Shangdi (上帝), appearing in literature probably about 700 BC, or earlier (the dating of these occurrences depends on the date of the Shujing, aka "Book of History"). There are no "creation" oriented narratives for Shangdi, although the role of a creator is a possible interperatation. Although Shangdi appears to have the attributes of a "person", detailed references to Shangdi as the creator are not explicitly identified until about the Han Dynasty.
Tian (天, or Heaven), appearing in literature probably about 700 BC, or earlier (the dating of these occurrences depends on the date of the Shujing, aka "Book of History"). There are no "creation" oriented narratives for 'Heaven', although the role of a creator is a possible interperatation. The qualities of 'Heaven' and Shangdi appear to merge in later literature (and are worshipped as one entity ("皇天上帝") in, for example, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing). The extent of the distinction (if any) between them is debated.
Nüwa (女媧), appearing in literature no earlier than about 350 BC, is said to have recreated, or created humanity. Her companion was Fuxi (伏羲), the brother and husband of Nuwa. These two beings are sometimes worshipped as the ultimate ancestor of all humankind. They are often represented as half-snake, half-human creatures. Nüwa was also responsible for repairing the sky after Gong Gong damaged the pillar supporting the heavens (see below).
Pangu (盤古), appearing in literature no earlier than about 200 AD, was the first sentient being and creator. In the beginning there was nothing but a formless chaos. Out of this chaos there was born an egg for eighteen thousand years. When the forces of Yin and Yang balanced, Pangu emerged from the egg, and set about the task of creating the world. He separated Yin and Yang with a swing of his great axe. The heavy Yin sank to become the Earth, while the light Yang rose to become the Heavens. Pangu stood between them, and pushed up the sky. At the end of eighteen thousand years, Pangu laid to rest. His breath became the wind; his voice the thunder; left eye the sun and right eye the moon; his body became the mountains and extremes of the world; his blood formed rivers; his muscles the fertile lands; his facial hair the stars and milky way; his fur the bushes and forests; his bones the valuable minerals; his bone marrows sacred diamonds; his sweat fell as rain; and the little creatures on his body (in some versions, the fleas), carried by the wind, became human beings all over the world.
Yu Huang (玉皇, or Jade Emperor), including representations such as Yuanshi Tianzun (元始天尊), Huangtian Shangdi (皇天上帝), appear in literature well after the establishment of Taoism in China.
Following on from the age of Nuwa and Fuxi (or cotemporaneous in some versions) was the age of the Three August Ones and Five Emperors (三皇五帝), a collection of legendary rulers who ruled between c. 2850 BC to 2205 BC, which is the time preceding the Xia dynasty.
The list of names comprising the Three August Ones and Five Emperors vary widely between sources (see Three August Ones and Five Emperors for other versions of the list). The version in the widest circulation (and most popularly known) is:
The Three August Ones:
Fuxi (伏羲) - The companion of Nuwa.
Shennong (神农) - Shennong, literally meaning "Divine Farmer", reputedly taught the ancients agriculture and medicine.
Huang Di (黄帝) - Huang Di, literally meaning, and commonly known as, the "Yellow Emperor", is often regarded as the first sovereign of the Chinese nation.
The Five Emperors:
Shaohao (少昊) - Leader of the Dongyi or "Eastern Barbarians"; his pyramidal tomb is in present-day Shandong province.
Zhuanxu (颛顼) - Grandson of the Yellow Emeperor
Emperor Ku (帝喾) - Great grandson of the Yellow Emperor; nephew of Zhuanxu.
Yao (尧) - The son of Ku. His elder brother succeeded Ku, but abdicated when he was found to be an ineffective ruler.
Shun (舜) - Yao passed his position to Shun in favour of Yao's own son because of Shun's ability and morality.
These rulers were generally regarded as extremely moral and benevolent rulers, examples to be emulated by latter day kings and emperors. When Qin Shi Huang united China in 221 BC, he felt that his achievements had surpassed those of all the rulers who have gone before him. Hence, he combined the ancient tiles of Huang (皇) and Di (帝) to create a new title, Huangdi (皇帝), usually translated as Emperor.
Great Flood
Chinese mythology shares with Sumerian, Judaean, Indian, Greek, Mayan, and hundreds of traditions a period known as the Deluge or Great Flood. The Chinese ruler Da Yu, with the help of the goddess Nüwa, helped dig the canals that controlled the flood and allowed people to grow crops.
