Chinese Mythology myths and legends

Search by title and refine by origin, characters, tags, and sort order.

Daji Inventing the Cruel Bronze Roasting Pillar Torture

🐉 Chinese MythologyZhaoge, Henan, ChinaDaji • King Zhou of Shang • Huli jing

The malevolent fox spirit Daji, possessing the body of a royal consort, manipulates King Zhou of Shang into a state of decadence and cruelty. To satisfy her thirst for blood and power, she invents the 'Pao Luo'—a massive bronze pillar heated from below—to torture and execute those who dare oppose her. This reign of terror eventually leads to the collapse of the Shang Dynasty.

Nezha Committing Suicide to Return His Flesh and Bones to His Parents

🐉 Chinese MythologyChengtang Pass, TianjinNezha • Li Jing • Lady Yin

Born as a divine manifestation in a ball of flesh, Nezha's early life was marked by rebellion and immense power. After killing the son of the Dragon King of the East Sea to defend himself, Nezha faced a cosmic ultimatum when the Dragon Kings threatened to flood his home city. To save his parents and the innocent people of Chengtang Pass from divine wrath, Nezha committed a ritual sacrifice,...

King Wen Personally Pulling Jiang Ziya's Carriage for 800 Paces

🐉 Chinese MythologyWeishui River, Shaanxi, ChinaKing Wen of Zhou • Jiang Ziya

The legendary tale of King Wen of Zhou, who displayed ultimate humility by personally pulling the carriage of the strategist Jiang Ziya. This act of devotion secured the wisdom of a master strategist, eventually leading to the overthrow of the Shang dynasty. It remains a powerful symbol of the virtue of seeking talent regardless of social rank.

The Lotus Lantern's Magical Light Guiding Chen Xiang to His Mother's Prison

🐉 Chinese MythologyMount Hua, Shaanxi, ChinaChenxiang • Sanshengmu • Liu Yanchang

The story of the Lotus Lantern follows the courageous journey of Chenxiang, a young boy who discovers that his mother, the goddess Sanshengmu, is imprisoned beneath Mount Hua by his divine uncle, Erlang Shen. Armed with the magical Lotus Lantern and a mountain-splitting axe, Chenxiang undergoes rigorous training to challenge the laws of heaven and reunite his family. This myth celebrates the...

Nüwa Summoning the Thousand-Year-Old Fox Spirit to Possess the Beautiful Daji

🐉 Chinese MythologyZhaoge, Henan, ChinaNüwa • King Zhou of Shang • Daji

After being insulted by a lustful poem written by King Zhou of Shang in her temple, the goddess Nüwa decides to end the Shang Dynasty. She summons three powerful spirits, including a thousand-year-old fox, and commands them to bewitch the king and hasten his downfall. The fox spirit kills and possesses the innocent Daji, daughter of Su Hu, using her beauty to manipulate the king into acts of...

Sun Wukong Born from a Magical Stone Nurtured by Heaven and Earth

🐉 Chinese MythologyMount Huaguo, Jiangsu, ChinaSun Wukong • Jade Emperor • Thousand-Mile Eye

The legend recounts the miraculous birth of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, from a mystical stone atop the Flower Fruit Mountain. After emerging as a stone monkey and earning the respect of his peers by discovering the Water Curtain Cave, he is crowned the Handsome Monkey King. Driven by a sudden fear of mortality, he eventually departs his idyllic home to seek the secrets of eternal life from...

Ehuang and Nüying: The Tears of the Xiang River

🐉 Chinese MythologyJunshan Island, Hunan, ChinaEhuang • Nüying • Emperor Shun

Ehuang and Nüying were the devoted wives of the legendary Emperor Shun and daughters of Emperor Yao. Following the death of their husband during a southern inspection tour, their profound grief transformed them into the goddesses of the Xiang River. Their tears fell upon the local bamboo, creating permanent purple and brown spots that characterize the 'Spotted Bamboo' found on Junshan Island...

Yu the Great Passing His Own House Three Times Without Stopping to Rest

🐉 Chinese MythologyMausoleum of Yu the Great, ShaoxingYu the Great • Gun • Emperor Shun

The legend of Yu the Great depicts a heroic leader who spent thirteen years taming the catastrophic Great Flood of China. This specific story highlights his extreme dedication, as he passed his own home three times during his labors, hearing his family inside but refusing to enter until the waters were controlled.

Yu the Great Chaining the Destructive Water Demon Wuzhiqi in the Huai River

🐉 Chinese MythologyHuai River, Anhui, ChinaYu the Great • Wuzhiqi • Gengchen

The legendary hero Yu the Great, while taming the Great Flood of China, encountered the chaotic water spirit Wuzhiqi, a powerful monkey-like demon who caused devastating storms in the Huai River. After a titanic struggle involving celestial warriors, Yu successfully captured Wuzhiqi and imprisoned him beneath Turtle Mountain using massive iron chains and a heavy bell. This victory allowed Yu...

The Heavenly Emperor Moving the Taihang and Wangwu Mountains out of Pity

🐉 Chinese MythologyWangwu Mountain, Henan, ChinaYugong (Foolish Old Man) • Zhisou (Wise Old Man) • The Heavenly Emperor (Shangdi)

The elder Yugong, frustrated by two massive mountains blocking his path, resolves to move them by hand with his family. Despite ridicule from a 'wise' neighbor, Yugong persists, believing that successive generations will eventually finish the task. The Heavenly Emperor, moved by such unwavering determination, sends celestial giants to relocate the mountains, rewarding the old man's faith.