Uncovering Chinese Mythology: A Beginner's Guide Into The World of Chinese Myths, Enchanting Tales, Folklore, Legendary Heroes, Gods, Divine Beings, and Mythical Creatures (Ancient History Books)

"Uncovering Chinese Mythology" truly stands out as an enthralling exploration of China's legendary tales. Coming from a background where I was more versed in Greek and Egyptian mythology, diving into this book was like a breath of fresh air. It's enlightening, to say the least. The narration in this book is artful, skillfully blending insightful wisdom with a sense of awe. It's not just about the gods and emperors, though they're fascinating in their own right. The book delves deep into an array of mystical creatures, painting a vivid picture of the rich and complex world of Chinese folklore. For anyone with even a passing interest in the lore of ancient civilizations, this book is an eye-opener and a genuinely enjoyable read. It's a comprehensive guide that serves as a perfect gateway to understanding the intricate tapestry of Chinese myths and legends. Definitely a recommended read for myth enthusiasts and cultural explorers alike!

It was clear and easy to read while far better detailed than most of the previous books I've read on Chinese mythology. I loved that it included and differentiated between the various creation stories rather than just lumping them together as one and giving a brief summary of Chinese creationism. So many other books on the topic just give a generalization of the Chinese concept of our origin and focus only on the stories that came after.

Fun read!

Uncovering Chinese Mythology: A Beginner's Guide Into The World of Chinese Myths, Enchanting Tales, Folklore, Legendary Heroes, Gods, Divine Beings, and ... Creatures I really enjoyed. I love historical content and folklore, but often times find it difficult to invest in reading large tomes, where my attention gets lost, is time consuming, or have trouble understanding what's being written. What makes this book great is that it's short, concise, and easy to read, with informative examples of folklore, mythology, Gods, Heroes, even a brief History of China. Also, it’s broken down into categories, and organized really well. With this information, you can go on to investigate more detailed and longer works if you want to. For example, three subjects I found really fascinating and want to look into more is the Pangu being, The Monkey King (what an amazing story!) and the Magic Lotus Lantern story. A well-crafted, engaging piece by Lucas Russo!

I learned more about China from this book than I had learned previously from all other sources combined. And not just about the mythology, but about the different dynansties and religions, and each of their roles in China's history and cultural development.Granted, I had not delved too deep into this subject in the past, but there's a reason. Lengthy tomes often pose a challenge—demanding excessive time and focus. This book however shines in its clarity and engaging narratives on folklore, mythology, gods, heroes, and China's history, and does so in a short, clear, and easy to understand format.A wonderful beginners guide not only to Chinese Mythology, but in many ways to China itself, and its rich history and culture as a whole.

"Uncovering Chinese Mythology" is a beginner's guide that takes readers on a captivating journey into the realm of Chinese myths and legends. The author's fervor for the subject shines through, making the book engrossing from start to finish. The extensive coverage of a wide array of myths, legendary heroes, and gods offers readers a comprehensive introduction to Chinese mythology. The book strikes a harmonious balance between scholarly research and narrative, presenting information in a clear and concise manner. Although some readers may have desired more depth and visual references, overall, this guide is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in delving into the vibrant cultural heritage of China.

So many wonderful tales interwoven in this book. I had no idea that Cinderella came from Chinese stories. I see so much correlation between Chinese mythology and Greek Mythology, like the half animal half human stories. The colors that they represent and so much more. Wonderful book. Enjoyed it.

This book was interesting to me because:1. I lived in China for a few years2. I adopted a daughter from China3. I'm writing a fiction book that will include part set in China and will incorporate various myths.This book helped me gain a broad overview of Chinese history through all the dynasties and down to the modern day. That was just the beginning. Then it goes through various gods and goddesses from Chinese folklore. It's all high-level and fairly brief, but that's what I needed to get the big picture in my head.

As someone with a casual interest in mythology, especially from cultures not my own, this book served as the perfect introduction to the rich tapestry of Chinese myths. It’s clear, concise, and doesn’t bog you down with overly complicated jargon, which I appreciated. The stories of creation, from the poetic musings on Dao in the Tao Te Ching to the vivid tale of Pangu, were particularly engaging, offering insights into a worldview so different yet intriguing compared to the Greek and Roman myths I grew up with. I loved learning about figures like Nüwa and Fuxi, whose stories are as compelling as any Zeus or Athena anecdote. This book is a great starting point for anyone interested in mythology or someone who is just plain curious about how a non-Western culture explains the world around them.

"Uncovering Chinese Mythology" is an engaging and informative guide that explores the fascinating world of Chinese myths, from the creation of the world to legendary heroes, gods, and mythical creatures. The author conveys passion for the subject through captivating narratives and provides a comprehensive overview of Chinese mythology, enriched with historical and cultural context. The guide is accessible even to beginners and offers a balance between scholarly research and engaging storytelling

I really enjoyed this book. It was especially meaningful for me, because I lived in the Far East when I was a child, but didn't understand very much of the culture around me. I remember hearing stories but didn't understand the symbolism or learnings behind them. I also remember seeing different paintings or carvings of different animals ir mythical creatures, not to mention many families keeping goldfish, but never knew what they really meant. This book covers it all. It was easy to read and I liked that it started with an overview of Chinese history from the different dynasties up to present day, providing some insight into the cultural backdrop. I found this to be a great beginner's guide, highly accessible, and Lucas Russo has piqued my interest to want to know more. Thank you.

The recent Disney+ series „American Born Chinese“ made me curious about the legend of the Monkey King and other Chinese myths, which in turn led me to this book. 
I was surprised at the endless spectrum of Chinese myths – we in the Western world hear only a few stories, but the variety is huge.It ranges from world creation myths like that of the giant Pangu through the Monkey King stories past a countless dragons, birds and animals down to the Wolf of Zhongshan, an Aesop’s Fable-like tale of a scholar who saves a wolf, but then the wolf insists that, because he is starving, the scholar can only truly save him by letting the wolf eat him. A debate ensues on the moral responsibility of the scholar that the wolf almost wins – until he is trapped by an un-scholarly trick.The writing is simple and concise, the information is well-ordered, clear and complete – from the basic overview of Chinese culture, history and philosophy to the description of the individual myths and stories, I can’t imagine that anything important has been left out.It is the perfect primer – and I can imagine that goes for the rest of the books in the „Uncovering Mythology“ series as well. This is basic information you could glean from the Internet if you wanted to – but why do that when you can get it in one book?

This book is a captivating exploration of the rich and enchanting world of Chinese myths, folklore, and legendary tales. For anyone fascinated by the ancient cultures that have shaped our world, this book is a treasure trove of wisdom and excitement.China, with its deep-rooted history, has been a key player in the tapestry of ancient civilizations. While often celebrated for the philosophies of Confucius and the teachings of Taoism, its mythology and folklore are equally intriguing. This book serves as a gateway, providing both beginners and mythology enthusiasts with a comprehensive guide to the captivating realm of Chinese mythology.What sets this book apart is its thorough coverage of a diverse range of mythological elements. From the foundational myths that shaped Chinese civilization to the creation stories that explain the origins of life on Earth, the narrative is a tapestry woven with mythical creatures, legendary heroes, gods, goddesses, and animal spirits. The tales of emperors and cultural heroes, infused with deep meanings and moral lessons, offer a glimpse into the cultural and philosophical underpinnings of ancient China.For anyone ready to embark on a journey into the past, this book is an essential companion. Pick up your copy of "Uncovering Chinese Mythology" today, and let the captivating tales of gods, mythical creatures, and legendary heroes transport you to the heart of ancient China.