# Myths and Legends of China

**Author:** E. Werner
**Tags:** Legends, Tales, Mythology, Chinese, China
**Price:** Free
**Formats:** DOCX, EPUB, FB2, PDF, TXT
**Downloads:** 32
**Added:** 10.07.2026
**URL:** https://samolit.com/books/95920

## Description

First published in 1922, this classic study by E. T. C. Werner draws together the rich store of Chinese myth and legend into a single accessible volume. Werner drew upon material readily available to him as a member of the Chinese government's Historiographical Bureau in Peking, and, as a former barrister and British consul in Foochow, presents a wealth of information illuminating the ideas and beliefs that governed the daily lives of the Chinese people long before modern upheavals reshaped the nation. Beginning with an overview of Chinese society and the nature of its mythological tradition, the book moves through cosmogony and the creation of the world before turning to the vast pantheon of Chinese deities. Werner's text considers the gods of China and myths of stars, thunder, lightning, wind and rain, of water and fire, of epidemics, medicine, and exorcism, alongside beloved figures such as the goddess of mercy and various guardian spirits. Blending careful scholarship with vivid storytelling, this enduring reference remains a valuable gateway into the folklore, religion, and imagination of traditional China.