Chinese culture is one of the oldest unified cultures in the world, and has been around for over 3,000 years. Considered one of the world's four ancient civilizations, a rich and vibrant canon of mythology developed that at times blurs the line between fact and fiction. Many deities in the Taoist pantheon, for example, are based on very real historical figures, while other gods of Chinese folk religion are thought to be embellished versions of the civilization's first emperors. These stories are simply fascinating, and give us a glimpse into the stories upon which one of the oldest cultures in the world was built.
Intrigued? Read on to discover just a few of the greatest figures of Chinese mythology.