Deities
The Jade Emperor is believed to be the most important god. The origins of the Jade Emperor and how he came to be regarded as a deity are unknown. Also known as Yu Huang Shang-ti, his name means “the August Personage of Jade.” He is considered to be the first god and to be in charge of all the gods and goddesses. Many myths of well-known gods and goddesses who were in charge of differentulture exist, although they all answer to the Jade Emperor.
The Chinese dragon is one of the most important mythical creatures in Chinese mythology. The Chinese dragon is considered to be the most powerful and divine creature and is believed to be the controller of all waters. The dragon symbolised great power and was very supportive of heroes and gods. One of the most famous dragons in Chinese mythology is Ying Long, or "Responding Dragon". He is said to be the god of rain. Many people in different places pray to him in order to receive rain. In Chinese mythology, dragons are believed to be able to create clouds with their breath. Chinese people often use the term "Descendants of the Dragon" as a sign of ethnic identity.
For the most part, Chinese myths involve moral issues which inform people of their culture and values. There are many stories that can be studied or excavated in China.
Religion and mythology
There has been extensive interaction between Chinese mythology and the major belief systems of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. (see Religion in China)
On the one hand, elements of pre-existing mythology were adapted into these belief systems as they developed (in the case of Taoism), or were assimilated into Chinese culture (in the case of Buddhism). On the other hand, elements from the teachings and beliefs of these systems became incorporated into Chinese mythology. For example, the Taoist belief of a spiritual paradise became incorporated into mythology, as the place where immortals and deities dwell. Meanwhile, the myths of the benevolent rulers of the past, in the form of the Three August Ones and Five Emperors became a part of the Confucian political philosophy of Primitivism.
Taoist mythology
Buddhist mythology
Folk religion mythology
Important mythologies and deities
Three Pure Ones (三清) the Daoist trinity
元始天尊
靈寶天尊
道德天尊
Four Emperors (四御) heavenly kings of Daoist religion
Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝, supreme ruler of all)
Beiji Dadi (中天紫微北极大帝, ruler of stars)
Tianhuang Dadi (勾陈上宫天皇大帝 ruler of gods)
Empress of Earth (后土皇地祇)
Xi Wangmu (西王母): Mother queen of the west，empress who holds the secret to everlasting life
God of North (北帝, 真武大帝) (Bei Di, Pak Tai)
Xuan Nü (玄女) goddess who assisted Huang Di (黃帝) to subdue Chi You (蚩尤).
Eight Immortals (八仙)Daoist
He Xiangu (何仙姑)
Cao Guojiu (曹國舅)
Tie Guaili (鐵拐李)
Lan Caihe (藍采和)
Lu Dongbin (呂洞賓)
Han Xiang Zi (韓湘子)
Zhang Guo Lao (張果老)
Zhongli Quan (漢鍾離)
Deities of Buddhist origin
Guan Yin (觀音) (觀音菩薩, also Kuan Yin) Goddess of compassion and mercy
Laughing Buddha (彌勒菩薩), Popular Buddhist deity; god of happiness and wealth
Dizang (地藏菩薩), rescuer of the dead.
Yanluo (閻羅 yan2luo2) ruler of Hell (short from 閻魔羅社 Sanskrit Yama Raja).
Four Heavenly Kings (四大天王) Four buddhist guardian gods
Erlang Shen (二郎神)
Lei Gong (雷公) god of thunder
Nezha (哪吒)
Guan Yu (關聖帝君), God of Brotherhoods. God of martial power. Also revered as God of War in that time.
Zhao Gongming (赵公明), God of Wealth; Rides on a Tiger.
Bi Gan (比干), also God of Wealth.
Kui Xing (魁星) God of examinations
Sun Wukong (孫悟空) The Monkey King from the story Journey to the West
Daoji (道濟)
Matsu (妈祖), Goddess of the Sea，also known as queen of heaven (天后)
Zao Jun (灶君)popular god(s) of the Kitchen.
Tu Di Gong (土地公), the land god(s)
Shing Wong (城隍) is gods responsible for the affairs in a city
Zhong Kui (鍾馗) or Jung Kwae mythical person reputed for subjugating demons.
Lung Mo (龍母)
Hung Shing (洪聖)
Tam Kung, sea god
Wong Tai Sin(黃大仙)
Meng Po (孟婆)
Three August Ones and Five Emperors (三皇五帝), a collection of legendary rulers
Zhu Rong (祝融): God of fire. Defeated Gong Gong.
