XingWu🐉ChineseFolklore
@xingwu.bsky.social
@x1ngwu on X. I collect, translate and write about ancient Chinese folklore, mythology, and history. Love books and cats.
Mythology | Yaoguai(妖怪) | Ghost(鬼) | Art | Myth | Fantasy | History
Mythology | Yaoguai(妖怪) | Ghost(鬼) | Art | Myth | Fantasy | History
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🦋 Folklore-related tags on Bluesky, along with their hosts—already active on the platform—who run weekly themes:
#MythologyMonday
#FairyTaleTuesday
#LegendaryWednesday
#WyrdWednesday
#BOOKOLOGYTHURSDAY
#FolkyFriday
#BookWormSat
#FolkloreSunday
#BookChatWeekly
Please see their accounts below 👇
#MythologyMonday
#FairyTaleTuesday
#LegendaryWednesday
#WyrdWednesday
#BOOKOLOGYTHURSDAY
#FolkyFriday
#BookWormSat
#FolkloreSunday
#BookChatWeekly
Please see their accounts below 👇
The Jian'gu (建鼓), once heard in imperial rites, thundered through ancestral halls with its solemn, hourglass voice. Played with twin mallets on one side, it called forth reverence and order. This Qing Dynasty example glows with gold lacquer, its body wrapped in
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January 28, 2026 at 6:15 PM
The Jian'gu (建鼓), once heard in imperial rites, thundered through ancestral halls with its solemn, hourglass voice. Played with twin mallets on one side, it called forth reverence and order. This Qing Dynasty example glows with gold lacquer, its body wrapped in
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Jin Ping Mei (金瓶梅), infamous for its eroticism, is often likened to Lolita or Lady Chatterley's Lover. But beneath its sensual surface lies a ruthless lens on Ming society: unveiling corruption, class tension, gender politics, and domestic life with unflinching clarity. It’s not 1/2
January 28, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Jin Ping Mei (金瓶梅), infamous for its eroticism, is often likened to Lolita or Lady Chatterley's Lover. But beneath its sensual surface lies a ruthless lens on Ming society: unveiling corruption, class tension, gender politics, and domestic life with unflinching clarity. It’s not 1/2
In the Yuan painting Lifting the Bowl (揭缽圖) as below, the Buddha traps the ghost mother's baby beneath a bowl.
She, once a devourer of children, now watches her ghost-sons struggle to lift it, desperate to save their kin. It's a stark parable of karma and redemption, 1/2
#folklore #art
She, once a devourer of children, now watches her ghost-sons struggle to lift it, desperate to save their kin. It's a stark parable of karma and redemption, 1/2
#folklore #art
January 27, 2026 at 5:15 PM
In Journey to the West, Sun Wukong was cast into Taishang Laojun’s Eight-Trigram Furnace, burned for 49 days as punishment. Yet he did not die. He emerged transformed, his eyes scorched into Fire-Eyes with Golden Vision. From then on, 1/2
#sunwukong #theMonkeyKing
#sunwukong #theMonkeyKing
January 27, 2026 at 2:15 PM
In Journey to the West, Sun Wukong was cast into Taishang Laojun’s Eight-Trigram Furnace, burned for 49 days as punishment. Yet he did not die. He emerged transformed, his eyes scorched into Fire-Eyes with Golden Vision. From then on, 1/2
#sunwukong #theMonkeyKing
#sunwukong #theMonkeyKing
“Playing the qin to a cow” (對牛彈琴) isn’t just a sharp idiom. It’s a parable from the Warring States. The master musician Gong Mingyi once performed elegant qin melodies for a cow. Unmoved, the cow simply chewed its grass. The message? Even the most profound beauty falls flat without the 1/2
#folklore
#folklore
January 26, 2026 at 5:45 PM
“Playing the qin to a cow” (對牛彈琴) isn’t just a sharp idiom. It’s a parable from the Warring States. The master musician Gong Mingyi once performed elegant qin melodies for a cow. Unmoved, the cow simply chewed its grass. The message? Even the most profound beauty falls flat without the 1/2
#folklore
#folklore
The Jade Emperor (玉帝) reigns in folk belief as Heaven’s sovereign: ruler of gods, keeper of balance, and cosmic judge who hears prayers and weighs fates. Villagers once offered incense to him as sky father and guardian of justice, and his temples still crown hills and 1/2
#mythology
#mythology
January 26, 2026 at 1:45 PM
The Jade Emperor (玉帝) reigns in folk belief as Heaven’s sovereign: ruler of gods, keeper of balance, and cosmic judge who hears prayers and weighs fates. Villagers once offered incense to him as sky father and guardian of justice, and his temples still crown hills and 1/2
#mythology
#mythology
In the myths of ancient China, deep in the land of the Baimin, dwells the Cheng Huang, a horned, fox-like beast with yellow fur, etched into the Shanhaijing.
