Ancient Mythology, Volume II

钟毓龙May 2020

Rating 4.0
Word count
252K words
Chapters
41

Tags

History Books Human GeographyHeroismPopular NarrativeCreation MythsAncient Historical ImaginationAncient StyleCultural ChangeFolk LegendMythological GenealogyOrder Establishment

Summary

1. A complete historical framework of ancient Chinese mythology: from the first beginnings of humankind under Pangu and Youchao, through Fuxi, Nüwa, the Yan Emperor, the Yellow Emperor, Tang Yao, Yu Shun and Yu of Xia, down to the founding of the Xia dynasty—a clear, continuous lineage that forms the only complete system spanning the vast world of ancient myth. 2. Every major event and key topic included: the establishment of ancient rites, marriage ties and order; the timeless geological fantasy of the Yellow River's source; the rise and fall of Tang Yao, Yu Shun and Yu of Xia; the feats of Gun and Yu taming the floods and Kuafu chasing the sun; the troubles wrought by Xiangliu and the Sanmiao; and ancient battles such as Gonggong striking Mount Buzhou and the Yellow Emperor's war with Chiyou—a veritable "encyclopedia of ancient myth." 3. A comprehensive gathering of gods, immortals, hidden realms, strange beasts and spirits: vivid portraits of 281 gods and immortal officials, 632 hidden realms and immortal palaces, 211 kinds of strange beasts and spirits, the customs of the four directions, and the mountains and rivers—combining the all-embracing scope of the Classic of Mountains and Seas with the exploratory delight of Flowers in the Mirror.

Editor's review

The second volume sits at the midpoint of the Ancient Myths series, taking up the beginnings of humankind and the early mythological order and carrying them toward the age of Yao, Shun and Yu; it is a key link in understanding the mythological-historical system Zhong Yulong constructs. This volume is likewise distinguished by its complete genealogy, interweaving the establishment of rites, marriage ties and order with the geological fantasy of the Yellow River's source, ancient battles and feats of flood-taming, so that myth becomes not scattered tales but an "ancient history" with cause and effect. Its gathering of gods and immortal officials, hidden realms and immortal palaces, strange beasts and spirits is considerable in scale, combining the all-embracing scope of the Classic of Mountains and Seas with the exploratory spirit of Flowers in the Mirror. Reading this volume, one can follow the main thread through the rise and fall from the Yan and Yellow Emperors to Yao and Shun, and also feel the spatial sense of the ancient world in the depictions of the customs of the four directions and the mountains and rivers. It works well as a relay point in the series: looking back to the figures and the first creation of order in the previous volume, and laying clues for the founding of the Xia and larger-scale battles in the next. For myth lovers, its value lies in making the "transition" substantial, so that the middle of the genealogy does not feel thin.

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Reading tips

  1. Review the main figures and events of Volume 1 first, then start this volume for a smoother transition
  2. Mark the passages on rites, marriage ties and the establishment of order separately to understand the institutional imagination in myth
  3. Compare this volume's battle accounts with Volume 3 to see how events echo across the same system
  4. Use spare moments to read only the beast and geography entries rather than forcing a straight read-through

