Abstract: In terms of narrative discourse and content organization, there exist striking differences between Shan Hai Ching and the Theogony. The former lays particular emphasis on space, while the latter on time. This difference can also be found in other myths and epics in ancient China and Greece. The space-based Chinese mythology and the time-spaced Western mythology reflect the respective psychological mapping of the two cultures. The difference, in turn, has a great impact on the two narrative traditions. Western culture and literature, especially narrative literature, experiences the transformation from the time-dominant narrative to the space-dominant narrative, while Chinese culture and literature undergoes an opposite change from the space-dominant narrative to the time-dominant narrative, although space still remains important in its narrative configuration.

Key words: Shan Hai Ching, Theogony, Chinese and Western myths, configurational characteristics, narrative tradition