Fierce and untamed, it’s no docile mount. Yet those who ride it gain a staggering gift: 2,000 extra years of life.
🎨 Lu Mingshan
#mythology
Fierce and untamed, it’s no docile mount. Yet those who ride it gain a staggering gift: 2,000 extra years of life.
🎨 Lu Mingshan
#mythology
January 24, 2026 at 5:30 PM
In the myths of ancient China, deep in the land of the Baimin, dwells the Cheng Huang, a horned, fox-like beast with yellow fur, etched into the Shanhaijing.
Fierce and untamed, it’s no docile mount. Yet those who ride it gain a staggering gift: 2,000 extra years of life.
🎨 Lu Mingshan
#mythology
Fierce and untamed, it’s no docile mount. Yet those who ride it gain a staggering gift: 2,000 extra years of life.
🎨 Lu Mingshan
#mythology
Painted Tales of the Red Chamber, illustrated by Xiao Yutian, distills the elegance and sorrow of Dream of the Red Chamber into the intimate frames of lianhuanhua. Each panel breathes with the refined beauty of the Jia household: its poetry,
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#art #literature
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#art #literature
January 23, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Painted Tales of the Red Chamber, illustrated by Xiao Yutian, distills the elegance and sorrow of Dream of the Red Chamber into the intimate frames of lianhuanhua. Each panel breathes with the refined beauty of the Jia household: its poetry,
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#art #literature
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#art #literature
*Free and Easy Wandering* (Xiaoyao You), illustrated by Su Meizhi, transforms Daoist myth into dreamlike panels.
Inspired by the opening chapter of Zhuangzi, a cornerstone of Daoist thought, this comic breathes life into symbols of boundless freedom: the colossal
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#art
Inspired by the opening chapter of Zhuangzi, a cornerstone of Daoist thought, this comic breathes life into symbols of boundless freedom: the colossal
1/2
#art
January 22, 2026 at 5:45 PM
*Free and Easy Wandering* (Xiaoyao You), illustrated by Su Meizhi, transforms Daoist myth into dreamlike panels.
Inspired by the opening chapter of Zhuangzi, a cornerstone of Daoist thought, this comic breathes life into symbols of boundless freedom: the colossal
1/2
#art
Inspired by the opening chapter of Zhuangzi, a cornerstone of Daoist thought, this comic breathes life into symbols of boundless freedom: the colossal
1/2
#art
While exploring Journey to the West through various lianhuanhua editions, one version stood out: the masterful artwork of Yang Yongqing (1928–2011).
His Sun Wukong is the most simian of them all: nimble, sharp-eyed, and brimming with clever mischief.1/3
#art
His Sun Wukong is the most simian of them all: nimble, sharp-eyed, and brimming with clever mischief.1/3
#art
January 22, 2026 at 2:45 PM
While exploring Journey to the West through various lianhuanhua editions, one version stood out: the masterful artwork of Yang Yongqing (1928–2011).
