The Chinese Fairy Book

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

29939

Title

The Chinese Fairy Book

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Edited by Dr. R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens, this collection offers seventy-three tales from ancient China, blending the glitter of precious stones with exotic supernatural action. Featuring stories of gods, saints, ghosts, and animal fables, the book provides a comprehensive variety of oriental fairy tales that delight both young and old readers with their novel color and fantastic beauty.

Summary up to 500 words

The Chinese Fairy Book, edited by Dr. R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens, offers a comprehensive collection of seventy-three legends and tales drawn from original Chinese sources. The volume is divided into seven distinct categories: Nursery Fairy Tales, Legends of the Gods, Tales of Saints and Magicians, Nature and Animal Tales, Ghost Stories, Historic Legends, and Literary Fairy Tales. The narratives are distinguished by an 'oriental glow,' featuring imagery of precious stones, gold, multicolored silks, and fantastic supernatural transformations. The collection begins with accessible nursery tales such as 'Women's Words,' where a single uncooked grain of millet grows into a giant ear, and 'The Three Rhymsters,' which highlights the wit of a farmer's son against his educated brothers-in-law. The Legends of the Gods section explores the origins of humanity and the lives of deities, including the Lady of the Moon and the God of War. Tales of Saints and Magicians feature revered figures like Laotsze and the Eight Immortals, while Nature and Animal Tales present poignant stories like 'The Dragon-Princess' and 'The Flower-Elves.' Ghost stories within the anthology notably offer happy endings, such as 'The Ghost Who Was Foiled,' contrasting with the dramatic historic legends that recount the adventures of heroes and sorcerers. The collection culminates in the allegorical tale of the Ape Sun Wu Kung. This narrative follows a stone ape who gains magic powers, rebels against the Lord of the Heavens, and is eventually tamed by Buddha. The story symbolizes the human heart's journey toward enlightenment, incorporating mythological motives and representing the interplay of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Throughout the book, the stories are retold simply to maintain their original style, ensuring they provide equal pleasure to both young and old readers, blending idyllic love tales, Lilliputian fancies, and quasi-religious dramas into a rich tapestry of Chinese folklore.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29939.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg29939.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-08-13 22:11 UTC

Categories

• Folklore
• Fiction