Explore Ancient Chinese Myths!: With 25 Great Projects

By Anita Yasuda and Tom Casteel

Who is the lady who floated to the moon? Did a monkey really hatch from an egg? Did tears bring down the Great Wall of China? Does the sky rest on the legs of a turtle?

In Explore Ancient Chinese Myths! With 25 Projects, readers ages 7 to 10 soar on a journey through ancient China to learn about history, geography, science, and art through stories that have been told and retold for thousands of years. They learn the tales of past heroes and wise kings, brave goddesses and gods who brought riches, rain, and immortality. Then there are the gods who taught people how to live by sharing their knowledge of agriculture, writing, music, and math. The myths and legends told by the ancient Chinese that have survived into modern times showcase the ingenuity and passion that this culture has applied to problem solving and cultural expression.

Through the 25 hands-on projects, kids will have fun and gain a deeper understanding of ancient Chinese myths. Projects include making mooncakes, writing in Chinese, designing a New Year’s story board game, and observing the stars. Exploring myths and legends is also a way to discover how ancient China is still impacting the world today through inventions such as fireworks, silk, paper, and printing. In addition, kids will be invited to think about how Chinese culture is similar or different from their life today. By combining social studies and literature with activities, fun facts, jokes, and cartoons, Explore Ancient Chinese Myths offers the opportunity to discover Ancient China through myths and legends.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nomad Press
• Release date: Nov 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781619306097

Anita Yasuda

Anita Yasuda is the author of more than one hundred books for children. She lives with her family and her dog in Huntington Beach, California.

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ISBN Softcover: 978-1-61930-611-0

ISBN Hardcover: 978-1-61930-607-3

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CONTENTS

Timeline

Introduction

Let’s Explore Chinese Myths!

Chapter 1

The Land and People of China

Chapter 2

Teachers and Traditions

Chapter 3

Deities and Daily Life

Chapter 4

Arts, Music, and Festivals

Chapter 5

Inventions and Influence

Glossary * Resources

Essential Questions * Index

Interested in primary sources? Look for this icon.

Use a smartphone or tablet app to scan the QR code and explore more! You can find a list of URLs on the Resources page.

If the QR code doesn’t work, try searching the Internet with the Keyword Prompts to find other helpful sources.

KEYWORD PROMPTS

TIMELINE

Historians divide Chinese history into blocks. These blocks are called dynasties. A dynasty is named after the ruling family.

C. 2070 TO 1600 BCE XIA DYNASTY

A man called Yu is said to have controlled a great flood.

1600 TO 1050 BCE SHANG DYNASTY

Chinese writing develops.

1046 TO 256 BCE ZHOU DYNASTY

The philosophies of Daoism and Confucianism begin.

475 TO 221 BCE WARRING STATES PERIOD

Qin Shihuang starts the Chinese empire.

206 BCE TO 220 CE HAN DYNASTY

Buddhism reaches China.

220 TO 265 THREE KINGDOMS

Construction of long canals makes travel easier.

265 TO 618 PERIOD OF DISUNION

The Chinese experience innovations in poetry, calligraphy, and other arts.

618 TO 907 TANG DYNASTY

The golden age of art and learning begins.

907 TO 960 FIVE DYNASTIES PERIOD

Printing is done with wooden blocks.

960 TO 1279 SONG DYNASTY

Poetry, science, and mathematics flourish.

1279 TO 1368 YUAN DYNASTY

Mongol ruler Kublai Khan founds the Yuan dynasty.

1368 TO 1644 MING DYNASTY

The important novel, Journey to the West, is written.

1644 TO 1911 QING DYNASTY

Under the last imperial dynasty in China, the empire of the Manchus grows to include areas of Central Asia, Tibet, and Siberia.

1912

The Republic of China replaces the last dynasty.

1949

The Republic of China is defeated by the communist People’s Liberation Army in the Chinese Civil War and retreats to Taiwan. The Communist Party establishes the People’s Republic of China in Beijing.

Note that many early dates are approximate.

INTRODUCTION

LET’S EXPLORE CHINESE MYTHS!

Storytelling is an important part of Chinese culture. People have been telling and listening to stories for thousands of years. The ancient Chinese told stories for the same reasons people do today. Stories are a way for people to learn about their history, and telling stories is fun!

Originally, stories were spoken out loud. Each time a story was told, it changed slightly, because the storyteller was telling it from memory.

WORDS TO KNOW

culture: the way of life, including beliefs and customs, of a group of people.

BCE: put after a date, BCE stands for Before Common Era and counts years down to zero. CE stands for Common Era and counts years up from zero. This book was published in 2017 CE.

myth: a story about make-believe creatures that ancient people believed were true.

legend: a story set in the past that may or may not have really happened.

fable: a short story that often contains a moral, or lesson.

supernatural: beings, objects, or events that cannot be explained by science.

ancestor: someone from your family or culture who lived before you.

epic: a long poem that tells of the deeds of a legendary hero.

Around the fifth century BCE, the Chinese began to write their stories down. These stories included myths, legends, and fables.

MYTHS, LEGENDS, AND FABLES

Myths are stories about supernatural beings. These stories tell of gods and goddesses, ghosts, and ancestors.

One Chinese myth tells about the Monkey King, who was born from a stone egg. The Monkey King became the greatest warrior on Earth.

Once, he turned every hair on his body into a mini fighting monkey! After jumping into heaven, he went on more amazing adventures with his friends Pigsy, Water Monster, and the boy monk.

Monkey and his friends are characters from a book called Journey to the West. The story was published by the writer Wu Cheng’en (1500–1580). Cheng’en’s work describes the epic adventures of the Monkey King and his friends.

WORDS TO KNOW

sacrifice: the killing of a person or animal as an offering to a god.

offering: something that is given to worship a god.

Myths also try to explain the natural world. The natural world is all around you. It is the air you breathe and the water you drink. Myths often answer questions about the weather, seasons, and how the world was made. One famous Chinese myth, called Tang the Conqueror, tells of a time when it did not rain for five years.

Legends are stories from the past. Some legends are about acts of strength and bravery. They tell of heroes who accomplish difficult tasks. Supernatural creatures, such as ghosts, demons, and dragons, often appear in legends.

DID YOU KNOW?

Professional storytelling was popular in ancient Chinese cities. Storytellers performed