author
E. T. C. (Edward Theodore Chalmers) Werner
1864–1954
Best known for bringing Chinese folklore and religious tradition to English-language readers, this British diplomat-turned-sinologist spent decades in China and wrote vividly about myths, magic, and belief. His work helped introduce many Western readers to stories and traditions that were little known outside China.
1 Audiobook
Myths and Legends of China
by E. T. C. (Edward Theodore Chalmers) Werner
About the author
Born in 1864, Edward Theodore Chalmers Werner served as a British diplomat in Qing China before becoming known as a writer and sinologist. He spent many years in Chinese treaty ports and official posts, experience that shaped the books he later wrote about Chinese society, religion, and folklore.
Werner is especially remembered for writing on Chinese superstition, mythology, and popular belief. Works such as Myths and Legends of China and A Dictionary of Chinese Mythology made complex traditions more accessible to English-language readers and helped spark lasting interest in Chinese cultural history.
He died in 1954, but his books remain widely read by people curious about Chinese legend, religion, and storytelling. While some of his interpretations reflect the era in which he wrote, his work still stands as an important early bridge between Chinese tradition and Western readers.