The Chinese Classics
Foundational mythology, supernatural folklore, and cultivation epics preserved in authentic Chinese text alongside independent bilingual translation streams.
100% Free & Open Access
Chinese & English Streams
Historical Source Texts
西游记
Public Domain
Journey to the West
西游记
• Xī Yóu Jì
Follow Sun Wukong the Monkey King and the monk Tang Sanzang on their perilous pilgrimage to the Western Heaven, encountering demons, spirits, and celestial gods.
封神演义
Public Domain
Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi) – Chinese Classic Novel
封神演义
• Fēngshén Yǎnyì
The epic mythical war between the Shang and Zhou dynasties, featuring Daoist immortals, celestial spirits, magical treasures, and cosmic battles.
白蛇传
Public Domain
The Legend of the White Snake
白蛇传
• Bái Shé Zhuàn
One of China's four greatest folk legends — a supernatural romance between the mortal scholar Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen, a thousand-year-old white snake spirit.
聊斋志异
Public Domain
Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio
聊斋志异
• Liáozhǎi Zhìyì
Pu Songling's masterwork collection of nearly 500 supernatural tales detailing fox spirits, ghosts, celestial maidens, and strange earthly phenomena.
綠野仙蹤
Public Domain
The Green Wilds Immortal
綠野仙蹤
Written by Li Baichuan in the 18th century, Lüye Xianzong follows the scholar Leng Yubing, who abandons the examination halls to seek immortality, gathers disciples, battles demons and corrupt officials, and walks the long Daoist...
鏡花緣
Public Domain
Flowers in the Mirror
鏡花緣
Li Ruzhen's 19th-century fantasy begins when a hundred flower fairies are banished to the mortal world. The scholar Tang Ao sails to strange lands such as the Country of Women and the Country of Gentlemen, then the reborn fairies...
濟公全傳
Public Domain
The Legend of Ji Gong
濟公全傳
The full tales of Ji Gong, the ragged, wine-loving "mad monk" of Lingyin Temple who is secretly a living arhat. He uses Buddhist magic to punish villains, save the poor, and outwit demons and arrogant officials across 240 chapters...
東遊記
Public Domain
Journey to the East
東遊記
This Ming dynasty novel tells how the Eight Immortals, including Li Tieguai, Lü Dongbin and He Xiangu, each reached the Dao, and how they crossed the Eastern Sea with their magic treasures and went to war with the Dragon King.
西遊補
Public Domain
A Supplement to the Journey to the West
西遊補
Dong Yue's surreal 17th-century sequel to Journey to the West. Sun Wukong falls into a dream world built by the Mackerel Demon, where he travels through the Tower of Myriad Mirrors, past and future, and even serves as King Yama to...
The Roots of Modern Fantasy & Xianxia
Why we preserve and digitize these public-domain epics for readers worldwide.
Ancient Source Texts
Preserved directly from open historical archives (Wikisource, Gutenberg) without paywalls or restrictive licenses.
The Origin of Cultivation
Every modern Donghua, Manhua, and Xianxia web novel draws its core magic systems, Daoist principles, and mythical beasts from these four foundational works.
Bilingual Reading Streams
Switch seamlessly between authentic Chinese characters and English translations to read, compare, and learn the lore at your own pace.
