Top 10 Most Interesting Creatures In Chinese Mythology

Bai Ze is known to be a holy creature commonly depicted as a beast similar to a cow. It is said that the Bai Ze is a harbinger of fortune and happiness when seen. The name is translated to "white marsh."

There's also a Japanese version of the creature in which it's depicted as an intelligent cow/cat hybrid with multiple eyes. Not only does it have those characteristics, but what makes them more bizarre is that its face resembles that of a human. Other depictions include a lion-like creature with eight eyes and several horns on its head.

Widely known to be a part of the four evil creatures of the world, Taotie is considered the Asian version of Beelzebub. Taotie was the embodiment of greed and gluttony. Earlier it was represented on jades, vessels, and other pottery, but it's commonly depicted as a dinosaur-like creature.

Apparently, the Taotie was formerly a descendant of someone who took greediness to the extreme, hoarding food, wealth, and other luxurious objects. Even though these "needs" were beyond sufficient, his behavior would remain the same without any regard to other people, according to the Spring and Autumn Annals.

Now we're heading into the scarier picks of creatures which could potentially send shivers down your spine. Its scariness places it as one of the stronger contenders for the top three. Behold the notorious vampire called the Jiangshi.

This creature, also named the hopping vampire, is commonly depicted as a corpse donned in Qing Dynasty-like clothes. The Jiangshi is resurrected to drain the life forces of people at night, killing them as a result, while hiding in dark areas throughout the day. The name of the creature literally translates to "stiff corpse," hence why they are commonly depicted with limbs so rigid that they are incapable of bending them with ease. The Jiangshi has to bounce with arms stretched in order to move freely.

Overall, you wouldn't want this creature seeping into your dreams.

Commonly associated with its partner Horse-Face, these two creatures serve as the guardians of Diyu (a Chinese version of Hell). They both take the appearance of men, although their faces resemble that of an ox and a horse respectively. Their main purpose is to bring human souls who have passed to be judged based on their decisions on Earth.

One of the most iconic creatures coming from China is the Chinese Dragon. The Chinese Dragon typically springs to mind whenever Chinese mythology is mentioned. The Chinese Dragon mythology has become an influential part of China over generations, even spreading to countries such as Japan and Korea.

You know the familiar depiction of the dragon with four legs and a body resembling that of a snake, but some people aren't aware that this legendary creature can take a few more forms such as turtles or fish. It's also known to possess abilities capable of controlling the weather, hence why they are often blamed for storms and floods. The Chinese Dragon is known to represent power and fortune to those who have enough merit.

This is the Chinese version of the Japanese creature Kitsune. Also known as the Celestial Fox, both creatures are believed to be capable of living up to a thousand years. When the fox reaches its first millennium and gains its ninth tail, it's believed that the creature will evolve into the Sky Fox and then ascend to heaven.

Stories tracing back to the Jin Dynasty state that a fox turns into a woman at the age of 50, then transforms into a shaman when it is 100. To grow a tail, one has to overcome a "catastrophe" every century. However, only a few foxes can pass through this barrier and make it to their first millennium. Wisdom plays a major part in cultivating these creatures, which can be obtained through the guidance of a monk, treasures, or a suitable environment.

The Tiangou is a famous legendary creature resembling a dog known to "eat the sun or moon," which results in an eclipse. The Tiangou is known to have two sides. The creature is believed to be the harbinger of peace and security when manifesting as the white fox, a symbol of good. But its evil side manifests as a moon-consuming black dog.

The Tiangou also has an opposer named Zhang Xian, who is known as a deity of boys said to shoot arrows at the Tiangou whenever the creature attempts to eat the sun or the moon.

Commonly depicted as a faceless bag of meat with four wings and three limbs on each side, the Hundun is a harbinger of chaos and disorder. Considering the name of the creature is hard to translate into certain languages, it's known to have a handful of interpretations, with hun translating to chaos and dun translating to stupid.

It's also known that the Hundun is associated with the cosmic egg, which is believed to have existed long before humans set foot on Earth. In one of the earlier texts, the Hundun also has one interesting trait: a preference for singing and dancing despite having no facial features. Other texts depict him as a sacred dog living in Kunlun, a mountain range associated with the divine.