Uncovering Chinese Mythology

I saw a lot of good reviews for this book, but I’ve had a few bad experiences with independently published books. When it first arrived, it had that self-published look, but as the cliché goes… don’t judge a book by its cover.

I read this book a quarter at a time, to and from my commute to work, which goes to show that it’s a pretty easy read.

The first chapter, Sources of the Myths, does a good job of explaining where these stories actually come from—oral traditions, ancient texts, and different schools of thought like Confucianism and Taoism. It gives just enough background to help you understand the stories without feeling like a lecture, which I liked.

The rest of the book is divided into sections covering different themes—gods, heroes, mythical creatures, and so on. Each story is short, clear, and easy to follow, which makes it perfect for dipping in and out. I especially liked the chapters on legendary beasts and deities—Chinese dragons and fox spirits always have that extra bit of magic to them.

The tone of the book is very straightforward. It doesn’t try to sound clever or poetic, which means it might feel a bit plain to some readers. But if you’re new to Chinese mythology and just want something clear and approachable, this is a solid place to start.

One thing I liked is that it includes a few stories I hadn’t come across before. It’s not just the usual stuff about the Monkey King or the Eight Immortals—it goes a bit wider than that, which helped it feel fresh. And although I’ve heard a lot about the Jade Emperor before, this book helped me understand where the concept came from.

Overall, this book turned out to be much better than I expected. It’s beginner-friendly, not too long, and gives you a good overview without getting bogged down in detail. If you’re curious about Chinese myths and want something that’s easy to read but still interesting, it’s definitely worth checking out.