Chinese Mythology A to Z (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

For more than 3,000 years, from the ancient Xia dynasty to today's People's Republic of China, China has sustained one of the most advanced and culturally productive civilizations in the world. Renowned for the Great Wall of China, porcelain ceramics, a complex writing system, and philosophles such as Confucianism and Taoism, China is also the source of an impressive tradition of myth and folklore. Many deities, stories, places, and ideas populate Chinese mythology, and Chinese Mythology A to Z offers a readable introduction to these and other related topics. Covering everything from the Blue Dragon, bridge gods, and Buddha to carp, Chang Hsien, and Confucius, Chinese Mythology A to Z provides rare insight into the myths of the Chinese peoples, in a format that is easy to use and delightful to read. Containing hundreds of entries and illustrated throughout, the book brings Chinese myths to life, giving readers a glimpse of a culture that may be far different from the one that they are familiar with at home.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Facts on File (July 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816048703
• ISBN-13: 978-0816048700
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #975,213 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but some of it doesn't quite feel right, June 19, 2008

By	M. Green (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I had a look at several books from this series in the reference section of my library. The information from all meshed with that I found in other sources. It's all introductory material, as would be expected from such a series, but the tone of some entries in the Chinese and Japanese volumes seems a little problematic. Generally this sort of book is trying to convey the facts of, rather than judgments on the validity of, another group's beliefs

For example, from the entry Cat in the Chinese volume: "Some people thought just hanging a picture of a cat on the wall could prevent evil spirits or rats from entering the house."

As opposed to the entry Jaguar from the South and Meso-American volume: ". . . humans and gods alike could do no better than be associated with the power of this cat."

Both are factually correct descriptions of beliefs of the respective cultures, but the former seems to take a superior view, where the latter is simply descriptive. Maybe I'm reading too much into these (and the books are written by different people), I just noticed what seemed to be quite a contrast between them.

My other thought was perhaps Roberts got the idea he was writing for a much younger audience, and the other authors did not get the same idea.

Factually the books in the series are fine, based on the entries I read, and an easier introduction to these subjects than the route I took, particularly the African and South and Meso-American volumes. They cover many different people groups as compared to other books (at least those available at a public library) that tend to focus on the more popular cultures such as Egyptians or Mayans (though these of course have their place).