Category：Chinese art, History, Mythology

Divine Beasts: An Illustrated Guide to Mysterious Creatures ofAncient China 够神的： 中国古代神奇动物图鉴

By FANG Jiahe

●A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of “Magical Creatures” in Ancient China

This book is divided into five chapters based on the geographical directions of the four great continents—east, west, south, and north—and the central land. The chapters are Mengzhang, Lingguang, Mingtang, Jianbing, and Zhiming. It will take you on an exploratory journey to discover:The creation of mythical beasts: their formation process, “working principles,” and evolution paths.

The genealogy of mythical beasts: the relationships between different mythical beasts. The true appearance of mythical beasts: illustrations of the beasts, distribution maps, and more…
Through systematic visual communication, the book re-examines and deeply explores the genes of traditional Chinese culture, providing modern interpretations and expressions of these fascinating creatures. The text is elegantly crafted yet easy to understand, forming a unique and coherent system that is both insightful and accessible.

Author
FANG Jiahe, a graduate of the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University, is a senior creative designer and researcher of traditional Chinese mythology. He is acclaimed as one of the top “monster” illustrators in China and is the cover artist and illustrator of monster cards for “Tales of the Forbidden City Monsters.”