Cloud Weavers: Ancient Chinese Legends
(Hardcover)
By Rena Krasno and Yeng-Fong Chiang
This unique collection of 23 legends and myths from China will
introduce young readers to magic monkeys, goddesses and immortals,
heroines and patriots, poets and philosophers. These stories have
entertained and educated many generations of Chinese children and
provide today’s readers a window to China's traditional values and
beliefs.
The first four stories are
ancient legends about deities whose behavior and actions affected the
world and the lives of humans. They relate ideas from very ancient
times. Next are eight stories that reflect China’s three great
traditions of Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. Following are nine
tales from history about real people still admired by the Chinese
people. The last two stories are excerpts from tales that became the
basis for two of China’s best-loved novels.
China’s
legends reflect the dreams, history, and values of the Chinese people.
And they link today with the past. Many of these tales are more than a
thousand years old, but they are still popular today. In China,
depictions of legendary characters are printed on greeting cards and
calendars, carved on door and window frames, and painted on vases.
Children learn these stories in school, and through comic books and
cartoons. Legends are often the basis for plays and operas. The Moon
Maiden, Monkey King, and other characters advertise products on
television.
The illustrations are from rare advertising posters of the 1920s and 1930s in the collection of Yeng-Fong Chiang. .
Hardcover, 96 pages, full color, index, Chart of China's Dynasties, Grade 2-3, Age 7-8, hardcover.
