In to Mortal World: a New Evolution of the Cowherd and the Weaver Myth
Today is Qixi Festival, which falls on the 7th of the seventh lunar month. Whereas Valentine’s Day is also now celebrated in China, as is Lantern Festival for first romances, Qixi is the occasion to celebrate enduring love. And as arts and commerce increasingly turn their focus on it, more couples in China are choosing tie to knot on this day. The origins of this festival, is of course, associated with the story of Niulang and Zhinüng, the mortal Cowherd and the Weaver goddess, China’s story of star-crossed lovers and one of its four greatest legends, which you can read out in my book Chinese Myths. If you’re interested in the supreme goddess who played a key role in the tale, read my guide to Chinese deities). For the traditions and customs, read my article. This year, I wanted to write about a brilliant continuation of the myth by the donghua film Into the Mortal World (落凡尘, 2024), which I managed to catch on the plane on a recent trip.
Posted in Articles, Events and tagged animation, Cantonese, china, Chinese, Cowherd and Weaver, donghua, film, Guangdong, Guangzhou, myth
The Mythos of Kunlun
Earlier this year, I was asked to participate in Erland Cooper’s Mythic Island series, part of The Essay on BBC3, for which I had the pleasure of discussing the myth and cultures of Kunlun with the host. We only had a short time, so I’ve written this article based on further insights from my research, to supplement the conversation.
Posted in Articles, Events and tagged china, Chinese, culture, Kunlun, mountains, myth, mythology
The Chinese God of Thunder
Nowadays rarely does a deity become hot topic, like Thor has, with the aid of Marvel and Hollywood blockbusters. In Chinese Thor is called 雷神 (“Lei Shen”) or God of Thunder. It is no wonder that the Thor movies have proved popular in China, as the Chinese have long had their own deity of Thunder.
Posted in Articles and tagged china, Chinese, culture, deity, God of Thunder, myth, Taoism