Abstract:

Legends of Mountains and Seas, as a book gathering many Chinese ancient myths, is called "the ancestors of narrative
wonders in ancient and modern" and "the ancestors of strange language in ancient and modern". It records the most kinds of monsters among other documents in pre-Qin period and it also narrates bizarre gods and divine power through metamorphosis, which fully shows the comprehensive life view of primitive people and their devout totem worship. Through portraying the shapeshifting of gods and creating a wonderful metamorphosis myths world, Legends of Mountains and Seas was describing the images of gods, goddess and mythical creatures, and constructing a magical and charming metamorphosis myths world, which greatly relies on the power of primitive people's totem worship. According to the narrative way of shapeshifting of human being and animals, the narrative type of animal metamorphosis in Legends of Mountains and Seas can be classified into two types: the human and animal totemic type, and the animal totemic type.

Key words: Legends of Mountains and Seas, animal, metamorphosis, narrative, type