Dalian (China)

Animal as a character in Chinese mythology

In the Chinese vision of the world, animals carry a semantic load defined by tradition and can be adequately perceived only by a prepared consciousness that has assimilated a wide variety of information from national history, folklore, aesthetics and language.

The recognized king of the Chinese bestiary is the Long (dragon), the most beloved animal in China. It is known that the moon as an animal never existed - this is only a peculiar creation of Chinese mythology. He acts as the lord of rain and the embodiment of the masculine essence. In Chinese paintings the moon can always be seen hovering among the clouds or floating among the waves and at the same time engulfed in flames emanating from his shoulders and thighs. The origin of the image of the moon has not been revealed in its entirety, but it is clear that it is lost in ancient times and is rooted in a totemic cult. The image of the moon was described by Li-shi-zheno () in his book “Bencao Gangmu” (“Basic principles of pharmacology”): “a head like a camel, horns like a deer, eyes like a hare, ears like a cow , a neck like a snake’s belly, like a sea animal “shen”, scales like a carp, claws like a hawk, palms like a tiger...” In the dictionary “Shouwen” (1st century AD) it is written: “the moon is a long scaly creature, can hide, can appear, can become thin, can become huge, can be either short or long. On the day of the spring equinox it flies into the sky, on the day of the autumn equinox it dives into the abyss.” In ancient China, the number of moons on the brocade robes of generals was strictly regulated, and nine moons could only be on the imperial robe. Since the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD), the greenish-blue moon has been considered the symbol of the emperor, the homeland, the patron of the fifth sign of the Chinese zodiac and the symbol of the east, sunrise and spring rain. The white moon, on the contrary, rules the west and death.

Traditionally, in Chinese, next to the word “long” is the word “phoenix” (fenghuang). Feng Huang is a magical bird; its appearance is dominated by a feminine character. In ancient China, the image of fenghuang was often embroidered on women's dresses, including empress dresses. The golden fenghuang is considered a symbol of the empress, the bride, beauty and the moon. According to tradition, long and fenghuang are often paired, so people say at birth: “I was born with a small lun, and I was born with a beautiful feng.” At a wedding it is expressed as follows: “Lun and feng unite.”

The third blessed mythical animal was the tiger. The tiger is the king of beasts in the minds of the Chinese (who knew about the lion only by hearsay). The tiger was revered, first of all, as a thunderstorm of demons: almost all great magicians and demon intimidators were depicted sitting on a tiger. The hieroglyph “vann” (king) was often written on the tiger’s forehead. In addition, the tiger was considered the threat of the demons of disease and, therefore, to some extent the guardian of health.

A prominent place in Chinese folklore is given to the fox, the embodiment of cunning. Since foxes often have holes near graves, ancient belief connects them with the souls of the dead and gives them the ability to turn into seductive women. For this reason, in China, especially in the north, there were idols dedicated to foxes everywhere. Often women left shoes at the fox's hole to help the demon turn into a girl and at the same time turn him away from his own family. In addition, the fox received offerings from peasants as a patron of harmful insects. Employees revered the fox as the patron of office work. People believed that upon reaching a thousand years of age, a fox acquired nine tails and golden skin, after which it ascended to heaven.

Another popular animal character in the Chinese pantheon was the monkey. In the last four centuries, the cult of the monkey has taken the form of worship of the monkey king Suno Wukong, the hero of the adventurous and mystical epic “Journey to the West.”

Among domestic animals, the Chinese distinguished the rooster, whose blood and cry scared away evil spirits, as well as the dog, which, together with the horse, was the constant companion of the god of the hearth and the god of wealth. In the deified form of the Heavenly Dog (tian gou), the dog was reputed to be a capricious and even evil creature that could drive away even an evil dragon, but was capable of swallowing the sun, causing a solar eclipse, or taking a baby from a mother.

Chinese peasants understandably treated rats with particular respect. In the peasant houses of old China, the “rat wedding” was celebrated everywhere on the 19th day of the 1st month. All household members went to bed early, leaving treats for the rodents on the floor. If there was a large rat in the house, it was treated as an honored guest and called the “money rat.” Another popular character in Chinese folklore is the hare, which for the Chinese is inextricably linked with the moon: in the patterns of spots on the surface of the moon, they imagined a hare pounding the powder of immortality in a mortar. Of the sea creatures, the turtle was most revered - a symbol of longevity, strength and endurance. It was believed that the turtle lives for a thousand years.

The Chinese believed that all processes in nature and in the inner world of man are cyclical and have phases of approach and distance, expansion and contraction. The prototype of these ideas was the movements of the sun and moon and the change of seasons, perceived by the Chinese people as a manifestation of a universal pattern. In ancient times, China had several systems of lunisolar calendars. Of these, the so-called cyclic calendar was associated with astrology. The years of the 12-year cycle, corresponding to one “heavenly branch,” were named after animals, which were also signs of the Chinese zodiac. The twelve signs of the zodiac are named after the animals of the 12-year “animal” cycle: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The “animal” calendar cycle served in China, on the one hand, as a means of calculating time, and on the other, as a horoscope predicting the fate of peoples and countries. There is a legend according to which Buddha called all the animals to him, promising a reward to the first twelve. And as a reward, they received the right to control time and the destinies of people once every 12 years. Everything that was under the Moon on earth experienced their influence. Every child born in the year of a particular animal was rewarded by fate with properties and qualities. In the year of the goat, for example, the child had its properties and qualities: a rebellious lively disposition, curiosity, resourcefulness, a desire for mountain heights, and the absence of excessive ambition. When choosing a bride or groom, not only the circumstances of their families’ lives were learned, but also their horoscopes. Thus, marriage could not take place if the bride and groom belonged to “warring” zodiac signs. A groom born in the year of the tiger could not, for example, marry a “goat,” and a “rat” could not marry a “snake.”

The centuries-old symbolization of animals in mythology finds its application in modern spheres of life of the Chinese people: from images of art to everyday traditions.

In Asian mythology, the harmony of the world is maintained by the interaction of two energies. The male spirit in Chinese myths represents Yang energy. This energy is embodied in the creatures of Sky and Fire. Despite this, many of China's Great Gods associated with Water and Earth are also male. This indicates the dominant position of the stronger sex in the culture of the Far East.

