Myths of Ancient China

The Chinese civilization emerged much earlier than ancient Greece and Rome, and its world of gods and heroes is certainly not poorer than that of Europe. But while thanks to "Legends and Myths of Ancient Greece" by Nikolai Kuna, ancient mythology became an integral part of Russian spiritual culture, Chinese myths still remain a mystery to us behind seven seals.

What do the widely spread 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 legends say about shapeshifting animals, the islands of immortals, and the spirits of mountains and waters? All this and much more readers will discover from the book based on the work of the outstanding scholar Sergey Georgievsky "Mythical Views and Myths of the Chinese" (1892), which brilliantly refuted the opinion 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.