- Uncovering Chinese Mythology: A Beginner's Guide Into The World of Chinese Myths, Enchanting Tales, Folklore, Legendary Heroes, Gods, Divine Beings, and Mythical Creatures (Ancient History Books)

Uncovering Chinese Mythology: A Beginner's Guide Into The World of Chinese Myths, Enchanting Tales, Folklore, Legendary Heroes, Gods, Divine Beings, and ... Creatures I really enjoyed. I love historical content and folklore, but often times find it difficult to invest in reading large tomes, where my attention gets lost, is time consuming, or have trouble understanding what's being written. What makes this book great is that it's short, concise, and easy to read, with informative examples of folklore, mythology, Gods, Heroes, even a brief History of China. Also, it’s broken down into categories, and organized really well. With this information, you can go on to investigate more detailed and longer works if you want to. For example, three subjects I found really fascinating and want to look into more is the Pangu being, The Monkey King (what an amazing story!) and the Magic Lotus Lantern story. A well-crafted, engaging piece by Lucas Russo!

I highly recommend this book. This book is exactly what the title promises: a beginner's guide to ancient Chinese myths. It is well-written and accessible. The author provides an overview of the basic gods, goddesses, legends, and explanations of the creation of the world and the cosmos that took form in ancient China. The subject is covered thoroughly in a plain but entertaining style. As a lifelong fan of Greek and Norse mythologies, I found the most striking difference between Western and Asian emphasis was fairly stark. Whereas tales of European gods and heroes emphasize individualism, self-interest, and a “might makes right” philosophy, the Chinese mythic tradition bends toward benevolence and the improvement of civilization to benefit society as a whole. No wonder that we Westerners only study, but do not embrace, our myths of origin, while even with the experiment of communism, the Chinese still celebrate their myths. I would be interested to read more from this author on this subject.

This is the second self-published mythology book I purchased for a writing project, and I was happy with it. There is a good collection of mythology and historical background that relates in the book. Unlike another book I was purchase, all the sources appear to be reputable and semi-scholarly. As others have mentioned, the book does not go into a whole lot of detail on various myths it covers. This was mostly fine for my purposes, but the legends are heavily summariezed and don't have the best reading value. My only real issues was that the book would also benefit from some more editing and clean up. Several accented "A's" are printed incorrectly as blank squares, and the page numbers are all right justified for some reason. I also really wish the in-text citiations were instead footnotes, and that there was an index.

"Uncovering Chinese Mythology" is a beginner's guide that takes readers on a captivating journey into the realm of Chinese myths and legends. The author's fervor for the subject shines through, making the book engrossing from start to finish. The extensive coverage of a wide array of myths, legendary heroes, and gods offers readers a comprehensive introduction to Chinese mythology. The book strikes a harmonious balance between scholarly research and narrative, presenting information in a clear and concise manner. Although some readers may have desired more depth and visual references, overall, this guide is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in delving into the vibrant cultural heritage of China.

I learned more about China from this book than I had learned previously from all other sources combined. And not just about the mythology, but about the different dynansties and religions, and each of their roles in China's history and cultural development. Granted, I had not delved too deep into this subject in the past, but there's a reason. Lengthy tomes often pose a challenge—demanding excessive time and focus. This book however shines in its clarity and engaging narratives on folklore, mythology, gods, heroes, and China's history, and does so in a short, clear, and easy to understand format. A wonderful beginners guide not only to Chinese Mythology, but in many ways to China itself, and its rich history and culture as a whole.

For those like myself interested in learning more about the rich fabric of ancient Chinese culture, this text is a great resource as it provides a thorough investigation of Chinese mythology. It includes everything from the complex creation myths that explain the origins of life on Earth to the fundamental basis of Chinese civilization. The book creates a vivid universe full of intriguing mythological animals, half-human hybrids, and strong animal spirits that are all important characters in the tales that have influenced Chinese culture and beliefs. Emperors, cultural heroes, and folklore are included to give the stories more depth and give readers important context for understanding the moral precepts and cultural values that are woven throughout. I recommend this book and thanks to the author!