Masculinity in China

According to legend, the world was created from the egg of a creature named Hundun. This creature had no mouth, nose or ears. Hundun had three pairs of legs and two pairs of wings.

The Creation of Chaos was an extremely hospitable host, welcoming all the spirits of Darkness and Space into his home. The spirits Shu and Hu wanted to repay the owner for his kindness and reward him with the opportunity to feel something.

However, Hundun's body could not cope with such a gift and the creation of Chaos crumbled into dust, leaving an egg in its place. Two energies were formed in its depths -

Over time, the eggshell cracked and the hidden energy created the world. Yin represents the dark, cold, feminine principle. Yang is responsible for light, strength and masculine energy.

The scriptures say that all spirits and demons associated with the sun and sky represent Yang energy. Symbols of masculinity are jade and fire.

Chinese deities

The Chinese pantheon consists predominantly of male gods. This is due to the patriarchal form of power in the Far East. According to legends, emperors had divine origins, so some gods are real historical figures.

Yudi

In ancient Chinese sources, Yudi is the supreme god seated on a jade throne. Deities, spirits, demons and the energy of the cosmos obey him.

Yudi lives in the thirty-sixth heaven, observing the lives of people. His robes are embroidered with gold, and the ruler holds a jade tablet in his hands. On it he records the actions of all the inhabitants of the earth.

The Supreme Lord encourages a godly lifestyle with gifts. For misdeeds, he can send his demon servants to a person.

Huang Di

In Chinese mythology of a later period, Huang Di took Yudi's place as head of the pantheon. The deity is also called the Yellow Emperor. In chronicles, the first mention of Huang Di was recorded in the 3rd millennium BC. The emperor, according to legend, was the ancestor of all Chinese and the founder of Taoism. He is also credited with many medical discoveries.

In the pantheon, Huang Di personifies one of the cosmic elements - the Earth. Its color is yellow. The symbols of God are the Phoenix and the Center of the World.

The god's weapon is the Uhao bow. According to legends, Huang Di dropped his sacred weapon while flying on a dragon. The daughter of this deity, a girl named Ba is a famous spirit of drought in Chinese mythology. The emperor also had four servants:

1. Lord of the East - Taihao.
2. Emperor of the southern lands - Yan-di.
3. The ruler of the western provinces is Shaohan.
4. The owner of the northern mountains is Juanxu.

Shaolin monks treat this deity with special respect, since, according to myths, he brought martial arts to the world.

Gong-gong

In Chinese legends, this deity personifies water. Gun-gun's appearance had the following features:

1. From the waist up, the god looked like a strong, middle-aged man.
2. Below the waist, the creature had a snake tail.
3. The deity's hair and eyes were red.

Gong-gun commanded floods and floods, so the Chinese feared and respected this deity. According to legends, the Lord of Water challenged his father, the Lord of Fire Zhu-Zhun. Having lost to his parent, Gong-gun, in a rage, began to fight against Mount Buzhoushan, which held the sky.

The mountain range cracked, causing part of the sky to fall onto the water and causing a flood. A huge tsunami destroyed many cities and led to mass deaths of Asian peoples.

Shennong

In Chinese mythology, Shennong is the patron of fertile lands and medicinal herbs. The Asian peoples carried out extensive medical research and worshiped this God on a par with emperors. Externally, the Deity has the following features:

1. Green snake skin.
2. Tiger nose.
3. Bull face.

Shennong is considered a good god. He taught the Chinese to cultivate the land and distinguish poisonous herbs from medicinal ones. The deity also discovered the beneficial properties of green tea for the Chinese.

Gan-Di

This god personified war, gold and a clear stratification of society. Gan Di patronized officials and military leaders.

Outwardly, the deity looked like a strong man with red skin. According to legend, Gan Di invented the weapon Gan Dao (a spear with a wide blade) and presented it to the Asian peoples for protection from foreigners.

The Lord of War is a real historical figure. Mentions of the military leader Gan-Di are found in chronicles of the 2nd century. BC.

Zhu-rong

This Chinese god commanded fire and light. Zhu-rong personified the power of the Sun; his companions were dragons and phoenixes. Externally, the deity had the following features:

1. Animal powerful body.
2. Pig head.
3. Bee eyes.

Descending from the sky, according to legend, the Lord of Fire gave birth to the god of Water. Their endless war is the basis of Chinese mythology.

Fanbo

In ancient China, this deity personified the wind. His appearance combined several animals:

1. Body of a doe.
2. Leopard skin.
3. Snake tail.
4. Deer horns.

Fenbo served the Great Dragon and controlled the movement of the clouds. Sometimes the Dragon sent a servant as punishment - the Lord of the Sky himself set fire to the rice fields, and the Lord of the Wind fanned the fire.

Lei-gong

Chinese god of Thunder and Lightning. Represents a dragon with a male face. Lei Kung made a loud sound by hitting himself in the stomach. Also on the god’s shoulder hung a bunch of drums, which he beat with a huge hammer.

The Chinese revered him because he was the harbinger of the deity Yushi, the Lord of Rain. The rainfall affected the harvest, so the Asian peoples tried to please Lei Gong and Yushi.

Chinese demons

In Chinese demonology, male creatures acted as servants of the gods, while female creatures mainly only harmed people. Among the most famous demons in China, there are several.

1. Daolao are creatures that live in the Linyuan Mountains. They can injure people with poisoned arrows.
2. Nu Mowan is a bull-headed demon. Prince of otherworldly creatures. Represents the messenger of battle. Patronizes brave warriors.
3. Hsien-liu and Fu-yu are demon servants of the water god Gong-gun. Xian was a snake with human faces and personified greed. Fu had the body of a bear and the face of a man. This demon symbolized rage.
4. Timimore - demons of mountain gorges and dense forests, also found in rivers. They feed on rotten corpses and rarely attack living people.
5. Zhong Kui is a demon of the underworld. According to legends, he administers judgment in the Underworld over the souls of the dead, sending them to rebirth or to hell.
6. Yaoguai are demons of revenge. They are often animals that have died from cruel treatment. In Chinese mythology, such creatures serve the gods in exchange for the opportunity to take revenge on offenders.
7. Bochi is a sea demon, a servant of the god Gun-gun. Outwardly it resembles a ram with eyes on its back.

