Meet the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesa, and Chang O, the Lunar Toad who is Chinese goddess of the Moon. In handy A-to-Z format, here are the stories of the revered deities, sacred places, key events and epics, and recurring themes and traditions that make up the rich and varied fabric of Asian mythology. Entries address the key mythologies of India, China, Tibet, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Japan.

This is an A-Z dictionary of mythologies of the Asian continent. Major characters, places and events of Asian mythology, as well as certain relevant themes and cultural traditions are included.

China is the land of dragons and of the philosophy related to the mysteries of the cosmos. This country has a beautiful and rich mythology, as well as many symbols and enigmas. The current text can be regarded as a first step on the road to discover them. The old Chinese writings referred to a unique vision regarding the Universe, to the origins of Heaven and Earth, to the universal balance, to countless deities and to various legends. These are but a few wonderful aspects of Chinese mythology and symbolism which are revealed by the present volume.

Compiled from ancient and scattered texts and based on groundbreaking new research, Handbook of Chinese Mythology is the most comprehensive English-language work on the subject ever written from an exclusively Chinese perspective. This work focuses on the Han Chinese people but ranges across the full spectrum of ancient and modern China, showing how key myths endured and evolved over time. A quick reference section covers all major deities, spirits, and demigods, as well as important places, mythical animals and plants, and related items.