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Usually portrayed as an old, hunched-over beggar, Li Tieguai was described as generally ill-tempered but always willing to help those in need. Traveling with the help of his iron crutch, he was said to have been able to cure any ailment using the magic medicines kept in his gourd bottle.
Some of the most revered characters in Taoist mythology, and Chinese popular culture in general, are known as the Ba Xian, or Eight Immortals. Each of these eight heroes possessed their own unique qualities, characteristics, and special items.
Zhongli Quan is portrayed as a retired army general, always equipped with a massive fan capable of turning the dead and transmuting common rocks into gold and silver. Never using his powers for greed, Zhongli Quan instead lifts the poor out of poverty by gifting them with large sums of gold and silver.
Traditionally portrayed as the only woman amongst the Eight Immortals, He Xiangu is always equipped with her lotus flower that grants her characteristic healing powers.
Arguably the most popular immortal in Taosim, Lü Dongbin, leader of the Eight Immortals, was a poet and a priest who wielded a special sword that could defeat spirits. Lü Dongbin appears not only in old Taoist texts but also in secular history books, and allegedly lived in his earthly form for 220 years.
Han Xiangzi was said to be a pupil of Lü Dongbin's before attaining immortality for himself. He is portrayed as a master flutist, and is thus considered the patron god of the flute.
The fenghuang is a massive and beautiful mythical bird that represents successful unions, and is a common symbol at Chinese weddings. Long ago, fenghuang were actually two distinct species, feng and huang, but their bond to each other was so powerful that they fused into one being: the fenghuang.
Lan Caihe, whose gender has remained fluid throughout historical depictions, is most commonly associated with flowers, florists, and gardeners. In most scenes, they are depicted holding a basket of flowers.
One of the oldest of the Eight Immortals, who, like Lü Dongbin, appears in secular history books as well as Taoist legend, is said to have been a profoundly skilled alchemist and winemaker. His wine, believed to possess magical healing powers by the rest of the Immortals, could sustain them for days on end without a bite of food.
Hou Yi's wife, Chang'e, holds her own place in ancient Chinese mythology. After her husband saved the world, he was gifted an elixir of eternal life that he and Chang'e were to share. When Chang'e was forced to drink the elixir herself, she was whisked away from Earth and placed in the lonely company of the Moon. Today, she is celebrated as the goddess of the Moon, and many autumn festivals are held across China in her honor.
The Three Pure Ones, Yuanshi, Lingbao, and Daode, are the primordial creators of the universe and are pure manifestations of the Tao, or the natural order of the universe, itself. They are said to have created all sentient life, and Daode is said to have manifested himself on Earth as Laozi, the founder of Taoism.
The final member of the Eight Immortals, and once a member of the imperial court, Cao Guojiu was trained in the magic arts of the Tao by other members of the Immortals until he himself attained eternal life. Viewed in Taoist mythology as the patron deity of theater and entertainment, he is commonly depicted holding a pair of paiban, or Chinese clappers.
One of the most popular characters in all of Chinese mythology, Sun Wukong, also referred to as the Monkey King, is the protagonist of the 16th-century Chinese classic 'Journey to the West.' An immensely powerful but mischievous character, Sun Wukong possessed the strength to carry mountains and to travel "with the speed of a meteor."
The creation of humanity goes a bit differently in ancient Chinese mythology. Fuxi and Nuwa, often described as the "first gods," decided to marry and created the world's first offspring. After binding into one entity, they molded the first humans out of clay.
Jiutian Xuannü, sometimes depicted as a woman and other times as a bird with only the face of a woman, is a Taoist goddess associated with warfare, sexuality, and long life. She appears in many old Taoist stories, most notably as the teacher of Huang Di, one of the original prehistoric emperor gods.
A step above the Dragon King is Yu Huang Da Di, or the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor is the supreme ruler over the Taoist realm of heaven, but, unlike many other religions, that doesn't make him the supreme god in all of Taoism. The Jade Emperor still must answer to the Three Pure Ones.
The personification of the yang side of the yin and yang, the Dragon King is a god of great power who is said to control the weather and the seas. He is also, as his name suggests, the authority over Chinese dragons in all their forms, including turtles, lizards, and eels.
