The Greatest Stories Ever Told Were Born in Asia.
Ancient Asian Legends brings the Monkey King, the Dragon King, and the heroes of Journey to the West to life in English — retold by bilingual storytellers who grew up with these tales.
For thousands of years, the myths and epics of Asia have shaped the imaginations of billions. Yet for English-speaking audiences, these stories have remained just out of reach — translated in dry academic editions, or lost entirely. Ancient Asian Legends was created to change that. We retell the defining works of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and South Asian mythology with the craft and drama they deserve, in vivid English that honors the originals.
We begin with Journey to the West — one of the most beloved and wildly imaginative epics in human history. A monk. A Monkey King with the power to challenge heaven. Eighty-one trials standing between them and enlightenment. Start from the beginning and you won’t stop.
✦ Featured Episode
Episode 1: The Legend Begins
Sun Wukong emerges from a magical stone on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits, claiming his throne as Monkey King. But when the weight of mortality haunts him, he abandons paradise to seek the immortals and unlock the secrets of eternal life.
This opening chapter establishes the mythological foundation that made Journey to the West a cornerstone of Chinese literary tradition during the Ming Dynasty. The stone birth motif draws from ancient Chinese cosmology, where heaven and earth's essence can spontaneously generate life, reflecting Daoist beliefs about natural transformation.
About Ancient Asian Legends
Some stories are older than memory — passed down through dynasties, whispered by grandmothers, and carried across oceans in the hearts of those who left home.
Ancient Asian Legends brings these timeless tales to life for listeners around the world, whether you grew up hearing them in your native tongue or are discovering them for the very first time. Each episode is a bridge between worlds: between East and West, between ancient and modern, between the stories that shaped a culture and the generations still living inside them.
Meet Your Narrator: Meilee Soon
Meilee Soon was born and raised in China, where legends such as Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang weren't just bedtime stories: they were history, moral compass, and magic all at once. Today, she lives between two worlds, building bridges across Asia and the United States through her work in cross-border business.
But no matter where she travels, the stories of her childhood have never left her.
Ancient Asian Legends is Meilee's way of honoring those stories: retelling them with the warmth and intimacy of someone who grew up believing them, for an audience who deserves to hear them.
"这些故事属于我们所有人。"
"These stories belong to all of us."
