Chinese mythology is a collection of cultural
history, folk-tales, and religions that have been passed down both orally and
written and includes creation myths and legends, including the founding of the Chinese
culture and the Chinese state. The Chinese mythology has in the past been
believed to be a recording of true history.
Legends were passed down in orally
over thousands of years, before being written down. Myths were often passed
down in theater and song.
According
to Chinese mythology the Jade Emperor ruled the three realms: Heaven, Hell, and
of the living. The Jade Emperor judged and gave recompense to saints, the living,
and those that passed on according to the Jade Principles.
The
Chinese dragon is one of the most important mythical creatures in Chinese
mythology, the most powerful and divine creature with the control over all
waters. They were believed to be able to create clouds with their breath. The dragons
symbolize great power and were the benefactor of heroes and gods.
The most famous dragons is the God of rain and many people
in different places pray to this dragon to receive rain a belief which has
great importance in most cultures.
The
contact of Chinese mythology and Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism were
modified into beliefs that developed or were incorporated into Chinese culture.
The teachings and beliefs became a part Chinese mythology.
Although the Chinese people are thought to be strict in their culture there is a rich and humorous side to their beliefs and their mythological stories shows these two faces of the people’s culture
