1 year ago
59 We each cognize that China is 1 of the oldest civilizations successful the world. So of people it makes consciousness for their mythology to beryllium arsenic analyzable and immense arsenic it is! These magical stories — Chinese myths and legends — are perfectly fascinating. Not lone that, but they are a gathering artifact of society. Thus, speechmaking astir myths tin archer you a batch astir a country’s civilization — particularly successful China, since aboriginal religions similar Buddhism and Daoism person adapted older people tales and incorporated them into their ain acceptable of beliefs. So if you’re funny successful learning much astir Chinese mythology, books are surely a large spot to start!
I’m not gonna lie, the Chinese pantheon is huge. Just for starters, their deity number is astir 200 gods and goddesses. That’s amazing, but it besides makes it a spot harder to take wherever to statesman exploring Chinese mythology books. Fret not: that’s wherefore I’m present today. I’ve compiled this database with respective fabrication and nonfiction books astir Chinese mythology you tin read! From YA phantasy and retellings, to a much elaborate compilation of deities, there’s a publication for everyone connected this list.
So without further ado, let’s dive into 8 Chinese mythology books you’ll emotion reading.
Fiction Chinese Mythology Books
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
Let’s statesman with 1 of my favourite phantasy books of 2022! Unlike different books connected this list, Daughter of the Moon Goddess is inspired by a circumstantial Chinese myth: that of the satellite goddess Chang’e! It really works arsenic an imagined sequel to the legend, due to the fact that this publication follows her daughter, adjacent though she doesn’t beryllium successful the archetypal myth. Her sanction is Xingyin, and her beingness is hidden from the Celestial Emperor. When Xingyin displays her caller powers though, the royals travel looking for her astatine the Moon Palace. She flees successful the night, lone to extremity up astatine the Celestial Kingdom — wherever she becomes BFFs with the prince Liwei. Years later, Xingyin volition not hide her mother. So she embarks connected a quest to prevention her from her exile connected the moon.
An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X.R. Pan
On the taxable of the satellite goddess, this YA phantasy reimagines her ain emotion story! An Arrow to the Moon follows star-crossed lovers Hunter Yee and Luna Chan. The 2 conscionable erstwhile Hunter joins Luna’s precocious schoolhouse during their elder year. They’re instantly taken to the other, contempt their ain murky pasts and the value of their respective families’ secrets. That’s really 1 of the things that brings them person together. Despite the feud betwixt their families, Hunter and Luna soon find themselves falling for each other. What could perchance spell wrong?
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The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
You’re astir apt already acquainted with Kuang’s The Poppy War — but did you cognize it’s heavy inspired by some Chinese past and mythology? For example, the Chinese mythological caller Investiture of the Gods forms the backbone of the trilogy’s mythology! This publication follows a warfare orphan named Rin, who against each likelihood is accepted into the country’s apical subject academy. At Sinegard they thatch her each kinds of strategy and fighting, but she’s besides the lone enrolled pupil who learns shamanism with the mysterious teacher Jiang. What starts arsenic a amusive magical academy caller abruptly swerves near erstwhile The Third Poppy War begins and Rin is forced to marque immoderate beauteous pugnacious decisions successful bid to prevention her country.
Jade Fire Gold by June CL Tan
Next, we’re moving connected to a YA phantasy that is inspired by Chinese mythology successful wide alternatively than a circumstantial myth. It besides draws heavy from Chinese xianxia and wuxia stories. Jade Fire Gold follows 2 precise antithetic radical named Altan and Ahn. Altan remembers his past excessively well: his family’s execution and the consequent hijack of his throne. Ahn connected the different side, remembers nothing. In existent Rey-like fashion, she lives successful the mediate of the godforsaken until her powers manifest and she becomes 1 of the astir almighty radical successful the world. The 2 conscionable and go reluctant allies. But the terms for Ahn’s past and Altan’s throne mightiness beryllium excessively precocious for them to pay.
Monkey King: Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en
We’ve talked astir each kinds of modern Chinese mythology books. But let’s spell backmost to the classics shall we? Monkey King is really 1 of the 4 pillars of Chinese mythology — and astir apt the astir fashionable 1 excessively acknowledgment to adaptations similar the K-drama A Korean Odyssey. The communicative follows the shapeshifter Sun Wukong. This mischievous quality is connected a travel to immortality. But erstwhile helium raids Heaven’s Orchard and drinks the gods’ elixir, Buddha pins him beneath a upland for 500 years. Only erstwhile that clip is over, Sun Wukong is fixed a accidental to redeem himself. His caller mission? To support a monk named Tripitaka connected his 14 twelvemonth journey.
Nonfiction Chinese Mythology Books
Illustrated Myths & Legends of China: The Ages of Chaos and Heroes by Dehai Huang, Xiang Jing, and Zhang Dinghao
Moving connected to the nonfiction portion of this list, let’s footwear things disconnected with this useful usher that was really written successful Chinese and past translated into English. What makes this publication large is that it’s accompanied by tons of creation and illustrations from the stories it talks about. Speaking of which, determination are implicit 30 legends and myths covered successful this book, including that of the serpent goddess Nüwa, the instauration myth, and the large man-god Yu. For specified a slim volume, this is an awesome array of myths that inactive negociate to beryllium elaborate and highly informative.
The Chinese Myths: A Guide to the Gods and Legends by Tao Tao Liu (January 10, 2023)
Okay so, this publication isn’t retired yet. But it’s inactive a broad and not overly analyzable look astatine Chinese mythology written by a erstwhile Oxford lecturer connected Modern Chinese. It’s a large introductory substance to those who don’t cognize a batch astir Chinese mythology already — which is wherefore it earned its spot connected this list. From deities similar Guanyin to past heroes similar Yi the Archer, this abbreviated but implicit usher not lone retells their stories. But it besides considers wherever they acceptable wrong Chinese religion, culture, and history.
From Kuan Yin to Chairman Mao: The Essential Guide to Chinese Deities by Xueting Christine Ni
Last but not least, retrieve erstwhile I said the Chinese pantheon had implicit 200 deities? They are excessively galore to screen successful a azygous book, but Xueting Christine Ni does a large occupation of exploring 60 of those deities — some past and modern — successful large detail. That’s wherefore From Kuan Yin to Chairman Mao is an implicit must-read erstwhile studying Chinese mythology! Some of the deities covered successful this publication see the goddess of mercy Kuan Yin, the demon slayer Zhong Ku, the guardian of enactment workers Bai Mei Shen, and the ultimate goddess Xi Wang Mu.
Looking for much books that incorporated mythology? How astir learning much astir Egyptian mythology? Or you tin ever spell for immoderate bully ol’ Greek mythology retellings!
