Chinese Mythology

September 16, 2024
Hwang (A Kid’s Guide to the Chinese Zodiac) chronicles the rich world of Chinese mythology in this expansive collection, illustrated by Li (The Subtle Body Oracle Deck and Guidebook). Included legends run the gamut of existential tales relating to the creation of all things—as when Pangu, “crafted inside Hundun’s churning belly, like flour kneaded into dough,” “split Hundun into what we call Yin and Yang” and eventually became the world—to stories of revelry, as in “Sun Wukong, the Monkey King,” a selection that details the many mischiefs that earned him icon status. Tales date back to a time when people believed that humans and the supernatural coexisted and seek to answer questions that have been asked for thousands of years: Why does water flow downward? Why is the Earth tilted? Why must Heaven and Earth stay separate? Dazzling spreads of brightly colored and fantastical illustrations have a contemporary feel and are accented by royal purples and eye-catching gold. Together, the collaborators deliver a digestible, carefully curated accounting of legendary battles and epic romances while also offering insight into why many still worship these gods today. Ages 7–10.

December 1, 2024
Grades 1-4 This engagingly illustrated compendium offers a satisfying overview of major themes, threads, and characters related to Chinese mythology. This is a difficult task, as multiple cultures, nationalities, and religions comprise modern China, and there's concern that unlike ancient myths consigned to the past, many elements of Chinese folklore relate to deities and practices still revered by active religions and belief systems. Keeping all that in mind, brief but accessible introductions precede themed chapters that offer engaging versions of myths, along with special features such as lists of characters, family or relationship trees, cross-cultural comparisons, and other helpful insets that emphasize common elements and aligned values. Chapter topics progress through creation, Heaven, Earth, humanity, and the outsiders. Detailed, intriguing illustrations appear throughout the pages, generally appearing at the beginning and end of tales, and align closely with story elements. Generous back matter rounds things out. This is an appealing and unique contribution to the folklore canon intended for this age group and should fill gaps in school and public library collections.

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