"chinese mythology" refers to mythology associated with the geographic area now known as "china", and in traditional chinese mythology often known as the "middle kingdom". chinese mythology includes many varied myths from regional and cultural traditions. chinese mythology is far from monolithic, not being an integrated system, even among just han people. chinese mythology is encountered in the traditions of various classes of people, geographic regions, historical periods including the present, and from various ethnic groups. china is the home of many mythological traditions, including that of han chinese and their huaxia predecessors, as well as tibetan mythology, turkic mythology, korean mythology, and many others. however, the study of chinese mythology tends to focus upon material in chinese language. much of the mythology involves exciting stories full of fantastic people and beings, the use of magical powers, often taking place in an exotic mythological place or time. along with chinese folklore, chinese mythology forms an important part of chinese folk religion (yang 2005, 4, and elsewhere). in these cases, chinese mythological geography forms and informs these ideational processes.