Mythology

Chinese mythology contains a variety of stories that have been in the history and culture of China for centuries. They have been preserved and passed down to newer generations in the form of written text and oral stories told by the elders to the younger children of the culture. The earliest known Chinese mythology dates back to 1200 B.C. with many of those original stories still being told today.

There is plenty of religion to be found in Chinese Mythology with much of it embracing the concepts of Confucianism and Taoism. There are many different versions of the same story in Chinese mythology though. This is because most people passed along the version that carried their own religious beliefs along with it to give it more personal meaning.

Of all the gods in Chinese mythology the Jade Emperor is the one most recognized. He is known in Chinese mythology as the leader of both Heaven and Earth. He has the final say over the rulings of the gods, the humans, and the animals. Yet he is known as a fair and kind ruler with a wrath that shows no mercy against those who have participated in evil.

Most of us are comfortable quite familiar with the twelve animals of the Chinese year. The mythology behind this is the story that while the Jade Emperor ruled both Heaven and Earth he had never been to Earth. He really wanted to see the animals so he invited them to come visit him in Heaven. The story goes that the cat was very excited to go and the rat was to wake him for the big event. However the rat was afraid the Jade Emperor would find him ugly compared to the cat.

The Jade Emperor was very happy to meet all of the animals. To thank them for coming to meet him he divided up the year honoring them. The cat didn’t get any part of the year because he didn’t come. The story says this is way cats and rats do not get along today. Cats still remember the fate that was bestowed upon them because of the rat and it has not been forgiven after all this time.