Through its various uses of themes, morals, and religious concepts, Chinese mythology serves as a guideline for the daily actions of many. Chinese mythology incorporates a vast number of folk stories, poems, and other literary pieces originating in China. Usually, these works share several thoughts and ideas, allowing one to make generalizations about aspects that concern most Chinese myths. These aspects include theme, religion, and morality, which together provide a basic standard that many people follow as the norm of society. In accordance with this, mythology has been used to reflect important lessons and ideas found in Chinese culture throughout history. An important part of Chinese mythology is the themes present in each story. The themes of Chinese mythology often coincide with the religious values of the time. A common theme in Chinese mythology includes respect for nature. This theme arose as a result of Shinto and Taoist influence in some parts of China. Shinto and Taoists believe that spirits are embodied in everything, living or non-living. They also claim that angry spirits are the sole cause of natural disasters such as storms, droughts, and floods. In numerous Chinese myths, the idea of spirits, their control over natural events, and the need to constantly appease them was evident (Collier 23). These myths eventually led people to respect and preserve nature as much as possible. Another theme often present in Chinese mythology is the veneration of ancestors. Also a consequence of the Daoist religion, veneration of one's ancestors is very significant in many Chinese myths. Daoists hold ceremonies and build shrines to commemorate the dead ancestors of their lineage (Roberts 38). These tributes... in the center of the paper... to maintaining the harmony of the universe (Philosophy and Theory). This concept of balanced balance is present many times in Chinese mythology and applies well to aspects of real life, particularly notions of good and evil and how the two interact in a given person or thing. Chinese mythology also tends to show a discouragement towards violence, a core belief of Daoism and Shinto. This religious concept aims to promote peace in society, where time usually wasted on mundane matters such as arguments and war could be spent protecting nature and appeasing the spirits (Collier 25). Religion in Chinese mythology established certain guidelines whereby followers of a given faith were expected to act accordingly based on concepts learned from the legends. It has proven to be one of the most influential factors in the daily actions of those influenced by Chinese traditions.
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