy). Other famous heroes include Chang'e (Moon Goddess) with her loyal companion Chang'er Rabbit.
Mortal Tales
Classic tales like "The Cowherd Boy" involve mortal love stories intertwined with divine intervention: Cowherd Boy falls for Weaving Maiden from heaven but they're separated by a heavenly river when she returns to heaven after childbirth - only allowed to meet once annually on Qixi Festival.
Cultural Significance
These legends have had profound impacts on Chinese culture shaping art forms such as opera theater performances depicting these stories or influencing literature through works like Journey To The West which is still widely read today across Asia as well as globally in many languages including English translation versions available worldwide online free download free access
