MYTHOLOGY

Pangu and the Creation of the World

 

In the beginning there was darkness everywhere, and Chaos ruled. Within the darkness there formed an egg, and inside the egg the giant Pangu came into being. For aeons, safely inside the egg, Pangu slept and grew. When he had grown to gigantic size he stretched his huge limbs and in so doing broke the egg. The lighter parts of the egg floated upwards to form the heavens and the denser parts sank downwards, to become the earth. And so was formed earth and sky, Yin and Yang.
 

Pangu saw what had happened and he was pleased. But he feared that heaven and earth might meld together again, so he placed himself between them, his head holding up the sky and his feet firmly upon the earth. Pangu continued to grow at a rate of ten feet a day for 18,000 years, so increasing the distance between heaven and earth, until they seemed fixed and secure, 30,000 miles apart. Now exhausted, Pangu went back to sleep and never woke up.

Pangu died, and his body went to make the world and all its elements. The wind and clouds were formed from his breath, his voice was thunder and lightning, his eyes became the sun and moon, his arms and his legs became the four directions of the compass and his trunk became the mountains. His flesh turned into the soil and the trees that grow on it, his blood into the rivers that flow and his veins into paths men travel. His body hair became the grass and herbs, and his skin the same, while precious stones and minerals were formed from his bones and teeth. His sweat became the dew and the hair of his head became the stars that trail throughout heaven. As for the parasites on his body, these became the diverse races of humankind.

Although Pangu is dead, some say he is still responsible for the weather, which fluctuates according to his moods.

 

COMMENTARY

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I’ve read some accounts about Chinese Mythology, and I’ve found out that there are five views of Creation in China. First on the list is that the Chinese don’t really believe that they have myths existed. It doesn’t solely mean that there were no myths at all. It is just that they believe that there was no proof that there was an effort explaining the world’s creation. Second, the concept was that heaven and earth is separated from one another. It is mind-numbing and boring because it was merely a concept. Third, it was influenced by Taoism and the existence of yin and yang. I guess this is the reason why it is considered to be the most famous idea about Chinese creation and why they believe that there is no myth. Their belief focuses on the idea that TAO is the essential and life should be a balance of good and evil. Fourth, there were some tribal stories but were vague and pointless. Lastly, the story of Pangu and his creation that is the most complete story of China. All I can say is that it’s mind-blowing. I never expected that it would be that witty. Who would have thought that a God will be from a black egg? Is this mean that eggs to them are sacred? The answer is no. I have never been in China. All I can infer is that the people there give importance to their environment. Since the elements of Pangu became the environment they lived with, they certainly take good care of it.