Questions tagged [chinese]

For question about Chinese myths and legends.

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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 ...
Maurice Klimek's user avatar
-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 ...
Zoltan's user avatar
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3 votes
0 answers
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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, ...
Malady's user avatar
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3 votes
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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?
Stephen's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
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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 ...
Abhay_Bhai's user avatar
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?
Mike Finch's user avatar
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 ...
chhatra's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
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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. ...
DukeZhou's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
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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, ...
LeticiaYanaguya's user avatar
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 ...
bill frumpterton's user avatar
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?
Johan88's user avatar
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2 answers
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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 ...
Mike Finch's user avatar
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?
user3985's user avatar
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 ...
DukeZhou's user avatar
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4 votes
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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 ...
DukeZhou's user avatar
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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, ...
Nate M.'s user avatar
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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 ...
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12 votes
1 answer
425 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 ...
congusbongus's user avatar
  • 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.
Rose's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
423 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.
SoundStage's user avatar
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 ...
Aspergirl89's user avatar
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 ...
EbrithilBowser's user avatar
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 ...
CandiedMango's user avatar
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?
Gstestso's user avatar
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9 votes
1 answer
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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 ...
CandiedMango's user avatar
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 ...
congusbongus's user avatar
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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 (...
Wad Cheber's user avatar
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 ...
scio me nescire's user avatar
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 ...
femtoRgon's user avatar
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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 ...
femtoRgon's user avatar
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15 votes
1 answer
854 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 ...
plannapus's user avatar
  • 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 ...
congusbongus's user avatar
  • 2,494
11 votes
1 answer
718 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 ...
congusbongus's user avatar
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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 ...
congusbongus's user avatar
  • 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 ...
congusbongus's user avatar
  • 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 ...
congusbongus's user avatar
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