Dragones, dioses y espiritus de la mitologia china

The World Mythology

by Tao Tao Liu

Drawing extensively on Chinese sources, Sanders has put together a wide-ranging collection, including myths of origin, folktales, dragon and monkey spirit stories, and Buddhist and Taoist tales. The design is less successful than the text selection. In fact, the book looks rather like an encyclopedia, and important figures that appear in the double-page illustrations often disappear into the gutter. Still, since the anthology's aim is comprehensiveness rather than entertainment, the book works, and it will be useful to young people trying to understand or compare a culture through its stories.

Genres: Mythology, Nonfiction, History, Folklore, Reference, Dragons

Hardcover

First published October 28, 1980

Reviews

[7jane]

In need of a reread (I read it in the late 1980s, possibly, but not later than that; it's likely that the translation was made soon after original's release?). I have a Finnish translation. Nice pictures and I remember liking the stories.

[Rosy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard not to fall in love with the simple stories of classic Chinese mythology within the book. Reinforcing old stories I heard throughout my childhood, Liu's has a way of telling these staple legends like a bedtime storybook that just makes me so happy :)

[Renee Royal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, first off, whoever wrote the Goodreads synopsis needs to be fired because Dragons, Gods & Spirits by Tao Sanders is soo much better than that.
The Delivery & Writing Style
Let me start off by saying, I adored this book. I've noticed, as someone living in the West, oriental mythology is honestly kind of hard to come by. As always, when it comes to doing online research, so many accounts contradict or are so 'revamped' that they can hardly be considered mythology anymore or are just completely false. I found Sanders' so-called 'encyclopedia' to be incredibly helpful and entertaining. She (or he? I couldn't find any information on the author) does a good job explaining things that may not make sense to Westerners as the stories go along and the tales aren't overly wordy.
The Content
I feel that Sanders did a good job at choosing tales that were complete and significant enough to be interesting in a book. Also, I think if someone has a problem with the story-telling, I feel that's more due to the topic of the book than the author's skill. It's weird as all hell because that's what mythology is like. The characters are kinda stiff and shallow, some of the character actions don't make sense, and some of the obstacles and villains are just ridiculous but that's what stories told my millions throughout thousands of years are like. No one sat down to polish 'em up and make in-depth characters. If Sanders polished up or changed the stories anymore than she has then it would be an inaccurate depiction of culture, history, and values.
The Format
The art in this book is gorgeous and it makes the reading experience just that much more vivid. Also, Sanders did a good job at breaking up the tales into sensible categories.

Trigger Warnings for Dragons, Gods & Spirits: occasional death ?

[Jalissa Jalissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The description of this book here on Goodreads is completely wrong, but the actual book is wonderful. Beautiful and absolutely a treasure among books of Chinese mythology!

[Noreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does not have the story of the Chinese Zodiac.

It does cover the stories of the Chinese origin of the universe, earth creation and humans and animal interactions.

Page 48 The Chinese Dragons explain the dragon boat and Chinese new year festivals.

Page 60 Buddhist tales: Explains the transfer and adoption of Buddhism in second and third centuries to Chinese interpretation.

The idea of a merciful savior came to China as a male from
India via Tibet. Because mercy was a feminine attribute Avalokitesvara became a female goddess. The Chinese have an ancient story about a princess, Miaoshan, who became Guanyin.

The origin of the mid summer Obon festival (Japanese), explains the Buddhist version of “purgatory and hell”. A Buddhist monk , Lobu (Mulien monk) can’t find his mother in Paradise. He searches for her in 10 realms of hell.Through many prayers his mother is changed from a hungry ghost to a black dog. Chanting for seven days and nights his mother is able to shed her dog skin and become a healthy woman and welcomed into the western paradise.

[Brianna Silva · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book fell into one of my pet-peeves: Dryly-written mythology. But, I appreciated the introduction to a whole new set of stories (Chinese mythology) which were all unfamiliar to me.

[Trudy Ferrer · Rating 5 out of 5]

ever so often a book finds you…

[Allie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Choeyang Lhazom]

This book is just wow

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely captured my attention and imagination as a child. The art is pretty great too.

[Artur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intressant, mest för att den handlar om något så ovanligt som mytologi som varken kommer från medelhavet eller norden. (Även keltisk mytologi går att få tag på om man verkligen anstränger sig, men utöver det är det verkligen svårt att få tag på något. Om du som läser den här recensionen inte håller med, så får du gärna tipsa mig. Jag är intresserad av allt som inte är västeuropeiskt.)

Många av berättelserna är intressanta, men alla känns rätt ihopstressade och förkortade. Speciellt märkbart är det när man läser berättelserna om Kung Markatta. Det står på ett ställe att under deras resa som tar 14 år är de med om 81 olika missöden innan de är klara. Boken tar upp typ 5 (?) av dem. Det är lite som att berätta om Herkules och hans dåd, men bara ta upp att han vid ett tillfälle brottas med ett lejon.

[Karl · Rating 3 out of 5]

We had this series in my house when I was a kid, and I so enjoyed reading them and trying to redraw the pictures. This is great for a ten-year old.

This book is one of the stranger. It is not as packed with adventure as the others, but does contain Chinese sages leaving their bodies during meditation ... and that kind of stuff.

This book is not a child-friendly as the rest.

[Sverre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisitely illustrated with coloured drawings.