This is a collection of selected and translated Chinese legends and tales arranged under specific topics important to Chinese culture, with an introduction and reading guide for each piece.

Comprised of 4 parts covering Confucian culture, Daoist culture, Buddhist culture and topics beyond the Three Teachings, the sources featured in this anthology include legends, fictional works, historical texts, as well as philosophical texts of ancient China, ranging from the Han 漢dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE) to the Qing 清dynasty (1644-1911).

Helping readers learn about Chinese customs, traditions, and values by immersing them in the wonderful world of traditional China, with the compelling legends and tales revealing the fascinating meshwork of Chinese culture, this book is an invaluable text for students and scholars of Chinese literature, culture and history, as well as general readers with an interest in China.

Zhenjun Zhang is Professor of Chinese in the Department of World Languages, Cultures, and Media at St Lawrence University, USA, and co-editor (with Victor Mair) of Routledge Handbook of Traditional Chinese Literature.