Fuxi and Nvwa are the human ancestors in Chinese ancient mythic legends.Story has it that Fuxi is not only the clan leader in the east and the chief of the three sage kings and five virtuous emperors of China at the dawn of human civilization, but also an omnipotent wise man capable of various kinds of skills. He created the Eight Diagrams and simulated the spider to weave fishing net. He was not only able to make musical instruments, but also good at cooking tasty food. Moreover, he contributed a lot to the traditional Chinese medicine and was the forefather of Chinese civilization. He also formulated etiquettes and regulations for people, reducing the barbaric marriage by plundering.
Category: Chinese Mythology
Chinese Myth Figures 中国神话人物 01 God of Wealth 财神
As a god that can bring in wealth and riches, the God of Wealth is worshiped by most Chinese. Each
Chinese Myth Figures 中国神话人物 09 Holy Farmer Yandi 炎帝
Human beings, created by the goddess Nv Wa, multiplied rapidly. As their number increased, they suffered a gradual decline in natural food. With fewer birds and beasts to hunt or wild fruits to pick, they began to starve. Just at that time a tender-hearted leader, Yandi, emerged.
Chinese Myth Figures 中国神话人物 08 Town God 城隍
The town god, or "Cheng Huang" in Chinese, is a local guardian god of ghostdom according to Taoism. It was originated from sacrificial practices in ancient times. "Cheng" originally refers to high wall built with earth, while "Huang" refers to dry moat outside a city wall. The ancient people built city walls to guard the safety of people in town, and therefore there appeared high ramparts, towers, gates, city walls and moat. In their minds, god appeared in everything closely related to people’s life and safe production, for which the city wall and moat were sanctified as the guardian of the town. Moreover, since the town god holds a position equal to mayor in real world, people’s worship to the town god has evolved along with the development of city.
Chinese Myth Figures 中国神话人物 07 Door Gods 门神
In former times, door gods of China were divinities Taoists and common people believed to guard doors, as well as portraits of door gods for posting on doors. Door gods are widely popular among the Chinese people. Chinese New Year is the time for posting door god portraits. In the past, people believed that posting an image of a door god on the door could keep evil spirits away and bring back peace and luck. Door gods were even included into gods worshipped by Taoists, who would perform sacrificial rituals in honor of them.
Chinese Myth Figures 中国神话人物 06 King Yama 阎罗王
In Chinese folk beliefs, King Yama is the judge of the dead, who presides over the hell and is responsible for the life, death and transmigration of human beings. He’s said to have a book listing the length of life of every individual. When someone’s life in the mortal world has come to an end, King Yama would order fearsome guardians of hell to bring the newly dead to the hell for judgment. If the person did good things before death, they could be brought to heaven and enjoy good wealth; if they did evil things, they could be sent to the hell for punishment.
Chinese Myth Figures 中国神话人物 05 Qilin 麒麟
The kylin is an animal in ancient Chinese mythology. It is somewhat like a deer, with horns on the head and scales over the body. Its tail is like that of an ox’s. The kylin is said to be an animal of longevity that could live for 2,000 years. It is also believed that the beast could spit fire and roar like thunder. The Kylin is one of the "Four Divine Creatures", the other three being the phoenix, the turtle and the dragon. In ancient times, it was regarded as a celestial animal, a benevolent animal, the mount for god and a symbol of auspiciousness. Of all animals, the kylin was ranked second only to the dragon.
Chinese Myth Figures 中国神话人物 04 God of Kitchen 灶神
The God of Kitchen (Zaoshen), commonly called "Gentleman Kitchen (Zaojun)", "Grandfather Kitchen (Zaoye)" or "King of Kitchen (Zaowangye)", is a God in charge of eating in China’s ancient mythic legend. Common people in China regard the God of Kitchen as an imp0rtant immortal and a supervisor appointed by the Emperor of Heaven to supervise virtues and vices, and contributions and debts made by the members of every family, and report to the Heaven Government periodically.
Chinese Myth Figures 中国神话人物 03 Guan Yin 观音
Kwan-yin ("Goddess of Mercy") was translated from "Avalokites’ Vara" in Sanskrit. As one of the four major Bodhisattvas in Buddhism, he is highly valued by Buddhists in China. With dignified and kind facial appearance, Kwan-yin, who holds a clean bottle with a twig of willow in his hand, is regarded to have infinite wisdom and theurgy. He was said to be infinitely merciful and apt at rescuing the human world from disasters as well as hearing and viewing tribulations in it. Therefore, he was called "Goddess of Mercy".
Chinese Myth of the Creation of the World and Mankind
According to Chinese legend, the mighty Pangu, above, broke through the chaos with his strength and axe to create the world as we know it.
Pangu Created the World
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