Chinese Mythology. Inhabitants of Heaven, Land Spirits and Demons

This publication presents essays on Chinese folk mythology, which, being distinctive for thousands of years, gradually absorbed foreign cultural representations of the structure of the world and the gods, spirits, and magical beasts inhabiting it. In Chinese folk legends, one can find traces of the influence of Buddhism and Taoism, Zoroastrianism, as well as Islam and Christianity. Nevertheless, the focus of the book is directed elsewhere. Relying on evidence from ancient and medieval written sources, as well as modern recordings of tales and legends, the author examines a number of legendary beings and characters and addresses popular mythological themes. The reader will become acquainted with ideas about celestial inhabitants, land spirits, as well as demons, household deities, and other characters—from the protective god and giver of wealth Guan Di and the mistress of the garden with peaches of immortality Xi Wangmu to the fearsome bird Guho and the ugly thunder demon Lei Gui. The publication is aimed at researchers and students interested in history and mythology, as well as a broad audience of readers.