His Sun Wukong is the most simian of them all: nimble, sharp-eyed, and brimming with clever mischief.1/3
#art
His Sun Wukong is the most simian of them all: nimble, sharp-eyed, and brimming with clever mischief.1/3
#art
The Goddess of Mount Wu, a 1990s illustrated edition by Chen Yafei:
The goddess, often linked to Yaoji, daughter of the Queen Mother of the West, first appears in the Classic of Mountains and Seas as a tragic spirit who died on Mount Guyao and became a magical "yao" plant.
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The goddess, often linked to Yaoji, daughter of the Queen Mother of the West, first appears in the Classic of Mountains and Seas as a tragic spirit who died on Mount Guyao and became a magical "yao" plant.
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January 21, 2026 at 5:45 PM
The Goddess of Mount Wu, a 1990s illustrated edition by Chen Yafei:
The goddess, often linked to Yaoji, daughter of the Queen Mother of the West, first appears in the Classic of Mountains and Seas as a tragic spirit who died on Mount Guyao and became a magical "yao" plant.
1/3
The goddess, often linked to Yaoji, daughter of the Queen Mother of the West, first appears in the Classic of Mountains and Seas as a tragic spirit who died on Mount Guyao and became a magical "yao" plant.
1/3
Immortal Island (1984, Foreign Languages Press) is a hidden gem of Chinese myth and brushwork.
Du Dakei’s ethereal illustrations breathe life into celestial palaces, spirit beasts, and dreamlike realms, each page a gateway to ancient wonder. 👇 1/3
#mythology #art
Du Dakei’s ethereal illustrations breathe life into celestial palaces, spirit beasts, and dreamlike realms, each page a gateway to ancient wonder. 👇 1/3
#mythology #art
January 21, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Immortal Island (1984, Foreign Languages Press) is a hidden gem of Chinese myth and brushwork.
Du Dakei’s ethereal illustrations breathe life into celestial palaces, spirit beasts, and dreamlike realms, each page a gateway to ancient wonder. 👇 1/3
#mythology #art
Du Dakei’s ethereal illustrations breathe life into celestial palaces, spirit beasts, and dreamlike realms, each page a gateway to ancient wonder. 👇 1/3
#mythology #art
The Lotus Goddess (1985), a lianhuanhua illustrated by Zhou Yizhu and Liu Yinghua, blossoms with divine grace and tragedy. Published by Liaoning Fine Arts, this visual tale captures the spirit of purity, resilience, and celestial beauty through delicate ink and color.
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#folklore #art
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#folklore #art
January 20, 2026 at 5:31 PM
The Magic Brush of Ma Liang is a cherished Chinese folk tale created in the 1950s by author Hong Xiantao. Ma Liang, a poor cowherd with a passion for art, is gifted a brush by a celestial being—one that brings his drawings to life.
Using it to aid the poor,
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Using it to aid the poor,
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January 19, 2026 at 5:30 PM
The Magic Brush of Ma Liang is a cherished Chinese folk tale created in the 1950s by author Hong Xiantao. Ma Liang, a poor cowherd with a passion for art, is gifted a brush by a celestial being—one that brings his drawings to life.
Using it to aid the poor,
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Using it to aid the poor,
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The story of 'the Tortoise and Serpent Generals" :
As Zhenwu Dadi, the Perfected Warrior, ascended through fierce cultivation, he gave up grains, purifying body and spirit. But his stomach and intestines rebelled, restless with hunger. In a moment of divine resolve,
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#art #mythology
As Zhenwu Dadi, the Perfected Warrior, ascended through fierce cultivation, he gave up grains, purifying body and spirit. But his stomach and intestines rebelled, restless with hunger. In a moment of divine resolve,
1/3
#art #mythology
January 19, 2026 at 1:45 PM
The story of 'the Tortoise and Serpent Generals" :
As Zhenwu Dadi, the Perfected Warrior, ascended through fierce cultivation, he gave up grains, purifying body and spirit. But his stomach and intestines rebelled, restless with hunger. In a moment of divine resolve,
1/3
#art #mythology
As Zhenwu Dadi, the Perfected Warrior, ascended through fierce cultivation, he gave up grains, purifying body and spirit. But his stomach and intestines rebelled, restless with hunger. In a moment of divine resolve,
1/3
#art #mythology
Nezha Conquers the Dragon King:
At just seven, Nezha, reincarnated spirit and disciple of the immortal Taiyi Zhenren, broke the sea’s silence and enraged the Dragon Palace. When Ao Bing, the Dragon King’s third son, rose to stop him, a storm of battle followed.
