Editing Chinese mythology (section)

===Major deities===
The concept of a principal or presiding deity has fluctuated over time in Chinese mythology.

====Shangdi====
{{Main|Shangdi}}
Shangdi, also sometimes ''Huángtiān Dàdì'' ({{lang|zh|皇天大帝}}), appeared as early as the [[Shang dynasty]]. In later eras, he was more commonly referred to as ''Huángtiān Shàngdì'' ({{lang|zh|皇天上帝}}). The use of ''Huángtiān Dàdì'' refers to the [[Jade Emperor]] and ''[[Tian]]''.

====Jade Emperor====
{{Main|Jade Emperor}}
Chinese mythology holds that the Jade Emperor was charged with running of the three realms: heaven, hell, and the realm of the living. The Jade Emperor adjudicated and meted out rewards and remedies to saints, the living, and the deceased according to a merit system loosely called the Jade Principles Golden Script ({{lang|zh|玉律金篇}}, ''Yù lǜ jīn piān''). When proposed judgments were objected to, usually by other saints, the administration would occasionally resort to the counsels of advisory elders. The '''Jade Emperor''' appeared in literature after the establishment of [[Taoism]] in China; his appearance as ''Yu Huang'' dates back to beyond the times of [[Yellow Emperor]], [[Nüwa]], or [[Fuxi]].

====Tian====
{{Main|Tian}}
Tian can be either a sky deity by that name or [[Heaven#Chinese faiths|Heaven]] – the Sky itself. Tian appeared in literature c. 700 BCE, possibly earlier as dating depends on the date of the [[Shujing]] (''Book of Documents''). There are no creation-oriented narratives for Tian. The qualities of Tian and Shangdi appear to have merged in later literature and are now worshiped as one entity ("{{lang|zh|皇天上帝}}", Huángtiān Shàngdì) in, for example, the Beijing's [[Temple of Heaven]]. The extent of the distinction between Tian and Shangdi is debated. The sinologist [[Herrlee Creel]] claims that an analysis of the [[Oracle bone|Shang oracle bones]] reveals Shangdi to have preceded Tian as a deity, and that Zhou dynasty authors replaced the term "Shangdi" with "Tian" to cement the claims of their influence.

====Nüwa====
{{Main|Nüwa}}
Nüwa (or Nügua) is considered a mother goddess of Chinese mythology. She was involved in the creation of humanity and repairing the Pillars of Heaven. Nüwa is often depicted as half snake, half human, and is sometimes considered one of the Three Sovereigns, along with her brother and husband [[Fuxi]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Nügua |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100241815 |website=Oxford Reference |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=21 November 2021}}</ref>

====Fuxi====
{{Main|Fuxi}}
Fuxi is the first of the [[Three Sovereigns]]. He created humanity alongside his sister and wife [[Nüwa]], and like her, is depicted as half snake, half human. Fuxi is closely associated with the [[I Ching]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Fuxi |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095839441 |website=Oxford Reference |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=21 November 2021}}</ref>