The warring dynasties, the mysteries of the mountains, the relentless cycle of the seasons, and the quixotic nature of the skies all contributed to the many myths of ancient China, told in the villages and spread along the trading routes from province to province. Indeed, the tales of Chinese mythology reflect the vast landscapes of China, where distant mountains, and long, winding rivers dominated the sight-lines of ancient peoples. History, religion, philosophy and mythology were intertwined in the observations of immortal tricksters and spirits who dwell in clouds dealing out magical acts of kindness and chaos. This collection, with a new introduction by Hin Ming Frankie Chik, features Creation Myths, Tales of the Five Emperors, Myths of the Stars, Myths of the Waters, Myths of Fire, and more.


Hin Ming Frankie Chik (Introduction) is currently Visiting Lecturer of Pre-modern Chinese Literature at the University of Pittsburgh. He studies primarily Chinese thought and history, and also works in related areas such as the religious history of China and the reception history of pre-modern Chinese literature. He is now working on his monograph, in which he examines an understudied dictionary-like collection, Erya, and the idea of Confucian cultural assimilation.


Flame Tree Collector's Editions present the foundations of speculative fiction: authors, myths, tales and history without which the imaginative literature of the twentieth century would not exist, bringing the best, most influential and most fascinating works into a striking and collectable library. Each book features a new Introduction and a Glossary of Terms or lists of Ancient Leaders.

Introduction by: Hin Ming Frankie Chik