人类在悠悠蓝天和苍茫大地之间生活、繁衍，人们运用智慧和想象，不断地解释世界，解释生活；在创造物质财富的同时，也创造了丰富的精神财富。神话传说就是远古人类创造的最重要的精神财富。以华夏族神话传说为中心，吸收了部分东夷、苗蛮的神话传说而逐步形成的中国神话传说有着其独特的魅力。 本书根据一般神话传说的叙事程序，将散见于各种中国古代典籍中的资料加以整合，把情节相关的神话传说安排在适合的位置，形成一个符合一般神话叙事秩序的体系，方便读者从整体上把握中国丰富的神话传说。
The author believes that ancient Chinese myths and legends were gradually formed on the basis of those of the Huaxia (Han) and by absorbing from the Dongyi (ancient eastern tribes) and the Miaoman (ancient Southern tribes).The author sorted materials from various ancient Chinese books and records,and arranged the myths in order to aid readers' appreciation of the materials.In some chapters, he compares Chinese myths with western ones (especiallythe Greek).
