Forbidden love, gender bending, deception, vows, humor, heartbreak, mystical transformations — while I can’t say that every great story has to have these four elements, they’re certainly prevalent in a lot of the stories we hold in high regard in the West, from Shakespeare to Bugs Bunny.

Of course, these elements aren’t bound by culture; they’re part of the human experience, and this week, we’ll look at another of China’s Four Great Folktales, which just so happens to feature all of these: the story of Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo. In my experience, it’s one of the most beloved and frequently referenced stories in China, with all the suspense and drama you could hope for.

Join me, Jaer Christie, as I explore the hidden stories that shape the world on The Mythographist: Myths of Mainland China.

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Written, narrated, and produced by Jaer Christie

Research by Jaer Christie & Elena Tung

Music:

"The Night" and "Dancing Abroad" by Shaoqing Luna Li - https://filmmusic.io/u/sqluna/music

License CC BY 4.0 - https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

"An Autumn Moon Over the Han Palace" and "High Mountains, Running Rivers" from the collection The Essence of Famous Chinese Folk Music, used under CC fair use

Even if you don’t know anything else about China, if you’re listening to this podcast, you’ve most likely heard of the Great Wall. It’s often cited as one of the wonders of the world, and not without reason — it is genuinely a marvel of human workmanship.

Like any structure of this scale, though, the Great Wall’s construction was not without human cost, and this echoes through the pages of history and cultural memory. Today, we’ll look at a widely-known story that tells of one woman’s relationship with the Great Wall — one of China’s Four Great Folktales.

Join me, Jaer Christie, as I explore the hidden stories that shape the world on The Mythographist: Myths of Mainland China.

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Written, narrated, and produced by Jaer Christie

Research by Jaer Christie & Elena Tung

Music:

"Dancing Abroad" by Shaoqing Luna Li - https://filmmusic.io/u/sqluna/music

License CC BY 4.0 - https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

"River Water," "Lament at Chang Gate," and "Lament" from the collection The Essence of Famous Chinese Folk Music, used under CC fair use.

This coming week, people all across Mainland China celebrate Duanwu, a holiday known here in the West as Dragon Boat Festival. They eat zongzi — little pyramid-shaped snacks made of glutinous rice, stuffed with something sweet or savory and wrapped in bamboo leaves. But the origin of this holiday is a little bit darker than the tasty food might lead you to believe.

Last week, we looked at Questions of Heaven, a poem that seems to be one royal advisor’s expression of frustration of with his king, who appeared intent on sabotaging himself and the nation he was supposed to be ruling. This week, we hear the rest of that story, the widely-held origin of the holiday, and of the traditional snack zongzi.

Join me, Jaer Christie, as I explore the hidden legends that shape the world on The Mythographist: Myths of Mainland China.

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Written, narrated, and produced by Jaer Christie

Research by Jaer Christie & Elena Tung

Music:

"Dancing Abroad" & "The Night" by Shaoqing Luna Li - https://filmmusic.io/u/sqluna/music

License CC BY 4.0 - https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

"Birdsong in the Tranquil Valley," "Almond Blossom in the Sky," and "Lament at Chang Gate" from the collection The Essence of Famous Chinese Folk Music, used under CC fair use.

Today, we’re looking at the story behind a poem. But don’t skip this episode just yet, because this Chinese poem from two thousand years ago is unique — and uniquely relevant to this podcast — in that it tells us about the myths and legends that were important to the poet’s audience, in a very particular style, for a very particular purpose. And the way it does that — well, you’ll hear all about it.

Join me, Jaer Christie, as I explore the hidden legends that shape the world on The Mythographist: Myths of Mainland China.

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Click here for a translation of Tianwen, by kind permission of the translator

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Written, narrated, and produced by Jaer Christie

Research by Jaer Christie & Elena Tung

Music:

"Dancing Abroad" & "The Night" by Shaoqing Luna Li - https://filmmusic.io/u/sqluna/music

License CC BY 4.0 - https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

"Lament" and "The Autumn Moon on a Placid Lake" from the collection The Essence of Famous Chinese Folk Music, used under CC fair use.

Last week, we witnessed Gun, along with his friends the tortoise and the swallow, steal xirang, a magical living soil, from the heavenly realms in order to stop a cataclysmic flood — only to be struck down by the Supreme Divinity, along with all they worked to build.

This week, the second half of the story: the struggle for survival against the unforgiving elements, continued by Yu as he works to control the waters.

Join me, Jaer Christie, as I explore the hidden legends that shape the world on The Mythographist: Myths of Mainland China.

_______________________________

Written, narrated, and produced by Jaer Christie

Research by Jaer Christie & Elena Tung

Music:

"Dancing Abroad" & "The Night" by Shaoqing Luna Li - https://filmmusic.io/u/sqluna/music

License CC BY 4.0 - https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

"Guangling Song" and "An Autumn Moon Over the Han Palace" from the collection The Essence of Famous Chinese Folk Music, used under CC fair use.