Ts'ang Chieh, the four-eyed historian, is known as the human-turned-immortal responsible for creating the Chinese written language. According to legend, his creation made the gods weep with joy, and millet fell from the sky.
One of the primary villains in 'Journey to the West,' Princess Iron Fan was depicted as a demon who refused to help Sun Wukong and his fellow travelers on their journey westward. In order to force Princess Iron Fan to bend to their demands, Sun Wukong transformed into a fly, flew down the princess' mouth and into her stomach, and then attacked her from the inside.
Hou Yi was an ancient mythical warrior and highly skilled archer who is said to have saved the world from being scorched to a crisp after shooting down eight of the nine suns that threatened to burn humanity off the face of the planet.
Xianglu was a fearsome demon of ancient Chinese mythology, depicted as a massive snake with nine human heads. Similar to the Hydra of Western mythologies, the Xiangliu is associated with the oceans and is said to have brought massively destructive floods to China.
Another of the primary characters in 'Journey to the West,' Tang Sanzang is depicted as a disciple of Buddha who is accompanied by Sun Wukong on his journey west in search of enlightenment. Tang Sanzang, a legendary figure, is thought to be based on the real Chinese monk Xuanzang, whose contributions to Chinese Buddhism in the 7th century are hard to overstate.
In Chinese Buddhism, the Four Heavenly Kings represent the four cardinal directions and their corresponding characteristics and colors.
Sources: (Owlcation) (The Guardian) (Mythopedia)
One of many Chinese dragon gods, Qinglong, or the Azure Dragon, is the directional god of east and the seasonal god of spring. During the Qing dynasty, Qinglong was featured prominently on the flag of China.
Zhong Kui is an ancient, mythical mortal-turned-god who possesses the power to kill demons and evil spirits, and does so tirelessly. According to legend, in life, Zhong Kui was an accomplished scholar, but decided to take his own life due to his outlandish appearance. Once dead, Zhong Kui was named King of Ghosts.
A primordial, prehistoric emperor of China, Shennong's name can be translated to "Divine Farmer." He is credited with the creation of agriculture, animal husbandry, and medicine.
The xiezhi is a mythical creature that became so popular in China it crossed over into the local religions of most of the rest of East Asia. Depicted sometimes as a massive, majestic ox, the xiezhi is able to determine the guilt or innocence of any mortal, and is thus associated with justice in many East Asian cultures.
Guanyin, known by many names throughout the Buddhist world, is the Buddhist bodhisattva goddess of healing. One of the most popular deities in religious Buddhism, Guanyin has over the centuries been adopted by other local folk religions apart from Buddhism.
A legendary figure from ancient Chinese mythology, Zhang Xian was an archer tasked with protecting the children of Earth from the evil, dog-like tiangou, the creature responsible for solar eclipses. Because of his tireless protection of the youth of the Earth, Zhang Xian has come to be considered the god of childbirth.
Chinese culture is one of the oldest unified cultures in the world, and has been around for over 3,000 years. Considered one of the world's four ancient civilizations, a rich and vibrant canon of mythology developed that at times blurs the line between fact and fiction. Many deities in the Taoist pantheon, for example, are based on very real historical figures, while other gods of Chinese folk religion are thought to be embellished versions of the civilization's first emperors. These stories are simply fascinating, and give us a glimpse into the stories upon which one of the oldest cultures in the world was built.
Intrigued? Read on to discover just a few of the greatest figures of Chinese mythology.
The ancient gods, monsters, and heroes of Chinese mythology
A journey into the fascinating myths of Chinese culture
LIFESTYLE Folklore
Chinese culture is one of the oldest unified cultures in the world, and has been around for over 3,000 years. Considered one of the world's four ancient civilizations, a rich and vibrant canon of mythology developed that at times blurs the line between fact and fiction. Many deities in the Taoist pantheon, for example, are based on very real historical figures, while other gods of Chinese folk religion are thought to be embellished versions of the civilization's first emperors. These stories are simply fascinating, and give us a glimpse into the stories upon which one of the oldest cultures in the world was built.
Intrigued? Read on to discover just a few of the greatest figures of Chinese mythology.