Mythological mountains are an important motif in
Chinese mythology
Chinese mythology () is mythology that has been passed down in oral form or recorded in literature in the geographic area now known as Greater China. Chinese mythology includes many varied myths from regional and cultural traditions.
Much of t ...
and related mythologies. Some mountains are more mythological than others with some only having conjectural relations to real mountains. In some cases historical records indicate that explorers named newly charted mountains after mythological mountains; thus, sometimes real mountains were named after mythological mountains. For example, the identification of Kunlun kept moving west (when it was not stated to be in the south). In other cases, the mountains seem real enough, but a mythological or fictional layer or layers have been added to their description; for example, the stories told about the
Flaming Mountains
The Flaming Mountains () or Huoyan Mountains, are barren, eroded, red sandstone hills in the Tian Shan of Xinjiang. They lie near the northern rim of the Taklamakan Desert and east of the city of Turpan. Their striking gullies and trenches caused b ...
. Due to the features of Chinese vocabulary, syntax, and resulting translations, it is not clear whether a given "mountain" is one mountain, a mountain range, or merely a significant hill, though mythological exaggeration occurs. For example, some mountains are said to reach up into Heaven. Mountains or mythological mountains significantly related to Chinese and related mythology include:
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Eight Pillars: eight mountains holding the earth and heaven apart
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Feather Mountain: a place of exile during or just after the
world flood and other events
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Flaming Mountains
The Flaming Mountains () or Huoyan Mountains, are barren, eroded, red sandstone hills in the Tian Shan of Xinjiang. They lie near the northern rim of the Taklamakan Desert and east of the city of Turpan. Their striking gullies and trenches caused b ...
: located in the
Tian Shan
The Tian Shan,, , otk, 𐰴𐰣 𐱅𐰭𐰼𐰃, , tr, Tanrı Dağı, mn, Тэнгэр уул, , ug, تەڭرىتاغ, , , kk, Тәңіртауы / Алатау, , , ky, Теңир-Тоо / Ала-Тоо, , , uz, Tyan-Shan / Tangritog‘ ...
range of Central Asia. Subject of Chinese stories and Uyghur mythology
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Jade Mountain: in some accounts the dwelling of
Xiwangmu, Queen Mother of the West
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Kunlun Mountain: a mythical mountain, dwelling of various divinities and fabulous plants and animals
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Mount Buzhou: mythological mountain, one of the Pillars holding the earth and sky apart, damaged by
Gong Gong
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Mount Penglai: paradise; a fabled isle in the China Sea
Locations in Chinese mythology
Mythological mountains