Questions tagged [chinese]
For question about Chinese myths and legends.
36
questions
0
votes
0
answers
38
views
Are humans suppose to succeed gods in Far East mythologies?
Although this question is mostly inspired by video games, I'm searching for the cultural (mythological?) root of this "trope" (I lack a better term).
At this point, I encountered it multiple ...
- 101
-3
votes
1
answer
55
views
How to become immortal in Western world in compare to Chinese legends and western mythology? [duplicate]
I saw some Chinese series where were immortal people. Question is if someone knows the path how to be immortal in nowadays. Because the 1000 years Kingdom is closer and closer and it seems there is a ...
- 1
3
votes
0
answers
75
views
Are the seven fairies of the story of Dong Yong, being the daughters of the Jade Emperor, a modern invention?
I was looking for old stories about seven sisters, where the youngest is the most important, and found the English Wikipedia article on Tian Xian Pei, talking about the daughters of the Jade Emperor, ...
- 869
3
votes
0
answers
40
views
Origins of the Chinese Red Egg Tradition
In China there is a folk custom to give a red egg on someone's birthday.
When and where did this practice originate from? Are there any myths related to the practice?
- 31
2
votes
3
answers
817
views
Are there any non-European versions of "Elves" in Indian/Persian/Arabic/Chinese/Meso-American folklore/fairy tales?
Basically the traits should be long life, good looks, pointy features, thin, magically adept and closer to divinity.
I think, Yaksha of Hindu Mythology
could potentially be one candidate but he seems ...
- 21
2
votes
1
answer
101
views
What is he fishing for?
Is there a story behind this painting of a man fishing in the air off the side of mountain?
- 223
2
votes
1
answer
79
views
Are there any folklore references to the following elements found in Xianxia i.e. modern Chinese High Fantasy fiction?
Xianxia stories often contain the following elements:
1> Cultivation of Qi:
Qi is a humor-esque substance which is generally absorbed from the environment and stored in the Dan Tian which in these ...
- 121
1
vote
2
answers
182
views
Why did Li Po carry a sword?
I use the archaic translation of his name, now preferred as Li Bai 李白. Although a historical figure, Chinese history and mythology are considered to have been comingled prior to modern scholarship. ...
- 14.1k
5
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Is there a passage about white hair in Chinese mythology?
In the wuxia Chinese dramas it's very common for characters who went through great stress to have white hair.
But, apparently, stress and emotional charge isn't the exact reason for this to occur, ...
- 623
9
votes
1
answer
118
views
School in the Sky?
I'm looking for references to schools in the sky. Was there a school that the Greek gods attended? A university frequented by the Norse pantheon? An academy in Tian? I'd love any pointers you've ...
4
votes
1
answer
123
views
Who is the Queen of Heaven in the The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl?
In the The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl classic of ancient China, who exactly is the Queen of Heaven?
Is it Doumu or The Queen Mother of the West or Wusheng Laomu?
- 525
9
votes
2
answers
302
views
How did you survive my 100-step punch?
I remember from long ago a story about a martial artist, The Bully, who was renowned for his "100-step punch": if he lands the blow, you will die after taking 100 steps. One day another martial ...
- 223
7
votes
1
answer
3k
views
What do all the treasures Sun Wukong got from the Dragon Kings do?
I tried to look for information on them, but I can't find anything. Are they just strong pieces of armor or do they grant him special abilities?
- 71
6
votes
1
answer
293
views
To what degree is the villainization of Cao Cao a function of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms?
Also his depiction in Chinese Opera.
I ask because, although he often does troubling things such as the murder of Lü Boshe's family, Mengde is a man of exceptional talents and has many admirable ...
- 14.1k
4
votes
0
answers
314
views
To what degree are depictions of Beggar So influenced by the immortal Li Tieguai?
I'm specifically wondering about the depictions of Beggar So in popular culture, such as his portrayal by the inimitable Yuen Siu-tien. For instance:
Li Tienguai has a magic medicine gourd; Beggar So ...
- 14.1k
8
votes
2
answers
13k
views
What is the original story of Fox Spirit/Nine tails fox in India's myths?
I read in wikipedia and some mythology sites about the fox spirit that came from India but surprisingly they never mentioned any story in an Indian version.
I can only find stories from China - Daji, ...
- 309
10
votes
4
answers
6k
views
How do people become immortal as per Taoism?
While reading on Taoism, I came across some people who became immortal through a variety of ways. Right now, some I remember are:
White Peony successfully made Lü Dongbin ejaculate and absorbed his ...
user1385
12
votes
1
answer
426
views
Map of Guan Yu crossing 5 passes?
In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, after Guan Yu finds out Liu Bei is still alive and with Yuan Shao, he departs Cao Cao from Xuchang and heads north, in a story known as crossing five passes and slays ...
