Myths of Ancient China

The Chinese civilization arose much earlier than ancient Greece and Rome, and its world of gods and heroes is certainly no less rich than the European one. However, while thanks to "Legends and Myths of Ancient Greece" by Nikolai Koon... ancient mythology became an integral part of Russian spiritual culture, Chinese myths still remain a mystery behind seven seals for us. What do the widely recognized symbols of Yin and Yang mean in the modern world? Who do the Chinese believe resides among the stars and planets? Why are dragons so revered in China? What do legends tell about shapeshifting animals, about islands of the immortals, about the spirits of mountains and waters? Readers will discover all this and much more in the book based on the work of the outstanding scholar Sergey Georgievsky, "Mythical Views and Myths of the Chinese" (1892), which brilliantly disproved the notion of China as a realm of eternal stagnation, awakening in Russian readers an interest in the Celestial Empire, its culture, and its inhabitants. The book is illustrated with rare works by Chinese and Japanese artists.