These names occur in the mythologies and legends of the Chinese people.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
CangjiemChinese, Chinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology In Chinese mythology, Cangjie was a retainer of the Yellow Emperor (Xuanyuan) who invented written Chinese characters. According to legend, his invention caused ghosts to cry in the night and the sky to rain millet... [more]
Chang'e嫦娥fChinese Mythology From Chinese 嫦娥 (Cháng'é) meaning "beautiful Chang", an altered form of the deity's original name 姮娥 (Héng'é) to avoid the taboo of sharing a homophonous name character with 2nd-century BC Emperor Wen of Han (personal name Liu Heng (劉恆))... [more]
Changqin长琴mFar Eastern Mythology, Chinese Mythology From a combination of the characters 长 (cháng, meaning “long”) and 琴 (qín, referring to the guqin or Chinese zither). This is the name of a mythological figure found in the Shanhaijing (山海经), or Classic of Mountains and Seas... [more]
Chiyou蚩尤mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology The name of a mythological tribal chieftain who famously opposed the Yellow Emperor. Various sources describe him as a horned humanoid with four eyes, six arms, and hoofed feet, with 81 brothers-in-arms... [more]
Chonghua重华mChinese, Chinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From the characters 重 (chóng, meaning “double”, “layered”) and 华 (huá, meaning “flower”, “luxuriance”). This was the supposed personal name of Emperor Shun, one of the Five Emperors said to have ruled in the early days of Chinese civilization... [more]
Diaochan貂蝉fChinese Mythology Diaochan is the name of one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. Her name literally means "sable cicada" in Chinese (貂 diāo "sable", 蝉 chán "cicada"), believed to have been derived from the sable tails and jade decorations in the shape of cicadas which adorned the hats of high-ranking officials in the Eastern Han dynasty... [more]
Dongwanggong东王公mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 东 (dōng, meaning “eastern”), 王 (wáng, meaning “royal”) and 公 (gōng, meaning “duke”, “lord” or “father”). Dongwanggong was the male counterpart of Xiwangmu who ruled in the east and was associated with Yang energy (as opposed to Xiwangmu’s Yin)... [more]
Feilian飞廉，蜚廉mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology The name of a creature or deity in Chinese mythology who is consistently associated with the wind. According to one source it has the body of a bird and the head of a deer. Another source says it has the body and horns of a deer, the head of a sparrow, the spots of a leopard and the tail of a snake... [more]
Fufei宓妃fChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 宓 (fu, a surname) and 妃 (fei, meaning “concubine, consort”). More commonly known as Luoshen (洛神), Fufei is the goddess of the Luo River in Chinese mythology, first appearing in the Chuci (楚辞) or Elegies of Chu as the wife of the river god Hebo... [more]
Fuxi伏羲mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 伏 (fu, meaning “to lie prostrate”) and 羲 (xi, referring to the god himself). Fuxi is the twin brother and husband of Nüwa, one of the ancestors of humankind... [more]
Gonggong共工mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 共 (gòng, meaning “together”) and 工 (gōng, meaning “work”). Gonggong is a water god in Chinese mythology whose violent, subversive nature caused great disasters and floods... [more]
Goumang句芒mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 句 (gou, meaning “hooked”) and 芒 (mang, meaning “awn”). Goumang is the Chinese god of wood who oversees the spring and the east, especially the rising place of the sun... [more]
Guanyin观音, 觀音fChinese Mythology Means "one who observes sounds" from Chinese 观 (guān) meaning "to observe, to view" and 音 (yīn) meaning "sound, tone", referring to the prayers and cries of those who need help... [more]
Gǔn鲧mChinese, Chinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology In Chinese mythology, this is the father of Yu the Great (Wenming). He was the first person who tried to quell the Great Flood, but he failed and was either exiled or executed at Yushan (Feather Mountain)... [more]
Hebo河伯mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 河 (he, meaning “river”) and 伯 (bo, meaning “elder”, “earl” or “lord”). Hebo is the god of the Yellow River in Chinese mythology. He is attested as far back as the Chuci (楚辞) or Elegies of Chu, where he is described as a figure riding a dragon-powered chariot... [more]
Houtu后土fChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 后 (hou, meaning “queen”) and 土 (tu, meaning “earth”). Houtu was the Chinese goddess of the earth who regulated all life above ground. In earlier Chinese texts she was also a goddess of the underworld, but later she was absorbed into the Daoist religion and became one of the main deities assisting the rule of Yudi.
