
Myths and Legends of China (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Study of Chinese FolkloreBy E. T. C. WernerLength13h 57m
About this audiobook
Myths and Legends of China is a capacious early-twentieth-century survey of Chinese cosmology, divine hierarchies, heroic tales, popular superstition, and religious folklore. Werner gathers creation myths, stories of culture heroes, dragon lore, immortals, ghosts, and temple deities into a prose style that is lucid, cataloguing, and comparativist. The book belongs to a formative period of English-language sinology, when Chinese narrative traditions were being translated, classified, and interpreted for Western readers within the broader study of myth and religion. E. T. C. Werner, a British diplomat and scholar who spent decades in China, wrote from unusually close acquaintance with Chinese language, custom, and official life. His consular career and residence in Peking gave him access to local traditions, texts, ritual practices, and informants. Though shaped by the assumptions of his era, his work reflects a sustained fascination with how Confucian, Taoist, Buddhist, and popular elements coexist in Chinese imagination. This volume is recommended to readers seeking an informed gateway into China's mythic world and to students interested in the history of sinological interpretation. It remains valuable not as the final word on Chinese mythology, but as a rich, readable compendium that preserves stories, categories, and scholarly perspectives central to understanding how China's legendary past was presented to the modern world.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 4.4 (261)
Includes Amazon
GenrePsychology
Length13 hrs 57 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJul 16, 2020
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Two Years in the Forbidden City (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5Myths and Legends of China
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6Chapter I. The Sociology of the Chinese
7Chapter II. On Chinese Mythology
8Chapter III. Cosmogony-p'an Ku and the Creation Myth
9Chapter IV. The Gods of China (pt. 1)
10Chapter IV. The Gods of China (pt. 2)
11Chapter V. Myths of the Stars
12Chapter VI. Myths of Thunder, Lightning, Wind, and Rain
13Chapter VII. Myths of the Waters
14Chapter VIII. Myths of Fire
15Chapter IX. Myths of Epidemics, Medicine, Exorcism, Etc.
16Chapter X. The Goddess of Mercy
17Chapter XI. The Eight Immortals
18Chapter XII. The Guardian of the Gate of Heaven
19Chapter XIII. A Battle of the Gods
20Chapter XIV. How the Monkey Became a God
21Chapter XV. Fox Legends
22Chapter XVI. Miscellaneous Legends
23Analysis
24Reflection
25Memorable Quotes