Chinese spirits and mythical creatures

Among the spirits there are also creatures that personify masculine energy:

1. Long Lun. The Chinese Great Dragon, the mightiest of all spirits. He is served by such deities as the god of Fire Chuzhun and the Lord of the Wind. The Chinese Dragon has five claws on each foot.
2. Fenghuang. The Chinese equivalent of the phoenix. It differs from the classic one with a three-meter bushy tail.
3. Xin-chan. A headless giant with eyes on its chest and a mouth on its stomach. Represents the indomitable spirit and masculinity.
4. Fahey. A dragon whose appearance foretells a long drought.
5. Haechi. A spirit with the body of a lion and a bear's tail. He has nobility and a sense of justice. They feel guilty and force them to confess to the crime.
6. Yayu. A ferocious creature with the head of a dragon and the claws of a tiger. Despite his noble appearance, Yayu was not distinguished by wisdom. This monster lived in lakes and devoured lonely travelers.
7. Zhulong. The bearer of the dark masculine principle, the dragon of Hell and Darkness. Living in darkness, this deity illuminates the path for lost people with the help of a torch that he holds in his mouth.
8. Pulao. A small dragon who loves the ringing of bells. Pualo's roar is considered the loudest among all the dragons in China.

Shennong ("divine farmer"), in ancient Chinese mythology the god of agriculture. He was believed to have the body of a snake, the face of a man, the head of a bull, and the nose of a tiger; skin color - green (vegetation color). When Shennong was born, 9 wells suddenly appeared in the ground, and millet rained down from the sky.

The god of agriculture Shennong in Ancient China was recognized as the first healer - he prepared decoctions of medicinal herbs and was considered immortal. Shennong died after swallowing a centipede, each leg of which turned into a huge worm. According to legend, they tore apart the body of God

Yudi(“jade sovereign”), in Chinese mythology, the supreme ruler to whom the entire universe was subordinate: heaven, earth and the underworld, all deities and spirits. The ancients imagined him sitting on a throne in a magnificent imperial robe with embroidered dragons, in a royal headdress, with the indispensable jade tablet in his hand.

The emperor's palace was located in the highest, 36th heaven, from where he ruled all things, and Saint Wang Lingguan stood at the gates of the palace as a gatekeeper. It was believed that the emperor's wife was the goddess of sericulture, Matodnian; his daughter Qigongyan ("seventh maiden") was a very popular character in fairy tales and beliefs. For example, girls summoned her spirit by telling fortunes about their betrothed. In Ancient China, Yudi, the great sovereign who had the gift of reincarnation and changing his appearance in 72 ways, had many temples dedicated to him.

Longwang

Longwang, in Chinese mythology, the master of the water element; The god of thunder Leigong, the lord of rain Yushi and the god of wind Fengbo obeyed him. According to early texts, Longwang is a creature that stands out among other dragons for its extraordinary size - about 1 li, that is, about half a kilometer in length. The image of Longwan was formed in the first centuries of our era.

The Taoist classification became widespread - the idea of ​​Longwang as the supreme dragon of the four seas (in accordance with ancient Chinese cosmogony): Guan-te ("increasing virtue") - Longwang of the Eastern Sea, Guan-li ("increasing wealth") - Southern, Guan -zhong ("increasing favor") - Western and Guang-tse ("increasing generosity") - also Western. All of them are considered brothers, of whom the eldest is Guan-de. There was also an idea about the Longwang of the four main rivers of China.

In folk tales and traditions, the name usually appears simply as Longwang or Donghai Longwang ("king of the dragons of the Eastern Sea"). In later folk beliefs, Lunwang is often seen as the lord of the elements, to whom the god of thunder, the goddess of lightning, the god of wind and the master of rain are subordinate. In the later folk syncretic mythological system, Longwang is subordinate to the supreme lord Yudi. Lunwan, the king of dragons who brings rain, had his own army, consisting of sea inhabitants: turtles, cuttlefish and other inhabitants of the depths. The intercession of this dragon king, the giver of rain, was sought by farmers, sailors, fishermen and water-carriers. The cult of Longwang was extremely popular in old China. There were temples dedicated to him in every city, every village. Longwang was believed to bring rain.

Shang Di is the supreme deity of the Yin era in Chinese mythology.

Inari

eight immortals

The last immortal of the Taoist pantheon is Lan Caihe. He is depicted as a very handsome young man, dressed in a blue robe and holding chrysanthemums or wooden rattles and a flute. Sometimes he holds a bamboo basket with chrysanthemums in his hands. (Doe also means basket and the color blue). He is the patron of flower merchants and gardeners, as well as musicians.

Lan Caihe is described in many medieval treatises. In Shen Fen's "Continuation of the Lives of the Immortals" he is a holy fool. Lan Caihe was a very peculiar holy fool. He wore a torn blue robe with a wide belt and ebony plaques. There is a boot on one foot and the other is barefoot. In the summer he insulated his robe with cotton wool, and in the winter he slept in the snow. He was constantly cheerful, and his cheerfulness spread to everyone around him. He also loved to drink, and one day he made all the immortals drunk. After this, in search of immortality, they moved from external alchemy to internal forces.

Lan wandered through the city bazaars, singing songs, of which he knew a great many, and often composed them himself, thereby earning his living. He distributed the money that was given to him to the poor people he met or strung it on a long cord and dragged it along the ground with him, not noticing that it was scattered.

One day, when he was singing and dancing near Lake Haoliang, a crane appeared in the clouds, the sounds of a reed pipe and flute, and the singing of Taoist saints were heard. At the same moment, the Doe silently rose into the sky - he was picked up by a cloud. Lan Caihe threw down his boot, robe and belt. The cloud rose up, becoming smaller and smaller, and finally disappeared. Since then, no one else on earth has heard of Lan Caihe.

Legends about eight immortals developed in the 1st millennium AD, but the saints were canonized no earlier than the 11th century. In all subsequent centuries, this topic was actively developed in various literary works of poets and writers of China.

