manuscripts. Liu, who has read most of the original material, said, "So far, the content of this edition is the richest one. Compared with other versions, this edition is more beautiful and is in the linguistic style." In the same year, the Beijing-based Hualian Publishing House bought the copyrights to publish the Epic of Darkness. But due to financial problems, publication of the book was delayed year after year. In 2000, Zhou Baiyi, publisher of the Changjiang Arts Publishing House, persuaded Hu to end his former contract with Hualian Publishing House and gave rights to his publishing house. Plot summary In the beginning, everything was a cloud of gas, chaos and darkness. After eons of effort, the first drop of water was created by a deity named Jiang Ku (). However a god named Lang Dang Zi () swallowed that drop of water and died. His body was split in five forms: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth. From the elements was born Pan Gu who split the heavens and the earth before he eventually died and his body became the Earth. However mankind had yet to be created at this time. From the five elements and animals, were born demons and gods who fought each other until a great flood overcame the land. From this great flood, two dragons one black and one yellow fought a great battle. A goddess, Sacred Mother Hao Tian, helped the yellow dragon defeat the black dragon. In gratitude, the yellow dragon laid three eggs which the Sacred Mother swallowed and gave birth to three gods, Heaven, Earth and Hell. Later from the flood came five dragons who found a gourd in the Eastern sea. Hao Tian opened the Gourd and found two humans, Fuxi and Nüwa, and told them to copulate and thus humans were born after the flood waters had receded. See also Music of Hubei Notes External links Ancient Chinese Folk Epic Published Shennongjia Chinese mythology Chinese folklore Epic poems Chinese poems