Hou Yi后羿mChinese Mythology From Chinese 后羿 (Hòuyì) meaning "king Yi" or "monarch Yi". In Chinese mythology this is the name of a legendary archer and the husband of the moon goddess Chang'e.
Jiufeng九凤m & fChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 九 (jiu, meaning “nine”) and 凤 (feng, meaning “phoenix”). This is the name of a deity mentioned in the Shanhaijing (山海经), or Classic of Mountains and Seas... [more]
Kuafu夸父mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 夸 (kua, meaning “boast”) and 父 (fu, meaning “father”). Kuafu was a giant in Chinese mythology most well known for trying to chase or race with the sun... [more]
Leizu嫘祖fChinese, Chinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology In Chinese mythology, Leizu was the principal wife of the Yellow Emperor (Xuanyuan) and the inventor of sericulture. She is commonly worshipped in parts of Northern China as the “Silkworm Mother”.
Limu力牧mChinese, Chinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 力 (lì, meaning “strength”) and 牧 (mù, meaning “to herd”). In Chinese mythology this name belonged to one of the greatest retainers of the Yellow Emperor (Xuanyuan)... [more]
Linglun伶伦mChinese, Chinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology In Chinese mythology, Linglun was a retainer of the Yellow Emperor (Xuanyuan) who was said to have invented music. He made flutes that mimicked the songs of many bird species and devised the Chinese 5-tone music scale... [more]
Liyu丽娱fChinese, Chinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From the characters 丽 (lì, meaning “beautiful”) and 娱 (yú, meaning “amusement” or “to make happy”). In Chinese mythology Liyu was a secondary wife to the Yellow Emperor (Xuanyuan) who was said to have invented cooking... [more]
Luwu陆吾mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology The name of a deity found in the Shanhaijing (山海经), or Classic of Mountains and Seas. It has the face of a human, the body of a tiger and nine tails. It acts as a groundskeeper for the supreme heavenly god Di, watching over his gardens on Mount Kunlun as well as the Nine Domains of Heaven.
MaricifJapanese Mythology, Chinese Mythology Marici is a deva or bodhisattva associated with light and the sun. She is known as Molizhitian (摩利支天) or Molizhitian Pusa (摩利支天菩萨) in China and Marishi-ten (摩利支天?) in Japan and in Tibetan as 'Odzer Canma, "Woman Endowed with Rays of Light" (Wylie: 'od zer can ma)... [more]
Mazu妈祖, 媽祖fChinese Mythology From Chinese 媽祖 (Māzǔ), derived from 妈 (mā) meaning "mother" and 祖 (zǔ) meaning "ancestor, forebear, grandparent". In Chinese mythology Mazu is a sea goddess and the deified form of a medieval Fujianese shamaness who was revered by seafarers and sailors.
Nüba女魃fChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 女 (nü, meaning “female, woman”) and 魃 (ba, meaning “drought spirit”). This is the name of a mythological figure mentioned in the Shanhaijing (山海经), or Classic of Mountains and Seas... [more]
Panhu盘瓠, 盤瓠mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 盘 (pan, meaning “plate”) and 瓠 (hu, meaning “gourd”). This is the name of a hound in Chinese mythology who possessed a five-colored pelt. He is considered the ancestor of several ethnic minorities in southern China, such as the Yao and She peoples.
Qianhuang乾荒mChinese, Chinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From the characters 乾 (qián, a trigram symbol that represents “heaven”) and 荒 (huāng, meaning “wilderness, wasteland”). This is supposedly the personal name of Zhuanxu, one of the Five Emperors and grandson of the Yellow Emperor (Xuanyuan).
Qiongchan穷蝉mChinese, Chinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From the characters 穷 (qióng, meaning “to reach a limit” or “poor”) and 蝉 (chán, meaning “cicada”). This name was borne by one of the sons of Zhuanxu who was given ownership of the Gumu (姑幕) Kingdom... [more]
Rushou蓐收mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 蓐 (ru, meaning “straw mat”) and 收 (shou, meaning “to gather” or “harvest”). Rushou is the Chinese god of metal who oversees the season of autumn and the west... [more]
Shangdi上帝mChinese Mythology Shangdi (Chinese: 上帝; pinyin: Shàngdì; Wade–Giles: Shang Ti), also written simply, "Emperor" (Chinese: 帝; pinyin: Dì), is the Chinese term for "Supreme Deity" or "Highest Deity" in the theology of the classical texts, especially deriving from Shang theology and finding an equivalent in the later Tian ("Heaven" or "Great Whole") of Zhou theology.