There are many stories about the joint activities of immortals. These legends were formed by the 16th century and were used by the writer Wu Yun Tai in his novel Journey of the Eight Immortals to the East. It told how eight immortals were invited to the mistress of the west, goddess Xi Wangmu, and how they decided to present her with a scroll with a dedicatory inscription from Lao Tzu himself. After the feast at Xi Wangmu, they went across the Eastern Sea to the Lord of the East, Dong Wang Gun, and here each of them showed his wonderful art.

Li Tie Guai floated on his iron staff, Zhong Li Quan on a fan, Zhang Guo Lao on a paper donkey, Han Xiang Zi on a basket of flowers, Lü Dong Bin on a bamboo flywheel handle, Cao Guo Jiu on a wooden a paiban castanet, He Xian Gu on a flat bamboo basket, and Lan Cai He stood on a jade plate inlaid with wonderful stones emitting light.
A sparkling plate floating on the sea attracted the attention of the son of Long Wang, the dragon king of the Eastern Sea. Long Wang's warriors took away the record, and Lan was dragged into the underwater palace. Lü Dong Bin went to rescue and set the sea on fire. The Dragon King was forced to release Lan, but still did not return the record. Then Lu Dong Bin and He Xian Gu again came to the seashore, where a grandiose battle took place, in which the son of the dragon king was killed, and his second son died of wounds. Long Wang tried to take revenge on the immortals, but was again defeated. During the battle, the immortals threw a mountain into the sea, which destroyed Long Wang's palace.

Only the intervention of the Jade Emperor Yu Di led to the establishment of peace on earth and in the underwater kingdom.
That's all about the eight immortals. Once upon a time they actually lived in different provinces of a great country. They were all a little strange, mastered various magics and tried to do good to people, which is probably why stories about them were heard more often than others, passed on from generation to generation and have survived to this day.

Eight Immortals

Heavenly lord. Relief of the Song era

Tree of money. Chinese folk painting.

Nuiva holding the sun. Relief from Sichuan. Han era.

The image of Nuiva and the mythological plots associated with it force one to assume in this character an ancient goddess of fertility, a mother goddess, similar to the ancient Rhea and Cybele. The “maternal” qualities of Nuwa in relation to the universe in general and people in particular are confirmed by reports of the veneration of this goddess as the Great Matchmaker and the founder and patroness of marriages - Gaomei: “Nuwa made sacrifices with prayers to God and turned into a matchmaker... She was made a matchmaker goddess , established sacrifices for her...” According to E.M. Yanshina, “individual features of Nüva together give a complex characteristic of the image of the ancient mother-progenitor - the deity of fertility at that stage when the cult of ancestors merged with the cult of nature. The versions of the myths about Nuiva that have reached us combine various historical layers and indicate that in the oral tradition there were various versions of stories about this goddess. But, changing and varying, cosmogonic themes continue to group around Nuwa - one of the largest figures in the cosmogonic myths of ancient China."

Through the efforts of the Confucians, the cult of Nuwa was pushed into the background in historical times and subordinated to the cult of Fuxi, and then completely consigned to oblivion. The other ancient gods suffered much the same fate. However, the reconstruction of myths makes it possible to a certain extent to restore the ancient Chinese pantheon, a characteristic feature of which was the absence of “group” deities, like the Olympians of the Greeks, the Aesir and Vanir of the Scandinavians, the Devas, Adityas and Asuras of the Indians, Amesha Spenta of the ancient Iranians. The gods of Ancient China were purely individual, which may be explained by the disunity of the tribes.

Fusi and Nuwa holding the sun and moon. Relief from Sichuan. Han era.

Spirits of the Western Mountains. Illustration for the “Catalogue of Mountains and Seas”.

Ancestor. Bronze (2nd millennium BC).

Xingtian, who was at enmity with the Yellow Ancestor. Illustration for the “Catalogue of Mountains and Seas”.

Wise ruler Shun. Han era drawing.

Shun was chosen by Yao for his virtue, since the ruler's own son, Danzhu, was extremely disrespectful. In Sima Qian we read: “The people close to him said: “There is a lonely man living among the people, his name is Yu Shun.” Yao said: “Yes, I heard about him. What is he like?” The advisers replied: “[He] is the son of a blind man, his father [is] prone to vices, his mother is quarrelsome, his younger brother is arrogant, but [Shun] with his filial piety knows how to maintain [among them] harmony, gradually guiding [them] for good, so that they did not reach the point of crime.” Yao exclaimed: “I will test him!” Then he gave [Shun] his two daughters as wives, [to] see how his virtues [would affect] two women.

Shun ordered the women to be settled on the Gui-zhui River, and they [strictly] observed the duties of wives. Yao approved of this and then ordered Shun to diligently harmonize the five relationships so that they could be followed. Thus [the five relations] penetrated among the officials, and all the officials began to carry out their tasks on time.

[Shun] received visitors at the four gates, and strict order reigned at the gates, and the sovereign princes and guests arriving from distant places all behaved with respect. Yao then sent Shun into forested mountains and into lowlands crossed by rivers. Hurricanes and severe thunderstorms raged there, but Shun did not lose his way. Yao began to consider Shun to be completely wise and, calling him, said: “For three years your plans were perfect, and your words led to success. You will ascend to the imperial throne." Shun began to refuse, yielding to the [more] virtuous and not expressing joy. [However] on the first day of the first moon, Shun took over the affairs of government."

During the reign of Shun, many melodies were invented (in the Chinese tradition, music is the “coded” knowledge of ancestors), including the melody of the Xiangshao, which even phoenixes came down to listen to. Shun was succeeded by the flood suppressor Yu.

Along with the descendants of Huangdi, who acted as completely wise rulers, Chinese mythology also knows his “duplicates” - characters with similar and even analogous functions, ranked among the ancestors. These are Dijun (Outstanding Ancestor in the Russian translation of the “Catalog”), Shennong and Fuxi.

