Written by: Amna Naseem
Posted on: July 09, 2020 | 
| 中文
A Dragon Statue
Chinese mythology (known in Pinyin as: ‘Zhōngguó shénhuà’ (中国神话) is exceptionally interesting due to the plethora of fantastic beasts that inhabit it, and what each signifies. They are a mixture of myths, originating from various ancient Chinese regions and cultures. A myth itself is a symbolic narrative, often fantastical stories tied closely to real-life events. These legends are passed down generation after generation, either through word of mouth or in written form, and often have historical, cultural, and spiritual meaning attached to them.
The journey of Chinese mythology has thought to have started in the 12th Century BC, and traveled a journey of thousands of years into modern-day Chinese folklore, rituals, and celebrations. One of the most commonly cited and oldest sources of the origin of such stories, is ‘Shan Hai Jing’ a.k.a ‘Classics of Mountain and Seas’. It is a compilation of fanciful and arcane descriptions of mythic geography and beasts, seen all over China, written by various authors from the period of the Warring States (475 BC – 221 BC) to the beginning of the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD).
The Penguin Classics Cover of ‘Classics of Mountain and Seas'
The following are some of the mighty creatures in Chinese Mythology, which are symbols of the legends and history of the country, and are often considered gods or demi-gods in the traditional Chinese canon.
Dragons, Lóng 龙 in Pinyin, is perhaps China’s first, most popular and most recognizable creature from mythology. Chinese dragons are a symbol of good luck, prosperity, auspicious power, and control. It is a very different concept from the malevolent and fire-breathing monsters that are recognized as dragons in the West.
In appearance, Chinese dragons are gigantic, with features similar to other animals. Often they are described as having a big head with stag-like horns, eyes of a demon, thin tongue split in half at the tip, thin mustache, an elongated snake-like body, hawk-like claws, and scales all over. Although they reportedly do not have wings, they possess the mystical ability to fly. It is said that the dragon has nine sons with slightly different appearances, that watch over and protect sacred sites and objects like graves, swords, and instruments.
The Nine Sons of the Dragon
Since Dragons are associated with water and the weather, they live in water sources like the bottom of seas or rivers, and are associated with thunder and storms. The dragon is also part of everyday life, as a part of the Chinese zodiac, and emblems of power on buildings and clothing. As symbols of high power, rulers of ancient China were often referred to as Sons of Dragons. In modern day, dragon mascots are used to signify Chinese identity, and they are vital parts of festivals like the Chinese New Year, and The Dragon Boat Festival.
Known as fènghuáng 凤凰 in Pinyin, the Phoenix is the Chinese name for a mystical, mythological bird, but it too differs in shape and function from its Western counterpart. In the earlier times, male birds were called Feng and the female bird was called Huang, and the words blurred together to create a creature of harmony. The phoenix is also called the August Rooster, as it sometimes replaces the Rooster in Chinese Zodiac. Phoenix designs can be easily seen in modern and ancient Chinese culture, jewelry and décor for weddings and royalty. Phoenix and dragons come together as metaphors of yin and yang, and are a symbol of a heavenly match between husband and wife.
The typical fenghuang possesses mixed parts like a rooster’s beak, a swallow’s face, a fowl’s forehead, a snake’s neck, a goose’s breast, and a tortoise’s back. But nowadays, it is an amalgamation of other birds like the pheasant, the peacock, the duck, the crane, the parrot, and the swallow.
A Fenghuang or Chinese Phoenix
In ancient Chinese text, the fenghuang’s body parts symbolize certain qualities like virtue (the head), duty (the wings), modesty (the back), integrity (the front) and mercy (the chest). As creatures who bore witness to the ascent of great leaders, a phoenix is famous for its beauty and grace. It is considered as an immortal bird, with exceptional grace and an omen of positivity and peace. Nüwa and Fuxi:
Often seen together, these two deities are believed to have created mankind, and saved them from the great catastrophe. Nüwa created Chinese people, and Fuxi gave them the gift of culture, scripts, agriculture, and spirituality. There are several versions of their mythological stories, and they are believed to have human faces with dragon or serpent tails, or serpents with human faces. Fuxi is also hailed as the Son of the God of Thunder.
A Painting of Nuwa (Left) and Fuxi (Right) from the Astana Cemetary in Xinjiang
In ‘ The Classics of Mountains and Seas’, one of the popular myths mentions that both Fuxi and Nüwa lived in the Kunlun Mountains, the longest chain of mountains in China. They set up two fires, far apart and vowed to the heavens that if the smoke coming from the fire merges in the sky, they’ll take it as a sign from heaven and will marry. The smoke did merge and they became a couple. Another legend suggests that they were survivors of a great flood, who repopulated the world by making creatures of clay from their reflection in the water, and these creatures became humans.
Like the Dragon, A Qilin is a creature often believed to be composed of various animal parts, and the specifics have changed over time. Also pronounced, ‘Kirin’, a qilin is often a 4-legged creature, sometimes resembling a deer, ox, or a horse. Though Its face is similar to that of a Chinese dragon, its body is covered with fish scales. It characteristically has a yellow belly, multicolored back, and horns, due to which it is called a ‘Chinese Unicorn’.
A Painting of a Qilin
The qilin is known as a gentle and peaceful creature, and Buddhist lore alludes to how they walk on clouds to avoid damaging the grass, never eat living things. Some also believe that Qilins bring news of the imminent births and deaths of leaders, including those of Emperor Yao in 24th Century BCE, and Confucius in 6th Century BC. It appears to those purest of heart, and will breathe fire to protect the innocent from danger.
The ‘Classics of Mountain and Seas’ is also available in English for those who wish to discover more of the fascinating beasts which inhabit the Chinese canon. As fantastical as they are, they represent the culture and ancient identity, which the Chinese have managed to retain for thousands of years. This is perhaps because these creatures represent values and beliefs that have been important to Chinese people and fundamental to the Chinese identity.
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