Gong Gong (共工): God of water, during the fight with God of Fire, he crushed Mount Buzhou, broke the sky, which was then patched by Nuwa.
Chi You (蚩尤 chi1 you2): War god. Inventor of metal weapons. Nemesis of Huang Di.
Da Yu (大禹): Da Yu regulates the courses of rivers (to control floods)
Kua Fu -- Kua Fu chases the sun. (夸父追日)
Cangjie (倉頡): Cangjie creates the characters.
Hou Yi (后羿 hou4 yi4): A great archer hero who shot down suns. (See note in solar deity)
Chang E (嫦娥) Hou Yi's wife. Goddess of the Moon.
The Cowherd and Weaver Girl.
Han Ba (旱魃), Ancient goddess of drought.
Wenchang Wang (文昌王)
Gao Yao: God of justice and judgement.
Mythical creatures
Ba She (巴蛇 ba1she2) a snake reputed to swallow elephants
Birds:
Fenghuang (Chinese Phoenix)
Ji Guang (吉光 ji2guang1)
Jian (鶼 jian1) A mythical bird supposed to have only one eye and one wing: 鶼鶼 a pair of such birds dependent on each other, inseparable, hence, represent husband and wife.
Jingwei (精衛) a mythical bird which tries to fill up the ocean with twigs and pebbles.
Shang-Yang (a rainbird)
Nine-headed Bird Used to scare children.
Su Shuang (鷫鵊 su4shuang3) a mythical bird, also variously described as a water bird, like the crane.
Peng (鵬, a mythical bird of giant size and terrific flying power) Also known as Chinese roc.
Qing Niao (青鳥 qing1niao3) a mythical bird, the messenger of Xi Wangmu.
Zhu (a bad omen)
Chinese dragon
Yinglong, a powerful servant of Huang Di.
Dragon King
Fucanglong, the treasure dragon
Shenlong, the rain dragon
Dilong, the earth dragon
Tianlong, the celestial dragon
Li (hornless dragon), lesser dragon of the seas. Is hornless.
Jiaolong, a dragon of floods and the sea.
Qilin (in Japanese, Kirin), chimeric animal with several variations. Originally referred to the giraffe.
Long Ma (龍馬) Similar to the Qilin- the dragon-horse.
Kui (夔 kui2) a mythical one legged monster.
Kun (鯤 kun1) a mythical giant monstrous fish.
Hopping corpse (aka Jiang Shi)
Luduan can detect truth.
Yaoguai — demons.
Huli jing — fox spirits.
Nian, the beast
Ox heads & horse faces 牛頭馬面 messenger boy in Hell.
Pixiu (貔貅)
Rui Shi (瑞獅)
Tao Tie (饕餮 tao1tie4) a mythical gargoyle like figure, often found on ancient bronze vessels, representing greed. It is said to be the fifth son of dragon and has such an appetite that it even eats its head.
Xiao (魈 xiao1) A mythical mountain spirit or demon.
Xiezhi (獬豸) an unicorn beast
The Xing Tian (刑天 "punished one" or "he who was punished by heaven") is a headless giant. He was decapitated by the Yellow Emperor as punishment for challenging him. Because he has no head, his face is in his torso. He wanders around fields and roads and is often depicted carrying a shield and an axe and doing a fierce war dance.
Mythical places
Xuanpu (玄圃 xuan2pu3), a mythical fairyland on Kunlun Mountain (崑崙).
Yaochi (瑤池 yao2chi2), abode of immortals where Xi Wang Mu lives.
Fusang (扶桑 fu2sang1), a mythical island, often interpreted as Japan.
Queqiao (鵲橋 que4qiao2) the bridge formed by birds across the Milky Way.
Penglai (蓬萊 peng2lai2) the paradise, a fabled Fairy Isle on the China Sea.
Longmen (龍門 long2men2) the dragon gate where a carp can transform into a dragon.
Di Yu (地獄 di4yu4) the Chinese hell
Literary sources of Chinese mythology
Zhiguai (誌怪), a literary genre that deals with strange (mostly supernatural) events and stories
Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, by Pu Songling, with many stories of fox demons
Imperial historical documents and confucian cannons such as Shiji, Lushi Chunqiu, Liji, Shangshu
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