Myths about Chinese mythology

In Chinese mythology, Diyu is the realm of the dead where souls are judged by the Ten Kings of Hell across ten specialized courts. Each king oversees specific punishments and rewards based on the actions of the deceased during their earthly life. After passing through these trials and viewing their former homes one last time, souls drink the tea of forgetfulness and are sent to the final...

While traveling home after failing his imperial examinations, a scholar named Liu Yi encounters a suffering woman who reveals herself to be the daughter of the Dragon King of Lake Dongting. She has been mistreated and exiled by her husband, the son of the Jing River Dragon, and tasks Liu Yi with delivering a message to her father. Liu Yi’s journey takes him into the depths of the spirit...

Jigong, a Chan Buddhist monk of the Southern Song dynasty known for his eccentric behavior, used his supernatural powers to aid the downtrodden. Carrying a tattered magical fan, he roamed the streets of Hangzhou, disguising his profound wisdom under a mask of madness to outwit the corrupt and greedy.

Bixia Yuanjun, the 'Primordial Sovereign of the Colored Clouds of Dawn', is the compassionate goddess of Mount Tai who oversees childbirth, destiny, and healing. As the daughter of the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak, she resides in a celestial palace amidst the morning mists, answering the prayers of those who climb the sacred stairs to seek health for their families. She is particularly...

After his tragic defeat and execution during the Three Kingdoms period, the spirit of the legendary general Guan Yu manifested as a powerful and restless entity at Mount Yuquan. Confronted by a Buddhist monk who challenged his desire for vengeance, the general underwent a spiritual transformation, vowing to protect the dharma and the innocent. This manifestation marked his transition from a...

In the ancient days of the Jade Emperor, a great race across the silty Yellow River was held to determine the order of the Chinese Zodiac. Though the cat and the rat were once the closest of friends, the rat's desperate ambition led him to push the cat into the treacherous currents to secure first place. This act of betrayal forever excluded the cat from the zodiac and sparked a primal enmity...

In order to establish a calendar to help mortals track time, the Jade Emperor organized a Great Race for all the animals in the kingdom. The clever Rat, realizing he could not swim across the mighty Yellow River, persuaded the diligent and kindhearted Ox to carry him across. As the Ox approached the finish line on the opposite bank, the Rat leaped off the Ox's nose to claim first place,...

Mazu, originally a mortal woman named Lin Moniang from Meizhou Island, lived a life of extraordinary spiritual devotion and compassion for the seafaring community. Known for her miraculous ability to save sailors from shipwrecks through astral projection and her deep knowledge of the elements, she eventually ascended to heaven in a divine transformation. She remains the most revered protector...

The goddess Mazu, then known as the mortal maiden Lin Moniang, fell into a deep trance while weaving at her loom to save her father and brothers from a catastrophic typhoon. By projecting her spirit across the ocean, she physically held their ships together amidst the waves, though an interruption from her mother led to a bittersweet conclusion. This miracle solidified her reputation as a...

Hou Tu is the supreme deity of the earth in Chinese mythology, serving as the sovereign of all soil, mountains, and rivers. As a central figure in the Taoist Four Sovereigns, she balances the five elements and oversees the transition of souls in the afterlife. Her worship is grounded in the ancient agricultural traditions of the Loess Plateau, with her most significant temple located in...