Dijun was worshiped by the Eastern Yin, as evidenced by the inscriptions on oracle bones. After the conquest of the Yin kingdom by the Zhou people, the cult of Dijun as the supreme deity was supplanted by the cult of Huangdi, but the echoes of this cult persisted for a long time. The Catalog of Mountains and Seas states that Dijun's wife gave birth to twelve moons, that Dijun was the father of the fire god Zhurong and the millet god Houji, and that Dijun's other sons "were the first to create songs and dances."

Reliefs of mythological content from the Wu Liang temple: the upper world, the god of thunder and the goddess of rain, the rite of expulsion, preparation for sacrifice to the ancestors.

Lower world. Funeral banner from the Mavandui excavations. Silk (mid-2nd century BC).

Taoist saint on the clouds. Wall painting from Yonglegun Temple.

Scheme of mutual transformation of the Boundless and the Great Limit. Drawing from a medieval Taoist treatise.

Taoist deities (XV century).

Diagram of the ascent and descent of vital energy in the human body, represented as a mountain. Engraving (XIII century).

Miraculous river spirits. Chinese folk painting from the collection of academician V. M. Alekseev. Top center is the dragon lord Zongtong Heshen-zhi Longwang, the far right is the dragon king Longwang. Below are the water deities.

Palace of the Celestials. Painting on silk (XII century).

Qilin Chinese creature

Qilini inhabited the forests of China, but they could appear in front of people in clearings, on the banks of a river, and sometimes even in palaces.
The signs that Emperor Fu Xi copied from the back of the unicorn are called Pa Ku, or eight trigrams. Each of the eight symbols consists of three horizontal lines, and these lines are either solid or broken.
Emperor Huang Di, to whom the unicorn appeared, did many good deeds for the Chinese people, he stopped wars between tribes, invented the axe, bow and arrows, dresses and shoes, musical instruments, and taught people how to make carts and boats.
According to legend, in the 6th century BC, a unicorn appeared to the mother of the Chinese philosopher Confucius and predicted the upcoming birth of her great son.
The last qilin was seen by the Chinese Emperor Wu Di (140-87 BC), who honored this animal by setting up a room in his palace dedicated to the unicorn.

Some qilini are depicted as covered in hard green scales. The qilin has a particularly majestic horn, in some species reaching a length of five and a half meters. The qilin does not offend any living creature and walks so carefully that its hooves will not crush a single blade of grass or crush a single insect. The body of a qilin can take the form of a goat, a doe, a deer, and even a dragon.
The magical qilin pulling a flaming chariot is a powerful symbol in both ancient and modern Chinese society. This unicorn has the head of a goat, the body of a dragon and the tail of a lion. Unicorns appeared to many Chinese emperors. For example, Emperor Huang Di saw a qilin wandering through his palace in 2697 BC, and when the emperor died, a unicorn carried his soul to heaven. The qilin was considered a symbol of good luck and appeared in times of peace and prosperity.

A famous story in China about a shooter named Yi

The myths of ancient China have very diverse themes. But most myths tell about natural disasters that befell the earth and heroes who saved the world. A very famous story in China is about a shooter named Yi. When one day ten suns appeared in the sky at once, in the form of “sun birds,” the world began to perish from the heat. Then the brave shooter And struck down all ten suns with his arrows. After killing the suns, the shooter continued to fight the monsters that still inhabited the earth and harmed people. Having completed his heroic deeds, he indulged in fun and amusements, and according to one version, he was killed by envious people.

One of the main roles in ancient Chinese myths, as well as in Russian folk tales, is given to animals. Animals act as patrons of heroes or intermediaries between people and spirits. According to legend, the first kings of the world had two dragons on which they could ascend to heaven. And, by the way, it will be said that it is dragons - these mythical animals that deserve to become the heroes of one of our next programs.

To summarize our today's broadcast, I would like to note that the mythology of ancient China is, as it were, the basis of the culture of China as a whole; it had a great influence both on the philosophy of the country, and on literature, art, and even on the Chinese language itself.

The mythology of the peoples of Asia, who lived more than nine thousand years ago in the most ancient centers of civilizations - Ancient Iran, India, China and Japan, is a wonderful monument of universal human culture. Because the life of ancient man was subject to centuries of repeated agricultural cycles, the pantheons of many Eastern religions included dying and resurrecting gods. Widespread eastern religions and teachings - Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, etc. - which interpreted these issues differently, according to myths, agreed that the righteous must acquire an immortal soul and go to heaven or achieve spiritual perfection, and sinners, Having passed a series of tests in the kingdom of the dead, they must suffer in fiery, icy or spaces inhabited by terrible creatures.

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Please note that the mythical creatures of Japan are on a separate list.

1) Devas (divas)

19) Karkadann

A creature mentioned in medieval Arabic and Persian literature, whose name means "lord strashno.com of the desert" in Farsi. Represented a ferocious unicorn found in North Africa, Persia and India; he was capable of attacking an elephant and killing it. Apparently, we are talking about a rhinoceros or a closely related species of extinct animal (Elasmotherium). In modern Arabic and Persian, this word refers to a rhinoceros. In addition to the stories of Ibn Fadlan and Ibn Battuta, mentions of this creature can be found in the story of “Sinbad the Sailor”. Sinbad, having visited one of the Far Eastern islands, met there a creature that combined the features of a rhinoceros and a unicorn. The text mentions that al-karkadann is one of the food sources of the roc bird.

20) Roc or elephant bird

In medieval Arabic folklore, a huge bird the size of an island, capable of carrying away and devouring elephants and carcadannas in its talons. In the Middle East, its habitat was usually considered to be the borders of China, and in China itself - Madagascar and the islands adjacent to strashno.com. The bird, capable of carrying elephants, was first mentioned in the 10th century in “Wonders of India” by a Persian author named Buzurg ibn Shahryar. Al-Biruni, without calling the giant bird by name, skeptically reports that it was seen near the borders of China. The great traveler Ibn Battuta writes that on the way to China, he personally observed how a mountain flew up from the surface of the sea - it was the Roc bird. Finally, the most famous description of the bird is contained in the Arabian Nights: during the fifth voyage of Sinbad the Sailor, the roc bird, in revenge for the destruction of its egg, destroys an entire ship with sailors.

