7 Chinese monsters and their legends

Chinese mythical monsters and creatures have captured the imagination of anyone who has already seen a film or read Chinese literature. Chinese mythology has many magical creatures with supernatural powers. They can be good or nasty, beautiful or repugnant, giant or tiny. The variety of these creatures is immense and fascinating. They are all very interesting parts of Chinese culture and have amazing folk stories to accompany each creature. Immerse yourself with us in the heart of Chinese mythology and discover 7 Chinese monsters and their legends.

1. Dragon

Chinese dragons are very common legendary creatures in Chinese folklore. In China, dragons are generally represented as long four -legged serpentine creatures. Chinese dragons traditionally represent powerful powers and auspicious, and symbolize water and precipitation. The dragon is also a symbol of good fortune and a sign of intense power; This is why the Emperor of China generally used the dragon as a symbol of its imperial power.

In Chinese culture, there are many types of dragons. Most of them are courageous, powerful, insightful, invincible, intelligent and concerned about human beings. They are responsible for wind, thunder, rain, rivers, seas and lakes on earth. So they have the control All water on earth!

The Kings Dragons (Long Wang)

The four kings dragons are the Divine sovereigns Oceans, which control time and bring the rain. As he suits kings, each of them has a royal court and commands an army of ocean creatures. Dragons kings appear many times in classical literature. Their magic powers go far beyond time control, since they can appear in the form of a dragon, man or even huge jets of water! Even today, sanctuaries Throughout China honor the Kings Dragons and travelers are looking for their favors during new trips. It is however preferable to stay on the bright side of the Dragons kings, because many stories speak of their desire to cause droughts, storms and floods.

Azure Dragon (Qing Long)

The eastern azure dragon is one of China's most famous dragons. Being part of Four constellations, it can be seen in the night sky alongside the southern vermilion bird, the white tiger of the west and the black turtle of the north. The azure dragon has the reputation of protecting, in Chinese literature. It is associated in spring andwood element. The day the azure dragon "raises his head" (when the constellation becomes visible) has become popular as a favorable day to have the hair cut.

Yellow Dragon (Huang Long)

The yellow dragon is the dragon that symbolizes The Emperor as well as the center of the four directions. It is sometimes said that it is the reincarnation of the'eyellow, the yellow dragon would have sprang from a river to present the elements of writing to the Emperor Fu XI, the first mythical emperor of China. The affection of the yellow dragon for the emperors (having been emperor in a previous life) transformed it into a symbol for the imperial family, and the famous dragon without horns appears as a reason in the architecture of the Forbidden. The royal association with yellow has become so strong that, for a certain time, only the emperor and his family were allowed to wear this color. When people think of auspicious dragons, including the Chinese zodiac dragon, it is the dragon that comes to mind.

2. Phoenix (Fenghuang)

Fenghuang, or the Phoenix, is one of the four famous Chinese mythical creatures. It symbolizes the sun, heat, summer and harvest. It is said that Fenghuang was born from fire and is considered the emperor of all birds. A couple of male and female femuang together is the symbol of eternal love. In Chinese mythology, it is an immortal bird whose rare appearance would be an omen harmonious When climbing the throne of a new emperor. Fenghuang is often considered to sign both male and female elements, harmony yin-yang ; Its name is a combination of Feng words representing the masculine and Huang the feminine.

The Phoenix is ​​a large bird colored with a miraculous power, whose feather constitutes five Chinese characters: virtue, righteousness, courtesy, benevolence and faith. He never lives in a group, nor goes to dirty and chaotic places. During the reigns of the Yellow Emperor (Huáng Dì) and King Shun, we had noticed that a phoenix had appeared in the secular world, to show the excellent governance and the peaceful world that these kings brought to people. The kings of the Shang dynasty also believed that they were the descendants of Phoenix. Gradually, the phoenix was used exclusively by women of the royal family, in particular the queen. Today, he is the representative of beautiful, courageous and intelligent women of Chinese culture.

3. Pixiu

According to Chinese mythology, Pixiu is represented as a kind of winged lion With a dragon head and tail, and a lion body. He flies in the sky, keeping the sky day and night. We also consider him a kind of "fierce stupid"And it is used as a term to designate a powerful and invincible army. The legendary Yellow emperor recruited the fiercest animals in his army in the war against the Emperor Yan. In classic texts, the pixiu is therefore often used as a metaphor for a powerful army.

But folklore also talks about the pixiu defecating on the soil of the heavenly court. To punish the creature, the Jade Emperor sealed the anus of the Pixiu so that he can only eat but never defecate. The pixiu is supposed to walk by devouring evil spirits and demons and converting their essence into gold and treasure, which he must keep in his belly forever. This explains the reputation of the Pixiu aswealth provider.

As a creature of Chinese mythology among the most beneficial, the statues of the pixiu once stood at the doors of the old cities and palaces as guards. Nowadays, we see the pixiu more often in the form of small pendants of jade suspended to mirrors or worn as jewelry to wear luck. Even today, those who want fortune and protection carry or place a pixiu -shaped decoration nearby.

