Cosmogony In Chinese Culture

Words: 1087
Pages: 5
Open Document
Chinese Culture and Cosmogony
There are countless different cosmogony myths around the world, each with its own unique perspective of how the universe and the world came into existence. These myths often express a wide variety of values, serving as a reference point from which people can base their lifestyles. However, it has to be wondered, from where did the multitude of values observed in these cosmogony myths originate? For one myth in particular, the story of Pan Gu and Nü Wa, the origin of the story’s values are found in the very culture that the myth is associated with, the Chinese. The cosmogony myth of Pan Gu and Nü Wa heavily reflects the values of correctness, harmony, and benevolence observed in the everyday lives of Chinese society. …show more content…
Benevolence has many different meanings, but in Chinese society, it is most commonly known as the principle that guides social relationships (Lihua 2013). This principle guides a great range of social customs for the Chinese, from the hierarchy in a household with the father at the head of the house, to the way an employee bows to his boss when he greets him (Xinhua 2004). China’s concept of benevolence can blatantly be recognized in the Pan Gu and Nü Wa myth. The myth states that the aristocrats are the perfect humans who were crafted by the gods own hands, while the poor commoners are not as perfect and were mass produced by flinging mud from a vine (Walls 135). This reflects how, in …show more content…
For the Chinese, harmony is the ultimate goal for which one can strive (Zhizhen 2008). Chinese society believes that the world is in a state of imbalance, and that bringing balance to the world is the greatest task one can accomplish while on earth (Zhizhen 2008). This can be witnessed in the myth of Pan Gu and Nü Wa, when Pan Gu decides to release the chaos of the universe from inside of the egg and holds the heavens above the earth to keep balance in the universe (Walls 135). Nü Wa displays a desire for harmony
Show More

Related Documents: Cosmogony In Chinese Culture

AP Human Geography Religion Notes Essay

Religion Unit Essay Notes 1. Secularism began to arise with the seperation of church and state in Europe. A. Why is this so? (Deblij 207, 222-224) Secularism is the indifference to or rejection of formal religion. The most secular countries today are in Europe. Secularism has become more widespread during the past century due to the rise in democracy. Democratic governments disadvantage the traditional practices of a religion because they offer freedom, whereas other forms of government may…

Words 1846 - Pages 8

Questions On Creole Language

class, background, political, and religion all effect dialect. Boundaries such as mountains effect dialogs of certain places. Food, objects from everyday activities, and rural life affect dialog. Ideograms Describe an idea. An example would be Chinese, Japanese, Sumerian, and Egyptian. They all have a phonetic component. Isolated Language A language that is unrelated to any other language. Therefore, is not attached to any other language family. Language Family, Branch, and Group…

Words 6414 - Pages 26

The Birth of Civilization Essay

this figure seem to emphasize the features of a particular person or the attributes of a particular role? Hear the Audio for Chapter 1 at www.myhistorylab.com CRAIMC01_xxxii-031hr2.qxp 2/17/11 3:22 PM Page xxxii EARLY HUMANS AND THEIR CULTURE page 1 WHY IS “culture” considered a defining trait of human beings? EARLY CIVILIZATIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST TO ABOUT 1000 B.C.E. page 5 HOW DID control over water resources influence early Middle Eastern civilizations? ANCIENT NEAR EASTERN EMPIRES page 14…

Words 18945 - Pages 76