The association of the roc bird with Madagascar is perhaps not accidental - until the 17th century, the island was inhabited by giant birds of the apiornis family. Like ostriches, they did not fly, so an adult apyornis weighing up to 500 kg and up to three meters tall could be mistaken by visiting Arabs for a freshly hatched chick strashno.com of a much larger flying bird.

According to Jewish legend, having parted with Adam, Lilith became an evil demon who kills babies (this character is also present in Arab myths). In the mythology of Ancient Mesopotamia, a night demoness who kills children and mocks sleeping men has a similar name. The name Lilith appears in the Epic of Gilgamesh in the second millennium BC. e. It is mentioned in the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Ben Sira Alphabet, and the Book of Zohar. In Semitic languages, particularly Hebrew, this word is the feminine adjective “night.” In addition, in Hebrew the word “lilit” refers to the tawny owl, a type of owl. Most likely, this is why Lilith is sometimes depicted with an owl.

In Jewish life, Lilith is especially known as a pest of childbirth. It was believed that she not only spoils babies, but also kidnaps them, drinks the blood of newborns and replaces them. strashno.com She was also credited with spoiling women in labor and infertility of women. It is the legends that speak of Lilith as the killer of newborns that explain the tradition of hanging an amulet with the names of angels near the cradle of a Jewish child.

22) Apsaras

Demigoddesses in Hindu mythology, spirits of clouds or water. They were depicted as beautiful women dressed in rich clothes and wearing jewelry. According to legend, apsaras, like the Scandinavian Valkyries, appease heroes killed in battle in Indra's paradise. The number of apsaras varies, according to various sources, from several tens to hundreds of thousands. Apsaras, who were in the direct service of the gods, were often used by them to seduce ascetics or holy hermits, who through asceticism could become equal to the gods.

An evil spirit in Ashkenazi Jewish folklore, being the soul of a deceased evil person. The dybbuk soul cannot part with earthly existence because of its crimes (for example, suicide) and is looking for a living organism that strashno.com can inhabit. The concept of dybbuks is similar to the demons and spirits that are exorcised in the Catholic Church through the process of exorcism. It is assumed that a soul that has not completed its destiny in its earthly life can complete it in the form of a dybbuk. The concept of dybbuks has been mentioned in Kabbalistic literature since the 17th century. The dybbuk is expelled by the tzaddik and ten other members of the Jewish community, who are dressed in funeral shirts. In the process of expelling a dybbuk, aromatic substances are burned, prayers are recited, and the shofar is blown.

24) Naga

Snake-like creatures, a symbol of wisdom in Hinduism and Buddhism. They are depicted as snakes with a human torso and a human head, covered on top with a fan of snake heads. They live in caves and ponds, on land, in water or underground. The mythology of the “snake man” has ancient roots. It is believed that the naga serpent was the totem of one of the powerful ancient tribes, whose representatives were called nagas. strashno.com It is believed that Buddha preached to the nagas. It is stated that the nagas kept the truth secret until people were ripe to understand it. Kundalini is depicted in the form of a snake - the energy that rises in a person during spiritual practice from the lowest psychophysiological center (chakra) to the highest, where merging with God occurs.

25) Garuda

In Hinduism, the riding bird of the god Vishnu, a fighter against naga snakes. Garuda's head, chest, torso, legs up to the knees are human; beak, wings, tail, hind legs - eagle. In the understanding of Hinduism, the prey of the Garuda bird is snakes that nest in the minds of unbelievers and doubters of God. In Indonesia it is associated with solar energy. In hatha yoga, a special pose is dedicated to Garuda - Garudasana. A large wasp from Indonesia is named after the garuda. Garuda is a national symbol and is depicted on the coats of arms of Indonesia, Thailand and the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. In Asian heraldry, strashno.com is most often depicted with red and gold plumage; it can be completely gold or white.

26) Potassium

In Hindu mythology, a huge multi-headed snake demon who lived in the Yamuna River in the Vrindavan region and was tamed by Krishna. One day, Kaliya became proud and ate an offering brought by other nagas for the king of birds - Garuda. Garuda became enraged and attacked Kaliya, intending to kill him for his insolence. But the frightened Kaliya fled and, hiding from the sharp claws of Garuda, disappeared into the waters of the Yamuna, where Garuda could not reach him due to the curse placed on him. All the vegetation on the banks of the Yamuna dried up due to the deadly poison of Kaliya. Krishna, who had driven a herd of calves to a watering place, saw the death of all living things and decided to tame Kaliya. He began splashing, swimming and playing in the water, which angered the snake. Kaliya floated to the surface and wrapped tight rings around the body of little Krishna.

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Suddenly Krishna's body began to expand and opened the coils of Kaliya. At the sight of the boy who was free, Kaliya flew into a furious rage and rushed at Krishna, who began to spin like a top in the water around the serpent, infuriating him even more. When Kaliya's strength was completely exhausted and he dropped his head into the water, Krishna jumped on him and began to dance, jumping from one head to another. Exhausted, Kaliya again and again tried in vain to bite Krishna, who did not allow his heads to rise, and sank deeper and deeper into the water. Then the wives of Kaliya, the nagas who were watching what was happening, began to offer prayers to Krishna, asking him to spare their husband. Having taken pity on them, Krishna stopped trampling the snake and set him free, ordering him to leave Yamuna and settle with all his relatives in the ocean on one of the islands of Fiji, where Garuda would not interfere with them.

27) Chollima

A winged Korean horse that can travel 400 kilometers a day. According to legend, there was no daredevil on Earth capable of taming him, so Chollima flew into the sky. The name of the Chollima movement in the DPRK is associated with the mythical horse; it is an analogue of the Stakhanov movement in the USSR in the 1930s. Chollima is a symbol of progress and the nation's movement forward.

Demon in Hinduism. Periodically, it swallows the Sun or Moon, thereby causing eclipses. In Hindu art it is depicted as a dragon without a body riding a chariot driven by eight black horses. In Indian astrology, Rahu rules deception and is associated with swindlers seeking material enjoyment, drug dealers, poisoners, hypocrisy and immoral acts. Rahu plays a key role in strengthening power, turning enemies into friends. It is also believed that by the grace of Rahu one can be cured from poisonous snake bites.

