Chinese Creation

The Creation of the Universe Ð'- China

Ð'* The philosophy of the Chinese people is illustrated by the principle of Yin and Yang, as illustrated by the previous slide. 

Ð'* You'll note that the symbol embodies two interlocking, complementary elements, each the opposite of the other inside a circle, symbolic of the primal unity that precedes the yin/yang separation.

The Creation of the Universe Ð'- China

Ð'* The Yin and Yang symbol represents cosmic duality. 

Ð'* Yin symbolizes femininity, the north, cold, shadow, the Earth, the passive, and dampness.

Ð'* Yang symbolizes masculinity, the south, warmth, light, the heavens, the active, dryness, and the Emperor.

The Creation of the Universe Ð'- China

Ð'* The division of Yin and Yang into two complementary halves is represented by the bisecting of the circle with an S-curve: the yin half is dark and the yang half light.

Ð'* From this polarity comes the set of five elements: water, wood, fire, earth, and metal ( as opposed to the Greek concept of four) and from them the "ten thousand things" of the world.

The Creation of the Universe Ð'- China

Ð'* The mutual dependence of yin and yang is expressed by a dark circular center in the yang sector and a white circular center in the yin.

Ð'* This illustrates that light and shadow are not in conflict for domination of the whole; rather they seek completion in one another.

Ð'* Odd numbers are associated with yang, and even numbers with yin.

The Creation of the Universe Ð'- China

Ð'* In ancient cave temples there were Yin and Yang stones. The former had to be kept moist, the latter dry. When rainfall was excessive, the yang stone (or in times of drought or heat the yin stone) was whipped to awaken its powers, to restore the proper harmonic balance between the two principles." --Hans Biederman Dictionary of Symbolism

The Creation of the Universe Ð'- China

Ð'* With this understanding of Chinese philosophy, it becomes easier to appreciate the Chinese myth of the creation of the universe.

Ð'* "In the beginning, an egg contained the entire universe."

Ð'* The question: why does the myth use an egg?

The Creation of the Universe Ð'- China

Ð'* Since the universe is contained in the egg, the round shape of the egg (in three dimensions) suggests the circle of the unity of all things preceding Yin and Yang.

Ð'* After the egg is broken by Pangu, the yin and yang separate from the chaotic mixture inside the egg and take their places in the universe.

The Creation of the Universe Ð'- China

The Creation of the Universe Ð'- China

Ð'* The Chinese, as all cultures, observed nature and saw that things came into existence from eggs Ð'- birds, fish, insects, reptiles. Had they the biological wherewithal, they would have also realized that mammals too, including humans, came from fertilized eggs.

The Creation of the Universe Ð'- China

Ð'* The egg lends itself well to the yin/yang principle of Chinese philosophy, the sense of complementary pairs to form a comprehensive whole.

Ð'* Further, following the egg motif, eggs are usually comprised of a yolk and white inside the shell as two distinct parts.

The Creation of the Universe Ð'- China

Ð'* Pangu breaks the egg, and the yin and yang take their appropriate places in the universe. The lighter part (yang) rises to become the sky, ethereal and bright, like the air. The heavier part, (yin) sank to become the earth, heavy and dark, like rock and soil.

The Creation of the Universe Ð'- China

Ð'* Pangu sacrifices himself to separate the earth and sky by standing on the ground and pushing upward. It is a slow process, and finally exhausts him.

Ð'* As the myth says, "He died in his sleep and his body gave substance and shape to the universe." (361)

The Creation of the Universe Ð'- China

Ð'* Pangu is reminiscent of Atlas in Greek myth, whose punishment was to hold the sky on his shoulders forever.

Ð'* Pangu is also reminiscent of Tane of the Polynesian creation legend, who forced the earth and sky apart by standing between them and pushing until the tendons that bound them together tore apart.

The Creation of the Universe Ð'- China

Ð'* Following Pangu's death, his body parts became a group of mountains on which the sky rests, just as today there is a range of mountains named after Atlas. Thus, geographic features of the homeland are explained through myths.

The Creation of the Universe Ð'- China

Ð'* In Pangu's case, his body parts became four sacred mountains named for the four compass directions, North, South, east, and West, the corners of the "square earth." His torso became the mountain of the center, defining the center of the earth.

Ð'* Pangu's hair and eyebrows formed the planets and the stars. His eyes formed the sun and the moon.

The Creation of the Universe Ð'- China

Ð'* Why eyes for the sun and moon? Possibly because the eyes are spherical and they admit light to the body.

Ð'* Further, they are often referred to poetically as "lamps" and "lights" of the body, common metaphors to all cultures.

The Creation of the Universe Ð'- China

Ð'* Pangu's

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