Editing Chinese mythology (section)

===Literary sources===
{{Further|Chinese literature|Burning of books and burying of scholars}}

Various Chinese literature addresses the subject area of Chinese mythology. In some cases, some preservation of mythology occurs, either deliberately or incidentally. In other cases, the mythology inspires literary works which are not strictly of a mythological nature, for example works of fiction, didactic works of philosophy, or, more modernly, computer games and the names associated with Chinese explorations into outer space, the deep ocean, or the north and south polar regions. Approaching a rough organization of the topic of literature relating to Chinese mythology may be chronologic. The early textual materials mainly survive from the later [[Zhou dynasty]]; that is, Eastern Zhou, from about 450 to 221 BCE. Although these texts are relatively less editorial treated than some later texts, they are not the same as the original pre-literary myths. The next major period of textual sources for Chinese mythology dates from the start of the [[Qin dynasty]] (221 BCE), through the end of the [[Han dynasty]] (220 CE), and continuing through the end of the subsequent periods of disunity (581 CE).  The surviving texts from this era often reflect evolution of the mythological substratum. Beginning with the establishment of the [[Sui dynasty]] and continuing through the subsequent [[Tang dynasty]], [[Song dynasty]], and [[Ming dynasty]] (ended 1644). During this period Chinese mythology developed into what now may be considered to be its traditional form. The Song literature is particularly valuable for the often verbatim transcriptions of mythological material from otherwise unpreserved earlier sources.{{sfn|Birrell|1993|pp=19–20}} In modern times, Chinese mythology has both become the subject of global study and inspiration, including popular culture.

====''Chuci'' and poetry sources====
{{Further|Chuci}}

Some information on Chinese mythology is found in the verse poetry associated with the ancient state of [[Chu (state)|Chu]] such as "[[Li Sao|Lisao]]", "[[Jiu Ge]]", and "[[Heavenly Questions]]", contained in the ''[[Chuci]]'' anthology, traditionally attributed to the authorship of [[Qu Yuan]] of [[Chu (state)|Chu]]. The ''Chuci'' (together with some of its commentaries) in the form known today was compiled during Han, but contains some older material, dating back at least to the waning days of the [[Zhou dynasty]] (the [[Warring States period]]), prior to the 221 BCE defeat of [[Chu (state)]] during the rise of the [[Qin dynasty]]. Later poetic sources also address this mythology as a continuation of this poetic tradition, for example, [[Tang poetry]].{{sfn|Hawkes|2011|p=28}}

====Zhou dynasty literature====
{{further|Five Classics}}
Some information can be found in the Confucian Classics, such as the ''[[Shijing]]'' and ''[[Yijing]]'', and other Zhou dynasty era material, especially ''[[Book of Rites]]'', but also the ''[[Lüshi Chunqiu]]''. The ''[[Book of Documents]]'' contains some Chinese myths.

====Literature of Qin-Han to Sui====

=====Han dynasty=====
The [[Han dynasty]] existed from 206 BCE – 220 CE (with a brief intermission separating it into two halves). Han was preceded by the short-lived [[Qin dynasty]], 221 to 206 BC, which has some important surviving literature. In the Qin and Han periods, besides the ''Chuci'', useful historical documents include the ''[[Records of the Grand Historian]]'', completed by Han historian [[Sima Qian]] before his death in about 220 CE. Legends were passed down for over a thousand years before being written in books such as ''[[Classic of Mountains and Seas]]'' (''Shanhaijing''), basically a [[gazetteer]] mixing known and mythological geography. Another major Han source on mythology is the ''[[Huainanzi]]''.

=====Post-Han, pre-Sui disunity period=====
The mythologically relevant book ''[[Soushen Ji]]'' dates to the [[Jin dynasty (266–420)]], during the [[Sixteen Kingdoms]] era. Also known as ''[[In Search of the Supernatural]]'' and ''A Record of Researches into Spirits'', it is a 4th-century compilation of stories and hearsay concerning spirits, ghosts, and supernatural phenomena, some of which being of mythological importance, including a "great deal" of pre-Han mythological narrative.{{sfn|Birrell|1993|pp=41–42}}

====Sui, Tang, and Ming====

=====Tang dynasty=====
The [[Tang dynasty]] had a flourishing literature, including prose and poetry involving mythological content. One important, partially-surviving work is ''[[Duyizhi]]'' by Li Rong.

=====Song dynasty=====
Surviving [[Song dynasty]] literature informative on Chinese mythology includes the
encyclopedic work known as ''[[Taiping Yulan]]''.

====Vernacular novels and new media====
[[File:Long Corridor-通天河.jpg|thumb|Xuanzang, Monkey King, and companions riding mythological turtle across a river as depicted on a Long Corridor mural, Beijing, China]]
{{Further|Classic Chinese Novels|Zhiguai xiaoshuo|Chuanqi (short story)|Gods and demons fiction}}

Some myths were passed down through oral traditions literature, and art, such as theater and song before being recorded as novels. One example is ''[[Epic of Darkness]]''.  Books in the ''[[Gods and demons fiction|shenmo]]'' genre of [[Written vernacular Chinese|vernacular fiction]] revolve around gods and monsters. Important [[mythic fiction|mythological fiction]] which allude to these myths, include ''[[Investiture of the Gods|Fengshen Bang]]'' (''Investiture of the Gods''), a mythological fiction dealing with the founding of the [[Zhou dynasty]]; ''[[Journey to the West]]'' attributed to [[Wu Cheng'en]], published in the 1590s, a fictionalized account of the pilgrimage of [[Xuanzang]] to [[India]] to obtain [[Buddhist]] religious texts in which the main character and his companions such as [[Sun Wukong]] encounter ghosts, monsters, and demons, as well as the [[Flaming Mountains]]; and, ''[[Baishe Zhuan]]'' (''Madame White Snake''), a romantic tale set in [[Hangzhou]] involving a female snake who attained human form and fell in love with a man. ''[[Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio]]'', by [[Pu Songling]] contains many stories of [[Huli jing|fox spirits]], and other phenomena. Another example is ''[[Zi Bu Yu]]'', a collection of supernatural stories compiled during the Qing dynasty.

==== Literary genres ====
{{Further|Gods and demons fiction}}

Certain genres of literature are notable for dealing with themes from mythology or tales of the supernatural; for example, the [[Zhiguai]] ({{lang|zh|誌怪}}) literary genre that deals with strange (mostly supernatural) events and stories.

====India====
The literature of India contains material about Chinese mythology, due to the influence of textual sources imported into China, and translated into Chinese and the ideas widely adopted by Chinese people. This was primarily in regard to Buddhist texts, containing [[Buddhist mythology]] from the area in and around the area now known as India. Some Hindu material may have been more directly imported.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}