"The Master did not talk about strange phenomena, feats of strength, disorder, or spirits." Although the great sage Confucius taught this, stories of gods and ghosts have always flowed in the long river of Chinese culture. Myths and legends such as the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, Liang Zhu, Madam White Snake, Journey to the West, Investiture of the Gods, and Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio have been passed down from generation to generation, and gods and ghosts have entered poetry, opera, and literati notes as a fixed theme.
Why do these stories of gods and monsters have such strong vitality? Cultural scholar Zhang Yinan's answer is: because Chinese people have integrated their real lives into them and entrusted them with the wisdom and hidden dreams of generations. The author combines his profound knowledge of classical literature with perspectives from anthropology, psychology, and history to provide a new and bold interpretation of Chinese classical mythology, leading readers to understand the hidden spiritual world of Chinese magical realism.
