Knowra Chinese mythology Chinese mythology Chinese mythology is a body of traditional stories about creation, gods, legendary rulers, spirits, and the origins of cultural practices. It developed across diverse regional traditions and historical periods.
Pangu : A primordial giant in Chinese creation stories who separates heaven and earth and shapes the world. His body becomes the landscape in one influential account of cosmic origins.
Chinese folk religion : A diverse set of local religious practices and beliefs in China, centered on gods, ancestors, spirits, and ritual. Myths often belong to living practices rather than a single closed canon.
Chu Ci : An anthology of ancient Chinese poetry associated especially with the southern state of Chu. Its poems preserve early encounters with spirits, journeys, and divine realms.
Chinese New Year : The lunar new year festival celebrated in China and by Chinese communities worldwide. Its customs incorporate stories about protective rites, auspicious renewal, and the monster Nian.
Japanese mythology : Traditional Japanese stories about deities, creation, legendary rulers, and the origins of social practices. Comparison reveals distinct pantheons and narratives despite sustained cultural exchange.
Nüwa : A goddess in Chinese mythology associated with creating humanity and repairing the broken sky. Her creation and restoration stories connect human origins with cosmic repair.
Taoism : A Chinese religious and philosophical tradition concerned with the Dao, ritual, cultivation, and harmony. Taoist texts and institutions shaped many accounts of gods, immortals, and cosmic order.
Classic of Mountains and Seas : An ancient Chinese compilation of geographical lore, mythic beings, plants, and legendary places. Its layered accounts are a major source for creatures and mythic geography.
Mid-Autumn Festival : A harvest festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month in Chinese calendars. The festival’s lunar imagery is closely linked to the story of Chang’e.
Korean mythology : Traditional Korean stories about creation, gods, founding ancestors, and supernatural beings. Its founding and divine narratives developed in a neighboring but distinct cultural tradition.
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