Myths and legends can be seen to represent a repository of the wisdom and imagination of our ancestors. Chinese Myths and Legends introduces the stories of deities, heroes and the origins of the universe that underpin the spirit of traditional Chinese culture. Utilising a variety of ancient Chinese sources, Chen Lianshan examines the origin and development of myths and legends in China, including both well-known and less familiar traditions, and compares these traditions to the mythology of the ancient western world.