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#mythology #art
At just seven, Nezha, reincarnated spirit and disciple of the immortal Taiyi Zhenren, broke the sea’s silence and enraged the Dragon Palace. When Ao Bing, the Dragon King’s third son, rose to stop him, a storm of battle followed.
1/3
#mythology #art
January 18, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Nezha Conquers the Dragon King:
At just seven, Nezha, reincarnated spirit and disciple of the immortal Taiyi Zhenren, broke the sea’s silence and enraged the Dragon Palace. When Ao Bing, the Dragon King’s third son, rose to stop him, a storm of battle followed.
1/3
#mythology #art
At just seven, Nezha, reincarnated spirit and disciple of the immortal Taiyi Zhenren, broke the sea’s silence and enraged the Dragon Palace. When Ao Bing, the Dragon King’s third son, rose to stop him, a storm of battle followed.
1/3
#mythology #art
From riverbank clay, Nüwa shaped the first humans in her own image: molding life into form and giving the world its people. To keep them from drifting apart, she created marriage, allowing men and women to bond, build families, and carry life forward. For this,
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#mythology #art
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#mythology #art
January 18, 2026 at 1:30 PM
From riverbank clay, Nüwa shaped the first humans in her own image: molding life into form and giving the world its people. To keep them from drifting apart, she created marriage, allowing men and women to bond, build families, and carry life forward. For this,
1/2
#mythology #art
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#mythology #art
In #Wukong and the Jade Rabbit from Journey to the West, the Jade Rabbit escapes the Moon Palace, kidnaps the princess of Tianzhu, and dons her form to trick a king into hosting a bridal contest.
Her true goal? Marry Tang Sanzang and drain his life essence.
But Sun Wukong isn’t
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#JTTW #art
Her true goal? Marry Tang Sanzang and drain his life essence.
But Sun Wukong isn’t
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#JTTW #art
January 17, 2026 at 5:30 PM
The Three Attacks on the White Bone Demon:
As Tang Sanzang’s group crosses White Tiger Ridge, the White Bone Demon stalks them, craving the monk’s flesh for immortality.
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#JTTW #SunWukong #art
As Tang Sanzang’s group crosses White Tiger Ridge, the White Bone Demon stalks them, craving the monk’s flesh for immortality.
1/2
#JTTW #SunWukong #art
January 17, 2026 at 1:30 PM
The Three Attacks on the White Bone Demon:
As Tang Sanzang’s group crosses White Tiger Ridge, the White Bone Demon stalks them, craving the monk’s flesh for immortality.
1/2
#JTTW #SunWukong #art
As Tang Sanzang’s group crosses White Tiger Ridge, the White Bone Demon stalks them, craving the monk’s flesh for immortality.
1/2
#JTTW #SunWukong #art
The Nine-Colored Deer of Dunhuang, a tale painted in betrayal, beauty, and karmic justice.
This divine deer once saved a drowning man, only to be betrayed when greed led him to expose its secret. The king, tempted by its radiant hide, sought to capture it.
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#mythology #art
This divine deer once saved a drowning man, only to be betrayed when greed led him to expose its secret. The king, tempted by its radiant hide, sought to capture it.
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#mythology #art
January 16, 2026 at 5:45 PM
The Nine-Colored Deer of Dunhuang, a tale painted in betrayal, beauty, and karmic justice.
This divine deer once saved a drowning man, only to be betrayed when greed led him to expose its secret. The king, tempted by its radiant hide, sought to capture it.
1/3
#mythology #art
This divine deer once saved a drowning man, only to be betrayed when greed led him to expose its secret. The king, tempted by its radiant hide, sought to capture it.
1/3
#mythology #art