LEGENDARY STORIES

The story of the White Bone Demon, which comes from Chapter 27 of Journey to the West, is a classic within a classic. It is the inspiration for Shen Yun’s dance The Monkey King Triumphs, and demonstrates his mighty powers. This is how the story goes. The Buddhist monk Xuan…

Journey to the West is one of the four classics of Chinese literature. Written by the Ming Dynasty novelist Wu Cheng’en during the 16th century, this beloved adventure tale combines action, humor, and spiritual lessons. The novel takes place in the seventh century. It tells the story of one of…

  Cute, fluffy, and white, the Jade Rabbit is no ordinary bunny. Calling the moon its home, the Jade Rabbit is a mystical and enchanting Eastern legend. When the bunny isn’t busy making immortality elixirs, it keeps the beautiful goddess Chang’e company in the Moon Palace. Out of the various…

  If you’ve ever strolled through the aisles of a Chinese supermarket, you may have come across ornately crafted tin boxes with four Chinese women on the lid. These are the “Four Beauties” of Chinese history. After five thousand years of history, what makes these four ladies so special? There’s…

  Since ancient times, China has been known as the “Celestial Empire.” This refers not only to China’s strength and position as East Asia’s Middle Kingdom, it also captures a more profound meaning, describing a land where the divine and mortal once coexisted. It refers to the belief that the…

According to legend, the Yellow Emperor founded the Chinese civilization in 2697 B.C. He is said to have stabilized China: It was he who united tribes and changed society from one that relied on hunting to one that grew crops, and his reign glittered with prolific inventions. Essential knowledge for the…