Chinese Mythology: Xiang Liu
Xiang Liu, also known as Xiang Yao, was a fierce deity in ancient Chinese mythology.
Chinese Mythology: Han Ba (the drought demon)
Han Ba is a monster in ancient Chinese mythology that causes drought.
Chinese Myth: Hun Dun (the Chaos)
Hun Dun (混沌) plays multiple roles in ancient Chinese mythology. As one of the four great ferocious beasts in Chinese mythology, its image resembles that of a huge dog. Hun Dun (the Chaos) plays multiple roles in ancient Chinese myths.…
Taowu: The Oriental Metaphor of Violent Instinct
Introduction Taowu is the most violent mythical beast in Chinese culture, celebrated for its “incorrigible savagery” symbolizing primitive wildness. Often depicted as a tiger-bodied, human-faced creature with pig tusks and…
Qiongqi: The Oriental Monster of Moral Inversion
The Qiong Qi （穷奇) is one of the four ferocious beasts in Chinese mythology, representing evil.
Taotie: The Oriental Warning Against Greed
Introduction Taotie is the most cautionary mythical beast in Chinese culture, celebrated for its “insatiable gluttony” symbolizing human desire. Often depicted as a sheep-bodied, human-faced creature with armpit eyes, it…
Chinese Mythology: Nine Sons of the Long (Dragon)
Nine Sons of the Long (龙生九子) is an ancient Chinese myth and legend referring to the nine sons of the Long, each with a different image and characteristics. It is…
Chinese Mythology: The Bai Hu (白虎), the white tiger
The Bai Hu (the white tiger, 白虎) in Chinese mythology is completely different from the current white tiger, especially the albino Bengal tiger. In Chinese mythology, it is a divine…
Chinese Mythology: Xuan Wu Da Di
The image of Xuanwu Da Di (玄武大帝) is evolved from Xuan Wu, a divine beast in ancient Chinese mythology. Legend has it that he is one of the incarnations of…
Chinese Mythology: The Zhu Que（朱雀），the Vermilion Bird
The Zhu Que（朱雀），the Vermilion Bird, is a southern god-beast. The south is fire, and bird totems such as the Vermilion Bird often belonged to sun worship in ancient mythology. Zhu Que，the Vermilion Bird, is one of the Four Celestial Spirits in ancient Chinese mythology, originating from the ancient worship of constellations.…