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A sea monster known in Indian tradition and among a number of peoples influenced by this tradition. The makara is often thought of as a giant aquatic animal, combining features of a dolphin, shark and crocodile. It is the mount of Varuna, Ganga and the symbol of the god Kama. In Hinduism it corresponds to the designation of the zodiac constellation Capricorn. In Sanskrit the word means "sea dragon" or "water monster". Images of the monster are widely used in Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism and are common in South and Southeast Asia.

30) Surabhi

In Hindu mythology, a miraculous cow that fulfills the owner's wishes. It arose during the churning of the Ocean of Milk and belonged to the sage rishi Vasistha. Known as "sweet-smelling" or "wish-cow". The image of Surabhi reflected the veneration of the cow, derived from the common Aryan (Indo-Iranian) pastoral era, when the cow was the main source of food and wealth, and characteristic of Indian and Iranian mythology.

31) Kali strashno.com

A demon in Hinduism, a symbol of destruction, the personification of an era of evil, discord and hypocrisy. The etymology of the name is related to the concept of “black”. Depicted as a four-armed, long-haired woman with blue skin. In her upper left hand she holds a bloody sword, destroying doubt and duality, in her lower left hand she holds a demon's head, symbolizing the cutting off of the ego. With her upper right hand she makes a protective gesture that drives away fear, while with her lower right hand she blesses for the fulfillment of all desires. Four arms symbolize the 4 cardinal directions and 4 main chakras. A frequent subject of the depiction of Kali is her murder of her husband Shiva, who was sacrificed. Her three eyes control three forces: creation, preservation and destruction. They correspond to three times: past, present and future, and are also symbols of the Sun, Moon and lightning. She is wearing a belt made of human hands, which symbolize the inexorable action of karma.

The blue color of her strashno.com body is the color of infinite cosmic, eternal time, as well as death. This symbolism draws attention to the superiority of Kali over the mortal realm. The color black symbolizes the unclouded state of pure consciousness. The garland of skulls with which it is decorated means a series of human incarnations. There are exactly 50 skulls - according to the number of letters of the Sanskrit alphabet. The head that Kali carries represents the ego, the idea 'I am the body', which she destroys. The skulls also show her ability to free the mind from identifying itself with the body. This garland symbolizes wisdom and strength. Her tousled hair forms a mysterious curtain of death that envelops all life. The corpse on which she stands indicates the transitory and inferior nature of the physical body. The blood red tongue symbolizes the kinetic energy of the universe, which is symbolized by the color red. On a cosmic level, Kali is associated with the elements of air or wind. She is the perception of the lightning of truth, negating all illusions; strashno.com embodies creation, preservation and destruction, evokes love and horror at the same time. In the human body, Kali exists in the form of breath or life force (prana). The crescent moon was considered its symbol.

Devotees of Kali drank wine for ritual purposes. During the ritual, believers drank sacred water in three sips, marked the area between the eyebrows with red powder, and offered red flowers to the image of the goddess and lit candles. Then a prayer was read, after which, inhaling the aroma of the sacrificial flower, the believers ate the sacrificial offerings. The holiday in her honor was celebrated in early September. The heyday of the Kali cult occurred during the period of the sultanates of the 13th - 14th centuries. From the 12th to the 19th centuries, a secret sect of thugs was widespread in India - fanatics who devoted themselves to serving Kali as the demon of death and destruction.

A clay giant from Jewish mythology, revived by Kabbalists with the help of secret knowledge - by analogy with Adam, whom God strashno.com created from clay. The legend of the Golem is very common as a myth about an artificial man created from clay to perform various “menial” jobs, difficult tasks of importance to the Jewish community, and mainly to prevent blood libel through timely intervention and exposure. Having completed its task, the golem turns to dust. In this legend, folk fantasy seems to justify resistance to social evil with some, albeit timid, violence: in the image of a golem, the idea of ​​an intensified struggle against evil, transgressing the boundaries of religious law, seems to be legalized.

33) Pishachi

In Indian mythology, evil and harmful demons attack people, devouring them and drinking their blood. There are special spells and herbs against pishachas, since they are capable of stealing people’s souls. They live in places where the dead are cremated. In addition, their places of residence are empty houses and roads. These strashno.com demons move at dusk. Whoever sees the pishachs will die within 9 months, unless he appeases the spirits with his offerings. They are able to take on any form and even become invisible.

34) Ao

In ancient Chinese mythology, there is a giant turtle swimming in the sea. It is often claimed that on her back there are three sacred mountains - Yingzhou, Penglai and Fangzhang, where the immortals live. Ao plays an important role in the popular sky repair legend, which exists in a number of variants. These legends say that when the four pillars on which the sky rests were broken (according to one version, during the battle of the gods), in order to save the earth from heavenly fire and flood, the goddess Nuwa collected stones of five different colors, melted them and patched up the holes in the firmament through which water and fire poured onto the earth. Then she cut off the legs of the giant turtle and, strashno.com placing them at the corners of the earth, propped them up against the sky. Thus, the Chinese Atlas was a giant sea turtle.

A demonic creature in Arabic-Persian folklore that has long, boneless legs resembling snakes or belts, and appears human from the waist up. In short, the legends of the Dawlpa are similar in many details. Davalpa lives in desert areas, forests or islands. He rushes at people who happen to be nearby, but more often he tricks them into accepting him on their back. Once on the man's shoulders, he wraps his belt-like legs tightly around him, beats him and forces him to work for himself.

The work mainly involves picking fruits from trees. Obviously, with such legs, the davalpa himself is not able to pick fruits even from the lower branches, since he cannot lean on them. A person must obey the dawlpa until he dies from exhaustion, but there is a strashno.com method to get rid of the dawlpa, transmitted by many sources. You need to pick grapes, squeeze the juice out of it into some container, wait for it to ferment, and give the monster something to drink. Davalpa gets drunk, his legs lose their grip, and he releases the prisoner. The collection "A Thousand and One Nights" tells of Sinbad the Sailor's encounter with a similar creature and his successful liberation from the dawlpa.

Chinese mythology reveres a huge number of creatures and animals, each of which personifies something. Probably the most popular character that each of us has heard about is the dragon, and in China its different varieties are revered. It is noteworthy that the first drawings dedicated to these animals were found during ancient excavations.