- 2,494
9
votes
1
answer
417
views
Can anyone identify what Chinese mythology creature this is?
I got this as a gift and I originally thought it was a foo dog but it has both paws on turtles, not on a cub or ball as foo dogs do. It may be a Pi Yao or Pixiu but I'm not so sure.
- 93
6
votes
1
answer
424
views
Why does Indian mythology not have humongous beasts like that of Chinese dragon?
This is a question out of curiosity. I noticed that Indian culture and Chinese culture very near by proximity, but there has been no sign of any dragon in the Indian culture.
- 171
6
votes
0
answers
186
views
What does this ear stud show in Chinese Mythology?
Does someone know what this ear stud shows?
Because of the Yin/Yang symbol it should be chinese - so no Yōkai.
Could it be a Yaoguai? A Huli jing?
I have absolutely no idea but I just want to know ...
- 69
8
votes
1
answer
512
views
When were European and Asian dragons first associated?
What is the oldest historical account of European dragons (Lindworms, Drakones etc.) being associated with Asian dragons (Lóng, Ryū)? Is the association simply because they are both serpent-like ...
9
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What were popular magical focuses in Chinese Mythology?
For the purposes of this question, a focus means something needed to cast a spell properly, something that channels magic, or something that allows magic to be cast. (This could include a magically ...
- 409
8
votes
1
answer
463
views
Did the dragons of Chinese mythology originate from tornadoes?
I remember reading that tornadoes disappeared from ancient Asia due to climate change, and so the memory of it is preserved in myth as dragons. Is this true?
- 183
9
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What are the "Treasures of the Dragon Kings"?
I found reference to the "Treasures of the Dragon Kings" whilst in this wiki article on mythological objects.
Ǒusībùyúnlǚ (Cloud-stepping Boots or Cloud-stepping Shoes), made of lotus fiber, these ...
- 409
10
votes
1
answer
687
views
What are the origins of Wu Song the Tiger Slayer?
Wu Song is a major character in the Chinese classical novel Water Margin; his claim to fame is killing a tiger with his bare hands.
Since Water Margin draws heavily from folklore, and the story of ...
- 2,494
23
votes
1
answer
15k
views
Why do some Asian dragons have fur (or hair)?
In the west, we tend to think outside dragons as purely reptilian in nature - in other words, all scales, no fur - but many Asian representations of dragons show them with substantial amounts of fur (...
- 473
10
votes
4
answers
7k
views
What is the meaning of Sage in respect of eastern folklore?
I am looking for a more concrete definition of what an eastern sage is and an explanation of the background of the eastern sage.
Many translations of eastern martial arts feature sages. They are ...
- 211
12
votes
1
answer
464
views
How was the reputation of Zhuge Liang established, before joining Liu Bei?
According to legend (particularly Luo Guanzhong's "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"), after Liu Bei pays three visits to the remote thatched cottage of the strategist Zhuge Liang (Kongming), he agrees ...
- 9,188
20
votes
3
answers
6k
views
How did the Monkey King (Sun Wukong) go from fictional character to religious icon?
Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, seems to have got his start as a fictional character in the classical novel "Journey to the West" by Wu Cheng'en (though I have read a vague statement somewhere that ...
- 9,188
15
votes
1
answer
855
views
How accurate is the depiction of the Jade Emperor in "Journey to the West"?
In the 16th-century Chinese classic Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en, the Jade Emperor is depicted as ruling over Heavens the way an actual human emperor would rule over a country. Complaints are ...
- 3,539
21
votes
1
answer
816
views
What kind of god was the Yellow Emperor?
The Yellow Emperor is the legendary first ruler of China and originator of Huaxia Chinese civilisation, reigning during 2698–2598 BC, and as recently as 1920s he was regarded by most Chinese as a real ...
- 2,494
11
votes
1
answer
719
views
Son of Heaven: who is the father/mother?
Among East Asian / Confucian empires (China and Vietnam, maybe others), emperors ruled under a philosophical concept known as Mandate of Heaven - that is, heaven will grant a specific ruler the right ...
- 2,494
25
votes
4
answers
26k
views
Are Kitsune and Huli jing the same?
Both the kitsune and huli jing are "fox spirits" with 9 tails, tricksters that can shapeshift into, or possess, young women.
One famous kitsune appears in the true story of Hideyoshi writing a letter ...
- 2,494
20
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Who is the Chinese supreme god?
Analogous to the Greek Zeus or the Norse Odin, who is the supreme god in the Chinese folk religion pantheon?
It seems that this may be the concept of "Tai Di", or primordial divinity, but it's ...
- 2,494
13
votes
1
answer
923
views
How was Guan Yu deified?
Guan Yu was a real general who lived almost 2000 years ago, but was deified as early as the Sui dynasty (circa 7th century). He is still an important figure of Chinese folklore today, worshipped by ...
- 2,494