An Encyclopedia of Creatures from Chinese Mythology

They are not merely spirits from mythology. They are also the codes of civilization. Understand them, and you will understand the spiritual world of the Chinese people. This book is not only an all-encompassing encyclopedia of mythical beasts, but also a key to unlocking the meaning of traditional Chinese culture. Through these creatures, you will come to understand our ancestors' reverence for nature, their esteem for morality, their wondrous imagination of the unknown, and the romance and wisdom of believing that all things have a spirit, a belief woven into our very blood.