Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s1.t8.5

v2.c10.s1.t8.5

**Classification:** From the perspective of folklore, Indian folk literature includes a full range of myths, epics, tales, ballads, riddles, proverbs, folk dramas and folk dances with rich contents for each category. By religion, Indian mythology can be divided into Hindu mythology which include Vedic mythology, epic mythology, Purana mythology and the likes; Buddhist mythology include legends of the Buddha’s life and tales recorded in Buddhist sutras; Jain mythology, which narrates the life of 63 major figures, including Mahavira and other 23 Tirthankaras, 12 Cakravartis, 9 Narayanas (or Vasudevas), 9 Pratinarayanas and 9 Baladevas; and, the Islamic mythology, including tales in the *Koran*, ballads, riddles, proverbs, folk dramas and folk dances mostly developed and spread after 13ᵗʰ century, and their collection, compilation and study did not begin until modern times.