The Transmission of Myths

Name: The Transmission of Myths
ISBN: 9787514333572

Xiao DongfaModern Press · ChinaMay 2025

3.2

Word count: 75K words
Chapters: 34
ISBN: 9787514333572

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Summary

This book covers such content as the giant Pangu splitting heaven from earth, the goddess Nüwa creating humans from clay, and Nüwa smelting stones to mend the sky and end the great flood.

Editor's review

The Transmission of Myths is not a mere collection of mythological tales. Rather, it is a systematic survey by Mr. Xiao Dongfa, from the distinctive perspective of a publisher, of how the Chinese mythological system was transmitted and transformed. The book's greatest value lies in its clear sense of lineage: it is not content to list familiar stories such as Pangu separating heaven and earth or Nüwa creating humanity, but instead probes how these myths evolved from their original orally transmitted forms through successive layers of processing and reshaping in pre-Qin classics, Han-dynasty apocryphal texts, Tang and Song tales of the strange, and Ming and Qing fiction, ultimately becoming what we recognize today. Drawing on his deep grounding in bibliography and publishing history, Mr. Xiao treats myth as a dynamic, fluid \"text,\" meticulously analyzing how the intellectual currents, political needs, and media transformations of different historical periods (from bamboo slips to woodblock printing) profoundly shaped the narrative emphases and character images of myths. The analysis of the transformation of the \"Queen Mother of the West\" is especially compelling: from the ferocious deity with \"leopard tail and tiger teeth\" in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, to the elegant and exalted female immortal in The Inner Biography of Emperor Wu of Han, and further to the Lady Queen Mother of folk belief, revealing myth's tenacious vitality and adaptability as a cultural gene. For readers, this book offers a cognitive framework that goes beyond the stories themselves, helping us understand that myths are not merely the fantasies of ancients but a living heritage carrying a people's collective memory, values, and ways of thinking.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with a deep interest in the cultural origins and evolution of Chinese myths
Students and researchers in literature, history, or publishing
Reflective readers who like to look beyond the surface of stories to explore the causes behind cultural phenomena
Enthusiasts of traditional culture who wish to systematically understand how myths shaped the national spirit

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking only exciting, exotic mythological tales
Readers expecting a comprehensive collection of myths organized by figure or region

Reading tips

It is recommended to read the introduction first to grasp the author's core methodology of 'transmission history,' then proceed through the chapters in order
While reading, compare the myths you already know with the evolutionary processes analyzed in the book to deepen your understanding
The book involves considerable textual and historical background, so it may help to read at a slower pace or consult relevant materials for support

About the publisher

Modern Press China · Founded in 1982

Founded in 1982, Modern Press is a Chinese publisher that serves general readers across a diverse range of subjects. Judging from its catalog, its publishing focuses on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, psychological research and application, popular science, and modern poetry, along with history, biography, and children's books. The Book of Songs, the illustrated vernacular edition of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, The Complete Poems of Dai Wangshu, and Buddhism in the Vegetable Roots reflect efforts to make traditional culture and poetry accessible; works by Carl Gustav Jung such as The Development of Personality and Understanding Your Psychological Type, together with titles from the Ivy International Education Alliance, show sustained attention to psychology and educational reading; and Stephen Hawking's works and the illustrated two-volume Brief History of Everything and A Brief History of Time indicate a commitment to popular science. Its authors include figures such as Qu Wanli, Xu Ke, Dai Wangshu, and Jung, and its publishing emphasizes retelling classics and accessible, illustrated presentation. Because public information is limited, this summary is based only on the titles in our catalog.

版权信息
序言
洪荒演义——上古神话
巨人盘古开天辟地
女神女娲抟土造人
女娲炼石补天消除洪灾
夸父追日的英雄壮举
小鸟精卫衔石填海
大羿射九日为民除害
伏羲开创中华文明
神农尝百草解救苍生
黄帝大战蚩尤统一中原
佛法无边 ——佛教神话
文殊菩萨降龙恩泽于民
普贤菩萨行德教化众生
观音菩萨救父感天动地
观音菩萨慈悲普度众生
地藏菩萨行宏大誓愿
布袋和尚化缘教化民间
道法通天——道教神话
老子出关中紫气东来
张道陵传道扬善抑恶
八仙渡海各显广大神通
善良麻姑种仙桃献寿
钟馗捉鬼驱除世间妖邪
人间宏愿——民间神话
玉皇大帝统御十方三界
西王母瑶池种长生蟠桃
天上三星与人间福禄寿
财神乐善好施扶持百姓
灶神督察人间是非善恶
土地爷施恩德庇佑众生
门神驱邪辟鬼守家平安
城隍消灾免祸赐福民间

FAQ

What is the difference between this book and Yuan Ke's Chinese Myths and Legends?

Mr. Yuan Ke's work focuses on the organization, reconstruction, and literary narration of the mythological system—a classic study of 'myth proper.' Mr. Xiao Dongfa's The Transmission of Myths, by contrast, emphasizes 'communication studies' and 'bibliographic' perspectives; its core is the study of how myth as a 'text' was recorded, adapted, disseminated, and fixed over the course of history. The two perspectives are complementary.

Is the book highly academic? Can ordinary readers understand it?

The book has a solid scholarly foundation and is richly documented, but the author's style is clear and his arguments well organized, without excessive use of obscure terminology. As long as the reader has some interest in traditional culture, ordinary readers can fully follow the author's reasoning and gain new insights. It is more like a learned guide taking you behind the scenes of myth transmission.

Is this book suitable as an introductory book for understanding Chinese myths?

It is not quite suitable as an absolute first introduction. It is better read after the reader already knows the outlines of some major myths, so as to better understand the 'evolution' analyzed in the book. It is advisable first to build a basic impression through some classic collections of mythological stories, then read this book to elevate one's level of understanding.

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About the author

Xiao Dongfa Author · China · 1949–2016

Xiao Dongfa (1949–2016), whose ancestral home was Tianjin and who was born in Shenyang, was a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, and director of its Institute of Modern Publishing. An important scholar in editing and publishing studies, he focused on the history of Chinese books, publishing history, and yearbook studies. He edited the History of Chinese Editing and Publishing and Chinese Libraries of Book Collecting, and led the National Social Science Fund key project A General History of Chinese Publishing, laying a solid foundation for the organization and narration of Chinese publishing history. Beyond academic writing, he attended to Peking University's institutional history and humanistic traditions, writing works such as Character: From the Imperial University to Old Peking University, Exemplars: Former Residences and Anecdotes of Peking University Notables, and Scenes: Yanyuan Landscapes and Cultural Heritage, which recount campus memories and personal stories with warmth. His works also touch on the four treasures of the study, garden architecture, and academic writing standards. Some 491 of his titles are held in the library, spanning language and culture, biography, and architecture, and combining scholarly rigor with accessible readability.