Sinking city myth

The sinking city myth is one of the great flood themes in Chinese folklore. This myth includes three specific characteristics: one or two survivors; a blood-crying statue; and the sinking of an entire city, along with its citizens. The survivor(s) are saved by the gods because of their benevolent acts; the survivors may include an old lady or a devoted son. The blood-crying statue is often a stone lion statue, or sometimes a tortoise statue.

There are several different versions of the sinking city myth.

This theme is often confused with another flood theme in which the sunken area is greatly increased, from a city to the whole world.