Imagine the worst rain you’ve ever seen, and imagine that lasting for weeks, months, even years. Cultures around the world tell stories like this — flood myths, we call them, and we’ve looked at a few from China already. This week and next week, though, we’ll cover another one, possibly the most important: the story of a flood, a supernatural heist, and incredible dedication to the people and the nation.

Join me, Jaer Christie, as I explore the hidden legends that shape the world on The Mythographist: Myths of Mainland China.

_______________________________

Written, narrated, and produced by Jaer Christie

Research by Jaer Christie & Elena Tung

Music:

"Dancing Abroad" & "The Night" by Shaoqing Luna Li - https://filmmusic.io/u/sqluna/music

License CC BY 4.0 - https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

"River Water," "Flowing Water," and "Yangguan Pass" from the collection The Essence of Famous Chinese Folk Music, used under CC fair use.

War is an ugly thing — blood, pain, and loss are inevitably bound up on both sides of any conflict, in any era. But, as we know, humans are experts at making anything into a story, and fighting is no exception. The Trojan War; the three hundred Spartans at Thermopylae; the Normandy landing in the Second World War; Hannibal’s defeat — our history books and entertainment alike are filled with dramatic portrayals of pivotal moments, legendary battles, epic wars, mighty heroes and their heroic deeds.

China certainly has its share of important battles in its nearly four millennia of recorded history. But today’s story goes even farther back than that, though, reaching into foggy pre-history to the founding of China’s legendary first dynasty, the Xia. In today’s episode, Huang Di, the Yellow Emperor, faces off against the fearsome warlord Chiyou, in a harrowing battle that will set the course of a nation for thousands of years to come.

Join me, Jaer Christie, as I explore the hidden legends that shape the world on The Mythographist: Myths of Mainland China.

_______________________________

Written, narrated, and produced by Jaer Christie

Research by Jaer Christie & Elena Tung

Music:

"Dancing Abroad" & "The Night" by Shaoqing Luna Li - https://filmmusic.io/u/sqluna/music 

License CC BY 4.0 - https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

"The Emperor of Qin Inspects His Troops" and "By the Dressing Table" from the collection The Essence of Famous Chinese Folk Music, used under CC fair use.

What gives a leader their power? The answer to that question is, ultimately, “the people following them” — a sentiment that's been expressed as “the consent of the governed,” however that consent might be gained. So, if you’re a monarch, what’s one of the most important things you can do to stay king? You have to convince the people that you’re the best person for the job. And, as with so many other situations, one of the most effective ways of doing that is with stories.

In European cultures, it’s often called the “divine right of kings,” and in dynastic China, a very similar concept was called “tianming,” literally, “the heavenly mandate.” This episode's story, which was probably used to show just that, tells of Huang Di, the ruler who began to unify ancient China, and his life-changing encounter with the supernatural Baize.

Join me, Jaer Christie, as I explore the hidden legends that shape the world on The Mythographist: Myths of Mainland China.

Written, narrated, and produced by Jaer Christie

Research by Jaer Christie & Elena Tung

Music:

"Dancing Abroad" & "The Night" by Shaoqing Luna Li - https://filmmusic.io/u/sqluna/music 

License CC BY 4.0 - https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

"Night Rain on the Banana Leaves," "Guangling Song," and "Lament at Chang Gate" from the collection The Essence of Famous Chinese Folk Music, used under CC fair use.

Have you ever been so mad at something that you decided you wanted to kill it? Has that thing ever been the ocean? If you answered yes to both of these questions, then you have a lot in common with the daughter of Yan Di, China’s Flame Emperor. This week, we look at what I believe is one of the most important Chinese myths, and its genuinely surprising moral implications.

Join me, Jaer Christie, as I explore the hidden legends that shape the world on this episode of The Mythographist: Myths of Mainland China, Jingwei and the Sea.

Written, narrated, and produced by Jaer Christie

Research by Jaer Christie & Elena Tung

Music:

"Dancing Abroad" & "The Night" by Shaoqing Luna Li - https://filmmusic.io/u/sqluna/music 

License CC BY 4.0 - (https://filmmusic.io/standard-license)

"High Mountains, Running Rivers" from the collection The Essence of Famous Chinese Folk Music, used under CC fair use.

Last week, we began the story of Erlang Shen, the vagrant boy who tamed the dog that tried to eat the sun and, with his sister, was adopted by the mystic Yuding Zhenren. After many years of studying with the master, he reveals to them that their mother was a goddess who came to earth and suffered a mortal wound defending humankind from a terrible dragon.

And this week, we complete that story, and learn why Erlang Shen is held in such high esteem as a model son. Join me, Jaer Christie, as I explore the hidden legends that shape the world on The Mythographist: Myths of Mainland China.

Written, narrated, and produced by Jaer Christie

Research by Jaer Christie & Elena Tung

Music:

"Dancing Abroad" & "The Night" by Shaoqing Luna Li - https://filmmusic.io/u/sqluna/music 

License CC BY 4.0 - (https://filmmusic.io/standard-license)

"Peony Khan" by China National Orchestra, used under CC fair use.