Myths of Ancient China

The Chinese civilization arose much earlier than ancient Greece and Rome, and its world of gods and heroes is certainly not poorer than the European one. However, while the 'Legends and Myths of Ancient Greece' by Nikolai Kun made ancient mythology 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, according to the Chinese, inhabits the stars and planets? Why are dragons so revered in China?

What do the legends say about shapeshifting animals, about the islands of the immortals, about the spirits of mountains and waters?

All this and much more will be revealed to readers in a book based on the work of the outstanding scholar Sergei Georgievsky 'Mythical Views and Myths of the Chinese' (1892), which brilliantly disproved the notion of China as a realm of everlasting stagnation, awakening interest in the Celestial Empire, its culture, and its inhabitants among Russian readers. The book is illustrated with rare works by Chinese and Japanese artists.