4. Qilin

Qilin, a legendary animal From ancient China, was called "benevolent beast" in antiquity. It was the symbol of good fortune. This animal has the body of the momentum, the lion's head, the deer horn, the eyes of the tiger and the tail of the beef.

According to Chinese folklore, there was once a couple who had been trying for a long time to have a baby. One night, an qilin rushed to them, spit in his mouth a silk, with the words "he had the character and the capacities of a monarch, but unfortunately, he was not born in the royal family" written on the fabric. This message announced the future greatness of their unborn child. The next day, when Qilin disappeared, Confucius, a great Chinese philosopher was born. We therefore think that Qilin is a symbol of chance, good omen, protection and fertility, that's why we often use it as lucky When you bring a baby to a family.

Qilin, qi designating men and linen designating women, is always considered one of the most lucky and happiest in China's mythical creatures. Qilin is beautiful, sweet, powerful and never attacks people. People believe that qilin can overcome unluckiness, and bring pretty babies to couples who prayed to have one. It is therefore widely used in decoration and clothes, to pray for intelligence, longevity, happiness, good fortune or beautiful babies.

5. Nian

According to the old Chinese legend, in antiquity, there was a fierce monster Named "Nian" to the teeth and sharp horns, with a huge head, sharp claws, has the shape of a lion. Islanding itself for a long time in the Black Sea, the beast went to the firm land at the end of the lunar year and chased men and livestock. Thus, each time before the New Year, all the villagers fled in distant mountains to avoid Nian's attack. Things took another turn when all the inhabitants began to take refuge in the mountains, the village welcomed a strange old man. With silver hair and shiny and piercing eyes, he was a beggar, walking with a stick. Drunned in a large panic, the villagers closed their doors and their windows and have packaged their food. Everything was in the middle of chaos, and no one cared about the newcomer.

A grandmother in the east of the village came to see the old man and gave him food. She repeated the terror of the Nian monster and the persuada of run away with other people. However, the old man remained calm and slowly smoothed his mustache, asking to stay one night in the old woman's house, and he would expel the beast of prey as a reward. The grandmother was not completely convinced of her promise, and she continued her persuasion. However, the old man did not change an opinion and, having no other choice, the woman left and fled alone in the mountains.

At midnight, the monster ends up entering the village, but he felt the subtle change of atmosphere: while the whole village was in total darkness, the house in the East was enlightened. Slowly approaching the house, he found all the doors and windows stuck with red papers and many lit candles inside the house. The beast was shaking and shouted, looking at all strange things. Taken in rage and panic, she rushed to the front door. At this precise moment, a strong crack broke into the courtyard, intimidating Nian not to dare to approach. The front door opened in a flash, and the old man came out in a red dress, laughing with laughter. The Nian monster was seriously frightened, vanishing in the dark night.

The next day, the villagers returned to their tribe, surprised to see that the village was intact. At that time, the old grandmother understood that Nian's departure came from the promise of the old man. She hastened to go see the other villagers and spoke to them about the beggar's commitment. Eager to verify the truth, all the people flocked to the old grandmother and they found the red papers On doors and windows, candles In the house and bamboos not burned in the courtyard. Soon, the villagers were lit by the truth: the baking bamboo, the crackles, the red color and the bright light were magical keys to frightening the monster.

Thus, with each Christmas Eve New Year, People stuck red spring versions, lit candles, burned bamboo and later made fireworks to keep all the bad minds away. The whole village and the city were illuminated and people were standing to welcome the new year.

6. Taotie

Taotie is a mysterious monster in Chinese culture. The monster was very greedy and ate everything he saw and even his own body. His image is therefore only a big head and a large mouth without body. The taotie ate too much and died. He then became the symbol of eager.

7. The nine tails (Jiu Wei Hu)

THE Chinese myths On the minds of the nine tails have spread to Vietnam, Korea and Japan, and the fox mind stories abound in all these cultures.

In China, Renard's mind (Jiu Wei Hu) is a skillful metamorph, Jiu Wei Hu is a kind of fox with a beautiful white and nine tails that howls like a newborn and eat people. The first legends speak of foxes intelligent that hide deep in the mountains where they study and practice Taoist magic in order to reach immortality. The more they acquire wisdom, the more they grow tails, and after a thousand years, the most skillful fox spirits grow new tails and become immortal. They can take the form of any human, man, woman, old or young although their very touching tail often betrays them. The idea that metamorphs are frustrated by their tail is a recurring theme in Chinese myths. The monkey king, for example, perhaps the most skillful metamorph of all, always has trouble knowing what to do with his tail during his transformations.

Our article is coming to an end, we hope you learned more about the Chinese mythology monsters. We treated during this article 7 creatures but Chinese mythology is very rich and there are many others with equally epic and interesting legends that will not fail to be told soon on our blog.