Topic Archive

Myths about Mythology

Explore myths connected by the recurring theme of Mythology across cultures, characters, and sacred places.

496 myths currently featured for Mythology.

Houyi Slaying the Monstrous Giant Snake Ba She That Swallowed an Elephant

🐉 Chinese MythologyLake Dongting, Hunan, ChinaHouyi • Ba She • Emperor Yao

The celestial archer Houyi is sent by Emperor Yao to Lake Dongting to eliminate the Ba She, a titanic serpent that terrified the region by swallowing elephants whole. After a monumental struggle, Houyi slays the beast, and its massive bones are said to have formed the legendary hill known as Ba Ling.

The Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guards Standing Watch at the Gates of the Underworld

🐉 Chinese MythologyFengdu Ghost City, Chongqing, ChinaNiutou (Ox-Head) • Mamian (Horse-Face) • Yanluo Wang

Ox-Head and Horse-Face are the formidable guardians of Diyu, the Chinese underworld, tasked with capturing souls and escorting them to judgment. Standing at the entrance of the spirit realm, they ensure that the balance of karma is maintained and that no soul escapes its destined trial. Their presence at the Fengdu Ghost City serves as a powerful reminder of the transition between life and...

The Black and White Guards of Mortality Capturing the Souls of the Deceased

🐉 Chinese MythologyFengdu Ghost City, Chongqing, ChinaXie Bi'an (White Guard) • Fan Wujiu (Black Guard) • King Yanluo

The Black and White Guards, known as Heibai Wuchang, are the divine constables of the Chinese underworld responsible for escorting the spirits of the dead to Fengdu. Xie Bi’an, the White Guard, and Fan Wujiu, the Black Guard, represent the balance of yin and yang while ensuring that every soul faces justice before King Yanluo. Their presence serves as a reminder of the inevitability of death...

Meng Po Serving the Soup of Forgetfulness Before Souls Cross the Bridge of Helplessness

🐉 Chinese MythologyFengdu Ghost CityMeng Po • Ox-Head • Horse-Face

Meng Po, the Lady of Forgetfulness, resides in the Chinese Underworld where she brews a magical soup for souls about to be reincarnated. Upon drinking this Five-Flavored Tea of Forgetfulness, spirits lose all memory of their previous lives and earthly attachments. This essential ritual occurs at the Bridge of Helplessness, ensuring that every soul enters their next existence with a clean...

The Ten Kings of Hell Judging the Souls of the Dead in the Courts of Diyu

🐉 Chinese MythologyFengdu Ghost City, Chongqing, ChinaYanluo Wang • Meng Po • King Qinguang

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...

Liu Yi Delivering a Letter for the Dragon Princess

🐉 Chinese MythologyLake Dongting, Hunan, ChinaLiu Yi • Dragon Princess of Dongting • Dragon King of Dongting

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 the Mad Monk and the Magical Fan

🐉 Chinese MythologyLingyin Temple, Hangzhou, ChinaJigong • Daoji • Li Xiuyuan

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 Healing the Sick and Protecting Children from Atop Her Sacred Mountain

🐉 Chinese MythologyMount Tai, Shandong, ChinaBixia Yuanjun • Dongyue Dadi • Meilin

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...

Guan Yu Manifesting as a Protective Deity After His Execution at Maicheng

🐉 Chinese MythologyYuquan Temple, DangyangGuan Yu • Guan Ping • Liu Bei

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...

The Eternal Feud of the Cat and the Rat

🐉 Chinese MythologyYellow River, Henan, ChinaJade Emperor • Cat • Rat

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...