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 第四十一回 麒麟之情形·五星坠地·尹寿说天文·羿与逢蒙较射
  3. 第四十二回 尧访许由于箕山及沛泽·长淮水怪·三江之形势·文身风俗之情形
  4. 第四十三回 各方奇异之风俗·帝尧见许由·黄帝问道于广成子·胎息之法
  5. 第四十四回 帝尧游黟山·黟山之风景
  6. 第四十五回 黟山之风景·帝尧遇金道华·兰之可贵
  7. 第四十六回 缙云山黄帝修道·大姥山老母成仙·迷信之谬·海神救人之情形·洪崖仙人漏泄天机
  8. 第四十七回 三苗、狐功设计害帝尧·帝尧严责三苗
  9. 第四十八回 自由恋爱，男女同川而浴·帝尧君臣中蛊·瘴气之情形
  10. 第四十九回 养蛊之情形·苗民跳月之情形·苗民夫妇之情形
  11. 第五十回 盘瓠子孙之状况·人化异物·帝尧师事善卷·帝尧灭西夏国·尧杀长子·尧见四子
  12. 第五十一回 羿射十日·羿与姮娥相见·渠搜国来朝
  13. 第五十二回 洪水来源之理想·黄河成因之理想·黄河命名之理想
  14. 第五十三回 共工受命治河·尧让天下于许由·□□以松子遗尧·獬豸出现·皋陶得喑疾·稷为尧使西见王母
  15. 第五十四回 冯夷服水仙得仙·羿射河伯中左目·羿猎得大兔·逢蒙杀羿
  16. 第五十五回 青鸟使迎迓大司农·西王母性喜樗蒲·神仙与世人不同之情形·东王公之历史
  17. 第五十六回 昆仑山希有大鸟·昆仑山风景·西王母瑶池宴客
  18. 第五十七回 大司农归平阳·帝尧与南蛮战于丹水之浦·欢兜、三苗降服
  19. 第五十八回 帝让天下于巢父·尧以许由为九州长·巢父洗耳，许由作歌·焦侥国来朝·短小人·焦侥国情形
  20. 第五十九回 海人献冰蚕茧·员峤山风景·尧教子朱围棋
  21. 第六十回 尧比神农·华封三祝·柏成子高论劫数
  22. 第六十一回 帝尧开凿尧门山·张果老为尧侍中·蛮蛮鸟出现
  23. 第六十二回 帝尧训大夏，讨渠搜·帝尧缔交狐不谐·尧到西海·贯月槎见神仙
  24. 第六十三回 彭祖祈年·帝尧北巡守·獯鬻之状况· 赤将子舆仙去·帝尧师尹蒲子·康衢老人击壤· 帝尧让位于子州支父
  25. 第六十四回 舜生于诸冯·舜不得于亲·务成子教舜
  26. 第六十五回 仓颉、□卢、梵三人造字· 舜小杖则受，大杖则走·舜兄得狂疾
  27. 第六十六回 务成跗论诸弟子品格·舜初耕历山·舜教其弟象·舜被逐出门
  28. 第六十七回 秦不虚、东不訾赠舜行·舜耕第二历山·舜交灵甫·舜二次被逐
  29. 第六十八回 舜订交方回·治目疾之法·舜师尹寿·舜师蒲衣子
  30. 第六十九回 舜耕第三历山，象耕鸟耘·舜耕第四历山、第五历山·雒陶、伯阳万里访舜·舜耕第六历山
  31. 第七十回 舜三次被逐·做什器于寿丘·舜交续牙·舜四次被逐·学琴于纪后·舜友石户之农
  32. 第七十一回 舜耕第七历山·以德化人·舜遇□敳· 舜贩于顿丘·迁于负夏·师事许由·交北人无择
  33. 第七十二回 历山成都，舜号都君·号泣于□天而作歌·三足乌集庭·渔雷泽交皋陶·元、恺大会集
  34. 第七十三回 帝子朱漫游是好·夸父臣帝子朱·罔水行舟
  35. 第七十四回 帝尧使大司农放子朱于丹渊·迁都太原·伊献献图·水逆行之理想·共工免职·四岳举鲧
  36. 第七十五回 石纽村神禹坼背生·鲧受命治水·窃帝之息壤
  37. 第七十六回 禹师墨如·禹师郁华子·禹受学于西王国·鲧做九仞之城
  38. 第七十七回 舜以陶器化东夷·仰延论瑟·舜耕第八历山·渔于□泽·陶于河滨·舜与禹相遇
  39. 第七十八回 帝尧一日遇十瑞·祗支国贡重明鸟·帝尧梦长人，与之论治·四岳举舜
  40. 第七十九回 舜渔雷泽·耕第九历山·梦击鼓·得玉版受历数·梦眉与发齐·帝尧相攸·舜不告而娶
  41. 第八十回 帝尧降二女于沩□·舜率二女归觐父母

FAQ

What role does Volume 2 play in the series? Volume 2 stands roughly at the midpoint of the mythological-historical system, taking up the beginnings of humankind and the early order and advancing toward the age of Yao, Shun and Yu. It continues the figures and events of the previous volume and sets the stage for the larger flood-taming, warfare and founding of the Xia in the next, making it a key transition for understanding the whole series.
There are so many gods and beasts—do I need to remember them all? No. These entries are more like a searchable "mythological encyclopedia"; in reading, just hold on to the main figures and events. Looking up a god or beast that interests you afterward is actually a better way to form an impression. Treat the book as a system to wander through rather than something to memorize entry by entry.
Which book should I start with as an introduction to myth? For the series as a whole, it is best to begin with Volume 1 in order; if you already have some grounding in ancient myth, Volume 2 can also stand alone, though some character background will be unclear. Complete beginners are best off reading the earlier volume first or learning the main pantheon beforehand.
Are the geography and customs described reliable? These are imaginative geography drawn from myth and ancient legend and should not be read as factual historical geography. Their value lies in presenting the ancients' fantasies and sense of order regarding mountains, rivers and the customs of the four directions; enjoy the imagination while distinguishing them from reliable geographical sources.

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About the author

钟毓龙 Author

Zhong Yulong is an author about whom little is publicly known; his nationality, birth and death years are not clearly documented. Judging from the seven works included in the library, his writing centers mainly on ancient mythology and early history. His representative works are the four-volume "Ancient Mythology" and its separate volumes, along with "Secret History of Antiquity." These works are generally classified under otherworld fantasy, history, and social sciences, reflecting his tendency to draw on myth, legend, and historical narrative. He often uses ancient figures such as Pangu, Nüwa, and the Yellow Emperor as material, unfolding an imaginative picture of remote antiquity. His writing balances storytelling with accessible knowledge, making it suitable for readers interested in mythological genealogies and early history, and it holds some readable value in the field of popular history and mythology.