Shaohao少昊mChinese, Chinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From the characters 少 (shào, meaning “young”) and 昊 (hào, meaning “vastness” or “heaven”). In Chinese mythology, Shaohao was one of the Five Emperors, sage-kings who ruled during the early days of Chinese civilization... [more]
Shennong神农, 神農mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 神 (shen, meaning “god” or “divine”) and 农 (nong, meaning “farmer”). This was the name of a culture hero in Chinese mythology who taught agriculture and herbology to humanity... [more]
Sunü素女fChinese Mythology Means "immaculate girl" in Chinese. This was the name of an ancient Chinese goddess associated with music and sexuality.
Tianwu天吴mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 天 (tian, meaning “heaven”) and 吴 (wu, referring to the Wu people of southeast China). This is the name of a deity found in the Shanhaijing (山海经), or Classic of Mountains and Seas... [more]
Xingtian刑天mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 刑 (xing, meaning “punishment”) and 天 (tian, meaning “heaven”). This is the name of a mythological figure who appears in the Shanhaijing (山海经) or Classic of Mountains and Seas... [more]
Xiwangmu西王母fChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 西 (xi, meaning “western”), 王 (wang, meaning “royal”) and 母 (mu, meaning “mother”). Xiwangmu is one of the oldest and most important goddesses in Chinese mythology, with evidence of her cult dating back to the Shang Dynasty (c.1600 - 1046 BCE)... [more]
Xuanming玄冥mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 玄 (xuan, meaning “dark, mysterious”) and 冥 (ming, meaning “murky” or “sea”). This is a byname of Yuqiang, the Chinese god of the north, winter and water.
Xuannü玄女fChinese Mythology Means "dark lady" or "mysterious lady" in Chinese. This was the name of an ancient Chinese goddess of war, sex, and longevity.
Xuanxiao玄嚣mChinese, Chinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From the characters 玄(xuán, meaning “dark”, “mysterious” or “black”) and 嚣 (xiāo, meaning “noise”). This is the supposed personal name of Shaohao, one of the Five Emperors who ruled in the early days of Chinese civilization.
Yaoji瑶姬fChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 瑶 (yao, meaning “beautiful jade”) 姬 (ji, meaning “princess” or “noble woman”). Yaoji is the goddess of Wushan, a mountain in southern China. Some sources say that she was a daughter of the Flame Emperor, while later ones incorporate her into the Daoist religion by making her a daughter of Xiwangmu.... [more]
Yinglong应龙mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 应 (yìng, meaning “responding, heeding”) and 龙 (lóng, meaning “dragon”). This is the name of a dragon that appears in several Chinese mythological texts, including the Shanhaijing (山海经) or Classic of Mountains and Seas... [more]
Yingzhao英招mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 英 (ying, meaning “flower”) and 招 (zhao, meaning “to summon, to beckon”). This is the name of a deity mentioned in the Shanhaijing (山海经) or Classic of Mountains and Seas... [more]
Yudi玉帝mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 玉 (yu, meaning “jade”) and 帝 (di, meaning “emperor”). In Daoist mythology, Yudi is the supreme ruler of the cosmos who has authority over heaven, earth and hell... [more]
Yuqiang禺强mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology Also known as Yujiang (禺疆) and Yujing (禺京). He is the god of water who oversees the season of winter and the north, and resides in the North Sea. He is described as having a human face and bird’s body, standing astride two red snakes and wearing two green snakes as earrings... [more]
Zhaojun昭君fChinese Mythology Means "brilliant noble" in Chinese (貂 zhāo "brilliant", 君 jūn "king, ruler, noble"). This name is the courtesy name of one of the Four Beauties of ancient China, Wang Zhaojun (王昭君 Wáng Zhāojūn), whose given name was Wang Qiang (王嬙 Wáng Qiáng)... [more]
Zhuguang烛光fChinese, Chinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From the characters 烛 (zhú, meaning “shining, torch-like”) and 光 (guāng, meaning “light”). This is the name of a goddess mentioned in the Shanhaijing (山海经) or Classic of Mountains and Seas... [more]
Zhulong烛龙mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From a combination of the characters 烛 (zhu, meaning “shining, torch-like”) and 龙 (long, meaning “dragon”). According to the Shanhaijing (山海经), this was a deity who lived on Mount Zhong in the far north... [more]
Zhurong祝融mChinese Mythology, Far Eastern Mythology From the Chinese character 祝 (zhu) meaning “to pray” and 融 (rong) meaning “to melt” or “brightness”. This is the name of the Chinese god of fire who oversees the south and the season of summer... [more]