Introduction

The earliest written records of Chinese myths can be traced back to about 3,000 years ago and unlike the Greek myths which were compiled together systematically in volumes, Chinese myths were spread and scattered in fragmented forms in various writing material.  The various ethnic groups of China each had their own gods and stories so there is no mythology that was transmitted by all Chinese people. Throughout various dynasties myths have been changed and interpreted differently based on beliefs of the time, heroes such as Huang Di take different roles for various groups and still have a longstanding tradition.