Abstract: Containing a great amount of embryonic forms of mythical novels and stories, the geographical books in the Six Dynasties provide clues for the study of the nature and spread of mythical novels. By analyzing the mythical records of caves in the geographical books, this papers examines the following three elements:first, the "facts" foundation and narrative modes of the construction of cave stories; second, the categories and local features of cave stories; third, the knowledge revealed in mythical novels and the historical features of local writing. We find that mythical novels are actually "fragments" of geographical books in the Six Dynasties rather than literary fictions. The various caves in the geographical books in the Six Dynasties are sacred sites and monuments created by legends and stories rather than objects of natural geography. By studying the cave stories in the geographical books and mythical novels in the Six Dynasties, we can not only compile and restore the lost texts, but understand better the source, nature and historical context of mythical novels as well.

Key words: geographical books, cave stories, mythical novels