What is the essence of the riddle?

The dragon in Chinese mythology is a creature that personifies the elemental forces of nature, heaven, and the power of the emperor. Numerous images of this animal can still be found in buildings in this country, including in the Imperial Palace. Chinese mythology makes the dragon of peace and prosperity; in his honor there is even a dragon festival, which is held on the fifth day of the fifth month. Love for this animal is reflected in the language itself, which is full of proverbs and sayings dedicated to it.

All the power of the dragon

It is no coincidence that in Chinese culture such an important place is given to the dragon. It is believed that this is a magical creature that was such in ancient times. It was on the basis of these ideas that other cultures were formed and developed. Even the ancient ancestors of today's Chinese recognized the dragon as a totemic cult; today it remains an integral part of the country's culture, always appearing on architectural structures and in paintings. It is also noteworthy that dragons in China are magical creatures endowed with gifts and combining the features of many other animals.

The ancient Chinese believed that the dragon does not live on earth, but it can rise to the skies or plunge into bodies of water. But wherever these creatures were, they were powerful and acted as messengers of spirits or deities. Emperors of all dynasties believed that they were sons of heaven, and therefore the true descendants of the dragon. And the common people worshiped the power of this animal, which still serves as a symbol of prosperity in China.

Mother of Dragons

Dragons are considered iconic creatures in China, and there is even a mother of dragons. According to legend, she raised 5 dragons, which were symbols of devotion and parental love. It is noteworthy that Lunmu - the mother of dragons - was a simple woman who once picked up a white stone on the river, which turned out to be actually an egg. Five baby snakes hatched from it and helped her in everything. Over time, they turned into powerful dragons.

There are a huge number of dragons in Chinese mythology. So, some are responsible for the Indian Ocean. Some dragons are classified by color: the lapis lazuli one is considered the most compassionate, the scarlet dragon gives blessings to the lakes, the yellow dragon listens to petitions, and the white one is considered virtuous.

Types of dragons

China is a country where they still believe in fairy-tale creatures, including dragons. By the way, they are found in different guises, perform different functions and personify different properties. The most popular dragons in Chinese mythology are:

1. Tianlong is a celestial dragon that, according to myth, serves as a celestial guardian, guarding the heavens and protecting its gods. It was believed that Tianlong could fly and maneuver, so he was also depicted with wings. The celestial dragon has five toes, while the rest of its brethren have four.
2. Shenlong are divine dragons who have the ability to command thunder and control weather conditions. Often, Chinese mythology depicts them with the body of a dragon and the head of a man, while they have an unusual drum-like belly. According to legends, Shenlong cannot fly, but floats across the sky, and due to the blue tint of her skin, she merges with the sky. Thanks to its excellent camouflage, it is difficult to notice, so it was considered a great success if someone succeeded. It was believed that if the divine dragon was offended, he could send bad weather, drought or flood to the country.
3. Dilong is an earthly dragon capable of controlling rivers and any other bodies of water. According to myths, these dragons live in the depths, in extremely luxurious palaces.
4. Fucanglong, as Chinese mythology says, is a dragon who is the underground guardian of precious stones. It is believed that it lives deep underground.

Spirits of various elements

Among the deities of China who are responsible for the elements and natural phenomena, one can note the thunder god Leigong. The water spirits resembled dragons, fish, and turtles, and the river spirits were both male and female. It is noteworthy that the Chinese believe in any of these beings, regardless of what kind or origin they are. Among all the spirits of Chinese mythology, we can highlight:

1. Rong Cheng in Chinese mythology is the magician who invented the calendar. Legends say that he appears on earth after 1010 years. And the Chinese also believe that Rong Cheng is able to restore youth, restore hair color to older people and restore their teeth.
2. Hou Yi is the son of the supreme deity, a marksman who performed brave deeds. He plays a large role as spirits which are found in many myths.
3. Huangdi is the personification of the magical powers of the earth. According to myths, this spirit was of enormous stature, looked like a dragon, had a solar horn, four eyes and four faces. It is believed that it was Huangdi who invented the mortar, axe, arrows, clothing and shoes. In general, Huangdi is one of the most popular spirits, who was a skilled shooter, a strongman, and a craftsman.
4. Yu. This hero is a flood suppressor. In myths he was portrayed as half man and half dragon. For 13 years he worked to stop the flood.

In addition to the spirits of various elements, creatures that were responsible for fertility and drought also attracted attention. Ba - the spirit of drought in Chinese mythology - was one of the feared ones, as he could send dry weather to cities, thereby reducing crop yields. In general, the Chinese believed very much in mystical and miraculous creatures, and the characters of Chinese mythology described above are proof of this.

Guardian spirits of the cardinal directions

Chinese mythology is rich in various characters. The creatures that are four are as follows:

1. Qing-long is a green dragon, which is the symbol and spirit of the east. He, in turn, is always associated with spring, so this dragon was always depicted in a bright green color. This image was believed to bring happiness to those who see it, which is why it was always placed on military banners. Qing-Long was also a spirit - the guardian of the doors.
2. Bai-hu was considered the patron saint of the west and the kingdom of the dead, so the image was placed on funerary structures. It was believed that it protects the living from evil spirits.
3. Zhongyao was the spirit of the south and was depicted as a phoenix.
4. Xuan-wu personifies the harsh spirit of the north, which is closely associated with water. Initially, Xuan-wu was depicted as a turtle entwined with a snake.

Demons of Chinese myths

Chinese mythology is very interesting and original. There are demons in it too, and the forces of evil are represented by numerous characters. Thus, according to myths, the lord of demons is Zhong Kui, who was originally depicted as a club. They painted it with red paint and hung this image for magical purposes. The ruler of the underworld was Yanwang, who, according to myth, investigated the earthly life of the dead and then decided what punishment they should be given at the trial. Zhang Tianshi was considered the main magician and lord of demons. In Chinese mythology there was a huge terrible snake called Man. It was believed that this was the king of snakes, but he looked like a dragon with four claws.

conclusions

Chinese mythology is a combination of various images of dragons, which are reflected in architecture and art. Today there are a huge number of monuments dedicated to dragons in the country.