Creation Myths Continued! (8)
Hey guys! This week we are continuing our creation myth discussion with one of my favorites, the Chinese creation story. There are various recorded versions of this myth, like most orature. This post will touch on a well-known version of the story.
The Chinese creation story tells of the cosmic egg of chaos. The cosmic egg contained all the matter of the universe. Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang, and all other universal elements spun together chaotically within the egg.
In the center of the chaotic egg, Pan Gu, the first man, grew for 18,000 years.
Pan Gu, amidst the chaos, wakes up after 18,000 years and splits the egg in two. Using the nature of duality found within Yin and Yang, Pan Gu splits the earth from the sky.
For 18,000 more years, Pan Gu held the earth and sky separate, dying soon after.
Jan and Yvonne Walls in Classical Chinese Myths translate the following version of what happens next:
"With the immense giant's death, the earth took on new character. His arms and legs became the four directions and the mountains. His blood became the rivers, and his sweat became the rain and dew. His voice became the thunder, and his breath became the winds. His hair became the grass, and his veins became the roads and paths. His teeth and bones became the minerals and rocks, and his flesh became the soil of the fields. Up above, his left eye became the sun, and his right eye became the moon. Thus in death, as in life, Pan Gu made the world as it is today."
Wow! What an interesting creation myth. This story is easily one of my favorite myths, I can never get enough of Chinese myth and folklore. Comment what you think of this creation story in comparison to any you like or have read, and feel free to give suggestions for next week's creation myth!
Thanks again for joining me!
The Chinese creation story tells of the cosmic egg of chaos. The cosmic egg contained all the matter of the universe. Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang, and all other universal elements spun together chaotically within the egg.
In the center of the chaotic egg, Pan Gu, the first man, grew for 18,000 years.
For 18,000 more years, Pan Gu held the earth and sky separate, dying soon after.
Jan and Yvonne Walls in Classical Chinese Myths translate the following version of what happens next:
"With the immense giant's death, the earth took on new character. His arms and legs became the four directions and the mountains. His blood became the rivers, and his sweat became the rain and dew. His voice became the thunder, and his breath became the winds. His hair became the grass, and his veins became the roads and paths. His teeth and bones became the minerals and rocks, and his flesh became the soil of the fields. Up above, his left eye became the sun, and his right eye became the moon. Thus in death, as in life, Pan Gu made the world as it is today."
Wow! What an interesting creation myth. This story is easily one of my favorite myths, I can never get enough of Chinese myth and folklore. Comment what you think of this creation story in comparison to any you like or have read, and feel free to give suggestions for next week's creation myth!
Thanks again for joining me!
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