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Stevens, K. G. (1997). Chinese Gods: The Unseen World of Spirits and Demons. London: Collins & Brown.
Someone has just posted scans of this excellent but hard to obtain title. As is explained, it's a good resource for those interested in classic Chinese literature, but it may also appeal to those with a general interest in folklore and anthropology.
See here for the uploader's introduction on his site about Journey to the West:
https://journeytothewestresearch.co...d-of-spirits-and-demons-1997-by-keith-stevens
Or here for a direct link to the scan (55mb):
https://journeytothewestresearch.fi...en-world-of-spirits-and-demons-compressed.pdf
Someone has just posted scans of this excellent but hard to obtain title. As is explained, it's a good resource for those interested in classic Chinese literature, but it may also appeal to those with a general interest in folklore and anthropology.
China is a land full of gods and goddesses, ranging from the Creators of the World to Worthies local to only one or two villages.
This book introduces the reader to the most important figures of Chinese folk history, and those of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.
Intensely pragmatic in their religion, Chinese people hold all gods in reverence, but it is only the ones who answer prayers with concrete results that are exceptionally praised. Many gods have particular specialities, for instance, there are different Wealth Gods for success in business and for gambling. There are also individual gods for each trade, from those for removal men in Hong Kong to students at Beijing University.
In addition, there are the City Gods and Kitchen Gods, the Earth Gods who protect a specific piece of land, and myriad spirits who protect wells, mountains or bridges, distribute rain or snow, control flooding or protect humanity from disease and epidemics.
Keith Stevens has spent a lifetime researching the subject, travelling extensively in China, Taiwan and throughout South-East Asia. He has gathered information from hundreds of temple keepers, god-carvers and religious specialists and collected details of images and their stories – providing glimpses into the sometimes little-known folk history of China. The author also provides pointers on how to identify images, together with invaluable background information including chronology of Chinese history, a map of the area covered, a glossary and detailed index with the names of deities in Chinese characters.
See here for the uploader's introduction on his site about Journey to the West:
https://journeytothewestresearch.co...d-of-spirits-and-demons-1997-by-keith-stevens
Or here for a direct link to the scan (55mb):
https://journeytothewestresearch.fi...en-world-of-spirits-and-demons-compressed.pdf