穆天子传

An episodic narrative compiles legendary journeys and encounters, blending travelogue-like description with mythic episodes and cosmological commentary. It records a sequence of voyages to remote places and supernatural realms, describing marvels, ritual observances, and meetings with spirits and divine figures. Passages alternate between geographic detail, moral or ritual reflection, and fantastical storytelling, often linking landscape features to omens and cosmology. The text functions as a hybrid of chronicle and mythic account, assembling explanations for sacred sites and ceremonial practices while suggesting symbolic meanings for the central figure’s movements.