{"product_id":"chinese-mythology-explained-james-wottford-9798240955808","title":"Chinese Mythology Explained: A Complete Beginner's Guide to the Jade Emperor, the Monkey King, and the Myths of Ancient China","description":"Chinese mythology surrounds us in films, novels, video games, art, and festivals, but for most newcomers it can feel like a maze of unfamiliar names and tangled stories.\u003cp\u003eThat gap leaves many readers confused. Myths get reduced to surface references, festivals look like empty ritual, and the deeper values behind the stories stay hidden. The result is missed meaning and missed connection with one of the world's oldest cultural traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis guide solves that problem. It offers a clear, organized journey through the essential myths of ancient China, written specifically for beginners. Step by step, it untangles the gods, heroes, and beasts and shows how they fit together into a single, coherent tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInside, you will explore the creation of the cosmos, the heavenly bureaucracy led by the Jade Emperor, and the dramatic adventures of Sun Wukong in Journey to the West. You will meet powerful goddesses such as Guanyin and the Queen Mother of the West, decode the symbolism of dragons, phoenixes, and qilin, and walk through the underworld and the realm of spirits. You will also see how Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism shaped these myths, and how the stories live on in festivals, proverbs, and modern media.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach chapter is built for clarity, with profiles, timelines, comparisons, and practical takeaways that make complex material easy to absorb. The focus stays on the classic, widely recognized myths, grounded in ancient texts and historical sources rather than modern invention.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis guide is for curious readers, students, travelers, and fans of fantasy and folklore who want a trustworthy starting point. No background in Chinese history or religion is needed. By the end, you will be able to recognize and interpret Chinese mythological references in literature, art, festivals, and everyday life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBegin your journey into the gods, heroes, and legends of ancient China today.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e James Wottford\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798240955808\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e No Fluff Publishing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/14\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 116\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.36lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.24d","brand":"James Wottford","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48997861294335,"sku":"9798240955808","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/chinese-mythology-explained-james-wottford-9798240955808","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}