All about history book of myths and legends. ( PDFDrive )

THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN

Known as the Golden Mother or the Queen

Mother of the West, Xi Wangmu was one of

the most powerful immortals. She heard the

reports of the other immortals after they

returned from visits to Earth. She ruled the

mortal world too, and was able to

bring death, or to grant eternal life

to a person by allowing them to eat

one of the Peaches of Immortality

from her garden. Devotees prayed

to her for a long life, and

women called on her

for good fortune when

they were about to

be married.

BUDDHIST IMMORTALS

For many Buddhists, the spiritual leader of their faith, the

Buddha, is seen as a great human teacher, not as a god.

But, in some forms of Buddhism, a multitude of figures

(including the Buddha himself, and other Buddhas and

Bodhisattvas) attract devotion and worship. In Chinese

popular religion, these figures join the ranks of the

Daoist immortals and are worshipped in temples.

Among the most popular are: Omitofu, Buddha of

the Western Paradise; Da Shi Zhi, the Lord

of Strength and Success; Mile Fu, the

Buddha of the Future; Pilu, the god

of wisdom and embodiment

of Buddhist law; and Guan

Yin, the goddess of mercy.

THE EIGHT IMMORTALS
The Ba Xian, or Eight Immortals, were Daoist scholars and heroes who
achieved immortality due to their devotion to Daoism. They figure in
numerous myths along with the Jade Emperor, flying across clouds,
fighting dragon kings, or defeating evildoers, and also in comic
adventures, such as getting drunk, or setting fire to the sea. Some,
like Han Hsiang Tzun, whose flute was said to give life, were
patrons to musicians; some helped the sick, like Ho Hsien
Ku, a female immortal who carried objects associated with
immortality in her ladle. Chung Li Chuan’s fan could revive
the dead, and Chang Kuo’s castanets prolonged life.

THE IMPERIAL COURT

China had one of the largest and most

complex systems of government in the

ancient world. Hundreds of oicials, each

with a clearly defined job, worked for the

emperor, and these people were chosen

by a competitive examination system.

There was a rigorous hierarchy, with only

key advisers allowed direct access to the

emperor, who would meet them, as well

as foreign oicials, in one of the audience

halls in his palace. In Chinese mythology,

a similar government existed in heaven.

Han Hsiang Tzun

Chung Li Chuan

Chang Kuo Ho Hsien Ku

Audience hall in the Forbidden City, Beijing

THE COURT OF THE JADE EMPEROR

Xi Wangmu

As the controller of life and

death, the mother goddess

Xi Wangmu is often shown

holding one of the

Peaches of Immortality.

Guan Yin

The goddess Guan Yin is known as

the one who watches and listens.

She responds whenever her

devotees call upon her for help.

The Buddha

A prince who renounced the world to

achieve ultimate wisdom, the Buddha

is revered by the Chinese as one of

the greatest of all spiritual teachers.

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