Chinese Myths

Nature Myths

Many Chinese legends and beliefs are associated wth nature . Thus , they have the Sun God , the Moon Goddess , the Fire God , the Earth God , the deities of Heaven and Water , and certain legendary animals with supernatural powers , such as the dragon .

The Sun and the Moon

One delightful legend states that a goddess gave birth to ten suns which she bathed every day to make them shine brightly . On each day only one of the suns worked while nine rested . But on one disastrous day all the suns went to work and appeared in the sky . The earth was in deadly danger until an archer shot down nine of the suns .

Another popular legend relates that a beautiful goddess , Chang-E dwells on the moon . It appeared that in about 2500 B.C. a great man name Hou Yi was given the peach of immortality , but before he could eat it , his wife Chang-E stole it and flew to the moon . Some believed that Chang-E was turned into a toad soon after she reached the moon . Since the astronauts did not find a goddess there , the latter story must be a more reliable one !

The Dragon

Other nature myths include those about dragons , phoenixes and unicorns .

Dragon myths exist in the West as well as the East , but whereas the Western dragon is usually associated with danger and evil , the Chinese dragon is revered . In both cases , the dragon represents supernatural strength and power , and was probably created by primitive people to explain natural forces and agents of destruction .

In China the dragon was associated with the Emperor . Legend states that the dragon was encased in a shell of stone and rock and took two thousand years to hatch . There were many species of dragons – for example , the Long , the Li , and the Jiao .

According to the Book of Changes , the legendary founder of China , Fu-Si , was transformed into a dragon and he lived in the sea for a thousand years . Perhaps this is why the dragon is said to rule the oceans . Many tales are related of how Na Zha , a legendary deity , battled with the Dragon King of the China Sea . Yet another story widely believed through the centuries is about the encounter between the Eight Immortals and the Dragon God of the sea . Also , the Monkey God is said to have obtained his magical weapon from the Dragon King .

Chinese geomancers believe that the dragon has its hidden home underground and houses built on dragon sites are consiered geomantically superior .

The Phoenix

The phoenix is said to have the head of a pheasant , the beak of a swallow , the neck of a tortoise and a plumage of five beautiful colours . It was believed that phoenix apeared only when rulers were just and the people were good .

In ancient China , the phoenix symbolised the beauty and virtue of the Empress , just as the dragon symbolised the power of the Emperor . The phoenix is a yin or femal symbol , whereas the dragon is a yang or male symbol .

It is recorded that the phoenix was first seen in 2693 B.C. and again in 1035 B.C. On this occasion the Emperor was so pleased that he named officials and different state departments after birds .

The Unicorn

The unicorn is also considered an auspicious animal and a symbol of longevity . It is said to have a scaly body between that of a horse and a lion , hairy legs and cloven hoofs . Male and female unicorns are called qi and lin respectively . The male has a horn protruding from its head , but the female is hornless .

The unicorn appears to mankind only when a sage is about to be born . Thus it symbolises benevolence and wisdom . It is associated with longevity because it was believed that the animal could live to a ripe old sage of one thousand years .

Legend has it that the unicorn first appeared before Emperor Fu-Si on the banks of the Yellow River .It was also said to have appeared at the times of the birth and death of Confucius . One soure even claims that Confucius was conceived after his mother stepped into the footprint of a unicorn

The Tiger

The tiger symbolises magisterial dignity and uprightness , strength and virtue . It is the only non-legendary animal popularly endowed with mythical powers .

In ancient China the tiger was often painted or sculptured on walls to symbolise military prowess or spiritual conquest over evil spirits . The title of ” White Tiger ” was given to Yin , a general of the Emperor of the Zhou dynasty , for his skill and courage.