Conclusion

Chinese mythology has developed over time and has been interpreted and added on by the many ethnic groups of China and throughout China’s various dynasties. Mythology encompasses a wide variety of believes such as burial practices and the emergence of culture. The tradition behind mythology is still upheld today is still considered an important part of Chinese culture. Myths are still being studied and shared today and are seen as a way to preserve tradition and culture and to bring people together.

Cangjie

• Cangjie is is credited with the invention of Chinese characters.
•  Cangjie created Chinese characters by observing nature such as constellations, footprints, signs on turtle shells, bird’s feathers, mountains and rivers, and the fingers and palms of people.     
• The invention of writing was such an important event it was said that millet fell from heaven and ghosts could be heard crying through the night.

Significance Today 

• Shaanxi province is the most involved with honoring Cangjie and they refer to him as “The saint Cang”, due to local legends of him being born there and creating writing there. 
• There are also several customs held in Shaanxi province relating to Cangjie such as paper with words is not allowed to be thrown away, pillows being embroidered with Chinese characters, and students will go to Cangjie Temple and touch the stone tablet there believing it will make their handwriting good.  
• During the Song dynasty Cangjie was worshiped as the ancestor who founded the work of the Xu Li people who referred to him as King Cang. The Xu Li handled documents and paperwork for the government. To celebrate and honor Cangjie, the Xu Li would put money together and hold a festival in the capital. Today there is still similar worship and festivals in areas such as Shangdon, Henan, Hebei, and Shaanxi. 

Gun

The Great Flood

• A great flood occurred in ancient times and was so large it gushed up into the sky.
• Gun made it his mission to put an end to the flood.
• Gun was able to accomplish this by stealing from the supreme divinity what was known as Xirang, a mystical self- growing soil. 
• Gun used the Xirang as a barricade against the flood waters. 

The Fate of Gun

• The supreme divinity was so angry that Gun took the Xirang he sent the fire god Zhurong to kill Gun at the outskirts of Yushan. 
• Gun’s corpse was not moved for three years but when his belly was opened from a sword Gun’s son Yu emerged who became responsible for spreading the Xirang to control the floodwater and thus bringing stability to the world.

Significance Today

Yellow Dragon Temple

• A myth that surfaced during the six dynasties era was that after Gun was executed at Yushan, he turned into a yellow bear and dove into Yu spring. Because of this legend the Guiji ethnic group do not give bears as sacrifices at Yu temple. 
• Another myth recorded during the Jin dynasty is the reason why fisherman built Gun’s temple and offered sacrifices to him throughout the year. The myth describes how Gun committed suicide by sinking into the Yuyuan, and turned into a black fish. People who saw Gun in this form described him as the spirit of the river.  
• June 16^th every year people of various ethnic groups gather at the yellow dragon temple near the Min River built in honor of Gun to pray for happiness and worship Gun. This practice comes from the story of Gun saving his son Yu who had continued in his fathers place to battle flooding. Yu had been caught in a huge storm and was caught in a whirlpool, however at the last moment a yellow dragon, which was Gun, appeared and carried Yu’s boat to safety.