I have read all kinds of mythology books from other nationalities and have recently gotten back into learning about mythology again. I have read Egyptian, Norse, and Greek mythology but never Asian Mythology. This book caught my eye and I am glad I gave it a chance. It a broad range of topics, from the origins of Chinese folk religion to the era of gods and legendary creatures like the Chinese dragon and Jiangshi. The historical timelines at the beginning were a helpful review to orient to the stories. If you like origins and mythologies tied to real cultural history, you will like this book.

A captivating exploration of Chinese folklore. The book is a treasure trove of ancient tales that have significantly influenced Chinese culture over thousands of years. The selection of stories is diverse - encompassing everything from the creation myths of Pangu and Nuwa to the adventures of the Monkey King. There are even a sort of vampire, though they seemed more like zombies to me! The narrative style of the book makes it easily accessible, and an enjoyable read regardless of one's familiarity with Chinese mythology. The author provided both historical context and cultural significance.

The recent Disney+ series „American Born Chinese“ made me curious about the legend of the Monkey King and other Chinese myths, which in turn led me to this book. I was surprised at the endless spectrum of Chinese myths – we in the Western world hear only a few stories, but the variety is huge. It ranges from world creation myths like that of the giant Pangu through the Monkey King stories past a countless dragons, birds and animals down to the Wolf of Zhongshan, an Aesop’s Fable-like tale of a scholar who saves a wolf, but then the wolf insists that, because he is starving, the scholar can only truly save him by letting the wolf eat him. A debate ensues on the moral responsibility of the scholar that the wolf almost wins – until he is trapped by an un-scholarly trick. The writing is simple and concise, the information is well-ordered, clear and complete – from the basic overview of Chinese culture, history and philosophy to the description of the individual myths and stories, I can’t imagine that anything important has been left out. It is the perfect primer – and I can imagine that goes for the rest of the books in the „Uncovering Mythology“ series as well. This is basic information you could glean from the Internet if you wanted to – but why do that when you can get it in one book?

Lots of interesting facts in this book. It says for beginners but, I found it very useful and full of good content. Also lovely illustrations. Would recommend

This book is a fascinating journey through the rich tapestry of Chinese mythology. From gods and goddesses to legendary heroes and mythical creatures, each story is vividly told and deeply engaging. Perfect for history enthusiasts and newcomers alike, it offers a comprehensive and enchanting exploration of Chinese folklore and its cultural significance. An absolute must-read for anyone curious about ancient myths.

This book is a captivating exploration of the rich and enchanting world of Chinese myths, folklore, and legendary tales. For anyone fascinated by the ancient cultures that have shaped our world, this book is a treasure trove of wisdom and excitement. China, with its deep-rooted history, has been a key player in the tapestry of ancient civilizations. While often celebrated for the philosophies of Confucius and the teachings of Taoism, its mythology and folklore are equally intriguing. This book serves as a gateway, providing both beginners and mythology enthusiasts with a comprehensive guide to the captivating realm of Chinese mythology. What sets this book apart is its thorough coverage of a diverse range of mythological elements. From the foundational myths that shaped Chinese civilization to the creation stories that explain the origins of life on Earth, the narrative is a tapestry woven with mythical creatures, legendary heroes, gods, goddesses, and animal spirits. The tales of emperors and cultural heroes, infused with deep meanings and moral lessons, offer a glimpse into the cultural and philosophical underpinnings of ancient China. For anyone ready to embark on a journey into the past, this book is an essential companion. Pick up your copy of "Uncovering Chinese Mythology" today, and let the captivating tales of gods, mythical creatures, and legendary heroes transport you to the heart of ancient China.

Interesting book about chinese mythology. I liked that it included sources within the text and Iparticularly enjoyed the dynasties timeline in the beginning. I learned a lot of things. It'd have been nise to see some pictures or illustrations.