Archive for category Chinese Myths
Qiong Qi
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Myths on November 6, 2010
Qiong Qi is one of the Four Fiends recorded in Shan Hai Jing (an important book which keeps the richest and most valuable social information and historical materials of ancient China).
According to Shan Hai Jing, it is a huge beast with a fox tail. In some chapters, it is depicted as an ox-like monster beast, while it is said to be a tiger-like beast in some other chapters. Sprouting from its back is a pair of huge feathered wings. Besides, it barks like a dog. The most horrible thing about Qiong Qi is that it subsists chiefly on human beings. Read the rest of this entry »
Peachwood Charm
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Myths on October 27, 2010
Peachwood charm, also called tao fu in Chinese, is the early form of the Spring Festival couplets. The famous couplets go that “Firecrackers ring out the old, Couplets ring in the New”. Here, couplets refer to peach wood charms.
According to the book of Shan Hai Jing, there was a big peach tree on Dushuo Mountain at the seaside. Its branches could stretch three thousand miles long. There also existed a ghost cave nearby. Concerned that the evil spirits might harm the human beings, the Jade Emperor assigned two gods Shen Tu and Yu Lei to guard the gate of the cave. If the evil spirits were found to cause any harm, the two gods standing under the peach tree would tied them up and fed them to the tigers. Read the rest of this entry »
Hundun
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Myths on October 23, 2010
Hundun is one of the four fiends in ancient Chinese mythology. The other three fiends are Qiongqi, Taowu, and Taotie.
According to the ancient literature of Shan Hai Jing, it was depicted as a dog-like or bear-like monster with four wings and six feet. It was red all over its body. Although without five sense organs (ear, eye, nose, skin, tongue), it had a thorough knowledge of dance and music.
Legend goes that the ancient emperor Hong was described as a shameless and vile, obstinate, stupid, and unfriendly person. He had no descendants and only regarded himself as his closest friend. Read the rest of this entry »
the God of Earth
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Myths on October 19, 2010
The God of Earth, also called the God of Land or Tu Di Gong, is a supernatural being living under the ground. He has magic power and is in charge of administering the affairs of a particular area. He is usually depicted as a kind elderly man with grey hair and white long beard. He always wears a gold hat and a red gown with a long wooden stick and a gold ingot in his two hands.
The worship of the Earth God originated from the worship of land in ancient China. Ancient Chinese attached great importance to the land, so the worship of land was viewed as one of the most important activities in ancient China. Read the rest of this entry »
Nine Sons of the Dragon – Ba Xia
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Myths on October 15, 2010
Ba Xia is the 6th son of the dragon. As he is very fond of water, he always lives in lakes and pools. It is believed that he is the king in the watery domain and controls floods and other kinds of water disasters. Therefore, his figure can be easily found on dykes, piers and bridges.
People also believe that it can bring auspicious luck to water. So placing his likeness near the water feature will be a good way to activate the wealth luck and ensure the safety for the water feature and the surrounding environments. Read the rest of this entry »
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