# Recommend to me a book on Chinese mythology

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-to-me-a-book-on-chinese-mythology/722866>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [June 18, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-to-me-a-book-on-chinese-mythology/722866 "2015-06-18T17:18:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
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**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-to-me-a-book-on-chinese-mythology/722866/1 "2015-06-18T17:18:11Z")

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Generally the thread is what it says on the tin. I’m looking for a good, comprehensive text on Chinese mythology. Accessibility to someone not overly familiar with Chinese culture would be a plus, but not completely necessary.

Whatcha got?

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**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-to-me-a-book-on-chinese-mythology/722866/2 "2015-06-18T18:14:50Z")

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It’s not comprehensive, but , at least as an introduction, there’s Anthony Christie’s **Chinese Mythology** :

> **[Chinese Mythology by Anthony Christie on Books Tell You Why, Inc](https://www.bookstellyouwhy.com/pages/books/45594/anthony-christie/chinese-mythology)**
>
> Binding: Hardcover Book Condition: Very Good+ in Very Good- dust jacket Edition: First Edition; Second Printing Publisher: London: Paul Hamlyn, 1973. ISBN: 0600006379

Profusely illustrated (it’s like a trip through a museum), but clearly just an introduction, like the other books in the Paul Hamlyn series of “\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_Mythology”. But there’s a set of references in the back.  
There’s the old standby, the circa 1930 (reprinted in 1964) series **Mythology of All Races** , of which Volume VIII is “Chinese and Japanese Mythology”. This is a more serious look at the topic, with much more detailed notes.

> **[The Mythology of All Races in Thirteen Volumes Volume VIII Chinese - Japanese:...](https://www.amazon.com/Mythology-Races-Thirteen-Volumes-Chinese/dp/B0071I9UVE)**
>
> The Mythology of All Races in Thirteen Volumes Volume VIII Chinese - Japanese \[John C. Ferguson, Masaharu Anesaki, Canon John Arnott MacCulloch, D.D.\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. The Mythology of All Races in Thirteen Volumes...

> **[Chinese mythology, (Mythology of all races): Ferguson, John Calvin: Amazon.com:...](https://www.amazon.com/Chinese-mythology-Mythology-all-races/dp/B0008CB2XE)**
>
> Chinese mythology, (Mythology of all races) \[Ferguson, John Calvin\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Chinese mythology, (Mythology of all races)

[http://www.worldcat.org/title/chinese-mythology-japanese-mythology/oclc/710957](http://www.worldcat.org/title/chinese-mythology-japanese-mythology/oclc/710957)

A lot of big city libraries and university libraries have copies of this set.

And I’m not familiar with these books, but they’re listed on the Wikipedia page on “Chinese Mythology” (which is probably a good starting point)

Paper, Jordan D. (1995). The Spirits are Drunk: Comparative Approaches to Chinese Religion. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press. ISBN 0-7914-2315-8.  
Yang, Lihui, et al. (2005). Handbook of Chinese Mythology. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-533263-6  
I have other references at home, but can’t think of them offhand