If we go back as far as four-thousand years, we will find there the evidences of Chinese mythology in abundance.

In China the 'real' is woven so closely to 'myth' that they are often quite inseperable. Persons of historical import are many times the subject of hero-worship to the point of being thought of as gods, and myths are often told as though they were factually true. Also, the major religions of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism have done their parts in molding the mythology of China.

Result? A very concentrated 'tapestry' of persons and places, fables and stories, real and imagined as well as a singular pantheon which mirrors the world of the ancient Chinese.

If we are speaking of history, we know that China is clearly as old as four-thousand years in a definite succession of historical happenings, and the mythological evidence is, of course, even older. The people called the "Xia" were dominant in the time span reaching 2000 to 1500 B.C. They were snake-worshippers--an animal also found throughout the mythological sources, until it morphed, in the stories, (eventually) into the familiar oriental icon of the dragon.

Beginning around 1500 B.C. the Shang Dynasty rose to power in China. It was at this time that a sort of pantheism was most prevelant, with the natural elements (fire, water, sun, moon, mountains and clouds) being elevated to godlike status. To this day the god "Shang Di" is still revered as for his power, by some worshippers.

A major shift in focus came about around 1066 B.C. with the advent of the Zhou Dynasty--while the ancient pantheon of gods was still retained, a new devotion known as 'ancestor worship' began to evolve. This new religious element came about partly through the influence of the two major beliefs of Taoism and Confucianism which arose during the tail-end of the Zhou period. Both Taoism and Confucianism are considered cornerstones of religious belief in China up to the present time.

Unfortunate for historians of Chinese mythology was the loss of many original sources in 213 B.C. when a book-burning emperor named Shi Huangdi had all non-medicinal, prophetic or agricultural accounts destroyed. Even though this decree was reversed in 191 B.C. it was not fully effective in restoring the original texts, (which were re-written in the light of the 'then-influencial' court political interests.)

Just prior to 100 A.D. the advent of Buddhism to China affected the course of mythological history when Buddhism entered into the Chinese mind along with the already present Taoism and Confucian beliefs. Indeed, it was a real 'melting-pot' of religions, with temples and icons, rituals and practises all incorporated together.

In truth Confucianism is largely thought of as a philosophy and not as a true religion. There are no gods or myths associated with it and it's central focus is the 'here-and-now' world of human social interactions. Ancestors are the closest things in Confucianism to 'gods' or supernatural beings, and the respect for family values and elders is highly important in the philosophy.

Confucious himself was born into a family which, although poor, was of aristocratic blood, in the year 551 B.c. A teacher by trade, he eventually rose to a governement position. His philosophy likewise is instrumental in creating individuals who can best excel in the government by following Confucian precepts of self-knowledge and self-improvement.

Chinese mythology, after his death, filled-in his known biography with typical fabled stories of dragons at his birth and a unicorn who "spit out a piece of jade with a prophecy written on it..." proclaiming his future greatness.

The basic Confucian principle is the goal of living in harmony with "the Way (in Chinese the Tao) of Heaven" by conscientiously living in accord with one's position in society, whatever that may be. The worship of ancestors is best performed by the observance of rites. The failure to perform them in preciseness and exactitude can lead to misfortune and bad luck.

Co-existent with Confuciansim were the beginnings of Taoism. The religious roots of Taoism began in nature worship, back in the mists of history. The word Tao itself, is most often translated as 'the way'. In other words, a 'way of heaven' that is a kind of natural, intuitive workings of the world that a person can understand by living in harmony or 'as one' with nature. Also, by truly understanding and living by this 'way' it is thought one can live longer, and even eternally.

When the world was still young, there were ten suns. Each took a turn being pulled through the sky in the chariot of their mother, goddess of the sun. One day, however, the ten suns decided to travel across the sky together. They greatly enjoyed their journey, but it brought disaster on the earth, destroying crops and drying up streams. Dijun, the father of the suns, felt sorry for humans and told his children to behave, but they would not listen. So Dijun sent Yi, a great archer, to earth with a magic bow and arrows to frighten his children into behaving. When Yi realized that neither threats nor persuasion would stop the suns, he shot his arrows into the sky and began killing them. After he finished shooting, only one sun remained—the one that travels through the sky today.

China saw the influx of Buddhism occur between 50 B.C. and 50 A.D., some hundreds of years after the previous two religions of Taoism and Confucianism. Basic to Buddhism is the idea hat all suffering and pain originates from desire. It is only by getting rid of desire that humans can achieve true happiness.

Siddhartha Gautama, an Indian royal Prince was the originator of Buddhism. Siddhartha was of the same historic era as Lao tzu and Confucious and like them, to some extent, he was a seeker after Truth and to this end he left his kingly inheritance to pursue his journey to find the end of suffering. When he found it he was then known as The Buddha or "enlightened one".

All Buddhists believe that humans live numerous lifetimes and are constantly reincarnated after death. Actions are important during life, and are called one's 'karma'. The quality of one's karma decides the type of rebirth one will have. To be free of this cycle of rebirth, one must achieve what the state of Nirvana.

The Chinese people embraced the message of Buddhism, in particular it's promise of a new life, since so many of them lived as peasants without much hope or happiness in this life they found themselves in. The elaboration of Buddhism in China by way of merging the rites of Confucian practise and Taoist gods, helped to smooth the way for Buddhism to be accepted by large numbers of devotees

A number of common motifs reappear through the course of Chinese mythology. The Creation of the World from Chaos is one of the most vital to the Chinese world-view, since it includes the elements of devotion to ancestors.