Chinese+Mythology

= Chinese Mythology = =   = = Introduction:  =     Mythology is known around the world throughout many different countries. China is just one example of where myths and legends   are found. “//Pan Gu and the Creation of the Universe”// is one of the famous myths found in China. It tells about how the universe was created and why they told this story, how their culture believed the universe was created, and it even relates to Greek and Roman mythology around the world.

= Summary:  = The myth “//Pan Gu and the Creation of the Universe”//, explains how the universe came to be and it reflects the larger mythology of the culture. To begin, Pan Gu lived within an eggshell. One day he yawned and the egg was cracked into two even portions. One floated upwards and created the sky and the other portion dropped down and created the earth’s crusty surface. He feared that they would fuse together so he stood in the middle and pushed his hands up against the sky and pressed his massive feet on the surface to keep them apart. He stayed like this for 18,000 years. He grew taller and taller and finally the gap reached 30,000 miles apart. The sky was firm and solid and the earth was securely fixed far beneath it. Pan Gu was now old, frail, and his bones ached. He lay down to die. But as he lay there dying, parts of his body were transformed to create the world. For example, his head became the mountain ranges; his blood became the rivers and streams; the hairs on his head were changed into blossoms; his flesh became the trees and soil; his left eye was transformed into the sun and the right eye became the moon; his breath became the winds and clouds; his voice was thunder and lightning. Finally, his sweat and tears were transformed into droplets of rain and sweet-smelling morning dew. Chinese worshiped Pan Gu because they believed that all the natural elements came from his sacred body. In all other myths these natural elements are present, showing how it reflects the larger mythology of the culture. In conclusion, //“Pan Gu and the Creation of the Universe”// reflects Chinese beliefs of how the universe was created and the larger mythology of the culture. 

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The Chinese are telling the story Pan Gu and the Creation of the Universe because it explains how the Universe was created. In most Chinese myths they explain how natural occurrences came to be. According to Pan Gu and the Creation of the Universe, the universe was formed by a man named Pan Gu that was born out of a shell. The shell cracked and the top half formed the sky and the lower half went down and formed the earth. Pan Gu was scared that the egg would close again so he stood there for 18,000 years, pushing the sky and earth apart until the gap was a distance of 30,000 ft. Pan Gu was old and tired from his many years of keeping the earth and sky seperated. Pan Gu lay down to die and his body parts transformed into the world. His body formed mountain ranges, rivers, streams, the moon, the sun etc. The Chinese believed that all natural elements came from him. Pan Gu is how the Chinese explained how the universe and all the natural elements on it were created. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> =<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">**Culture Analysis:**   = <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">The myth //“Pan Gu and the Creation of the Universe”// is a [|Chinese myth] that reflects their culture and even relates to the larger culture of the world. It relates to the Chinese culture because it tells about how they believed the universe to be created and it relates to the larger culture of the world because it reflects how the natural elements in the world were created. To begin, //“Pan Gu and the Creation of the Universe”// reflects how the Chinese culture believed the universe to be created. For example, they believed the sky and the earth’s surface were formed from an egg. They also believed that different parts of Pan Gu’s body became the mountains, rivers, streams, blossoms, trees, soil, winds, clouds, thunder, lightning, rain, dew, the sun, and the moon. “…they worshiped Pan Gu as a great creator and displayed the utmost respect for all the natural elements, believing them to be his sacred body spread out like a carpet before them beneath the blue arch of the heavens.” This quote from the myth //“Pan Gu and the Creation of the Universe”// tells that the people believed that all the natural elements came from Pan Gu’s sacred body. This also tells how this myth relates to the larger culture of the world. It relates to the larger culture because without this myth and the Chinese cultural beliefs, we might not have the natural elements in the world as we know them today. Finally, it was believed that Pan Gu was the first living being and the creator of all in Chinese mythology so without him there might not have been any living beings, earth, or Chinese mythology. All in all, //“Pan Gu and the Creation of the Universe”// reflects the environment and beliefs of the Chinese culture and relates to the larger culture of the world.
 * Story Analysis:**

The Myth pan Gu has many characteristics that also are found in other cultural myths. In Pan Gu the creation of the earth is explained. This is also explained in Greek and roman myths too. Things such as the egg in Pan Gu explain the cultural importance of the egg as a symbol, meaning birth or creation. An example of this in Greek mythology is the Trident of Poseidon, meaning ruler of the sea. Many characteristics of a myth are portrayed in both stories and both show how the culture is brought fourth through the myth. In Greek myths many gods are introduced, showing how the Greek people are mainly polytheistic. Chinese myths are also mainly polytheistic. The culture of China shown by its myths show how they have strong morals. An example of this that can be found in Greek myths is the myth of Pandora’s box. The myths of the cultures are both used to teach the young generations about how their way of life was either brought forth or why a certain thing happens. Things such as heaven and hell are explained in both myths, showing that both cultures in fact believe in some form of afterlife. Sometimes myths from the Greek culture included visiting the actual underworld. While some Chinese myths explain what happens when you die. Finally both myths reveal their own culture; although they may be alike they are very different at the same time. = <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">Conclusion: = <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">China is obviously one of the many countries around the world where mythology is found and is famous. “//Pan Gu and the Creation of the Universe//” reflects Chinese mythology because it demonstrates why the culture told this story, how they believed the universe to be created, how it relates to Greek and Roman mythology, and much, much more. So if you’re interested in reading about mythology from around the world, read about Chinese mythology and you will discover the myth //“Pan Gu and the Creation of the Universe”.// You will learn about Chinese cultural beliefs of how the universe was created and how it relates to other myths from around the world.
 * Culture Comparison:**

__**Citations:**__

Chin, Lawerence. "Creation myths Pangu & Enuma Elish." Creation of the Universe. 2005. New York Times. 29 September, 2008. < http://www.geocities.com/therapeuter2002/creationmythnotes.html >.
 * Group Citations:**

Duane, O.B. and N. Hutchinson. Chinese Myths and Legends. Great Britain: Brockhampton Press, 1998.

Eddy, Steve. "Chinese Myths." Living Myths. 2001. Steve Eddy and Claire Hamilton. 28 September, 2008. http://www.livingmyths.com/Chinese.htm.

Johnson, Daniel. "Pan Gu Creates the World." Chinese Culture. 2008. New York Times. 29 September, 2008. < http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa082098.htm >.

Kozielski, Dolores. "Pan Gu logo". Feng Shui. 2003. < http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fengshuiwrite.com/PanGulogo.35.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.fengshuiwrite.com/&h=183&w=172&sz=3&hl=en&start=2&um=1&usg=__WZ2GDOW0BFI0N1vUMSRtmX8ioIg=&tbnid=Q9BOJXIIsc3PMM:&tbnh=102&tbnw=96&prev=/images%3Fq%3DP >. 29 September, 2008.

Lindemans, Micha. "Pan-gu." Encyclopedia Mythica. : MMVI Encyclopedia Mythica, 03 March 1997.

Owens, Ken. "Pan Gu". Pan-Gu. 2005. < http://web.kennisnet2.nl/po/webquestscheppingsverhalen/docentenhandleiding/pangu >. 29 September, 2008.

Patterson, Laverna. "Creation and Flood Facts, Myths and Legends." Teaching Hearts. October 1, 2001. Teachinghearts. 23 September, 2008. http://www.teachinghearts.org/dr0iwrldegg.gif.