This is an especially interesting story I wrote regarding Chinese mythology. The tale is based entirely on the recorded history of Chinese myths and legends, and this particular tale takes place during Early Man (B.C.) years. Do read on.
In the beginning, the world and universe consisted of a black mass of emptiness. The solar system, the moon and the earth were unformed masses that were yet to take shape and exist. Some people visualized the concept of nothingness as a large egg.
From this large egg birthed the first creature ever in the universe. His name was Pangu. Pangu was born and grew up in an all-enveloping darkness. He slumbered for several thousand years after being born, and woke up as a large, imposing giant.
Lumbering around alone in his universe, Pangu realized that his living space was filled with darkness and chaos, and he was determined to begin the creation of order. Picking up a heavy axe (we must here state that we have no idea where our ogre found himself a tool in darkness), Pangu took a hefty swing and fractured the egg-universe.
The lightweight elements of the egg rose up and floated upwards, turning into the sky. The heavier part of the egg fell downwards and became the earth. As both the light and heavy elements of the egg separated to take new shape, Pangu was very concerned that the sky would stitch itself together with the earth again, to create chaos. Therefore with his large hands, Pangu pushed the sky and the earth apart and further away from each other ten feet each day.
As he did so in several days, Pangu also grew taller and taller, until he finally stood like a pillar holding up the firmament. He remained in this position until the earth and the sky solidified, and became firm. There would be no chance of their stitching together again.
Pangu released his hold on both elements in relief and lay down to take a rest. Because he dispensed thousands of years in order to grow and also to keep the earth and the sky separate, by now he was a decrepit version of himself and his slumber took a deadly turn.
Pangu slept to his death. As he underwent this transformation, his entire being shifted shape and took form to create nature as we know it. The last breaths of Pangu turned into the winds and clouds, his voice took the shape of thunder, his left eye became the sun and the right became the moon. The wasting body of Pangu turned into mountain ranges, and his blood became flowing rivers. In short, each part of his anatomy turned into a part of the earth.
The hairs on his body turned into trees and flowers, the parasites living on his skin turned into animals and fishes and his bones formed different kinds of precious stones and minerals. Even his sweat turned into dew.
Thus Pangu, colossal being and the first living entity of earth, gave his body to augment the earth and the sky. It was now complete with a solar system, mountains, rivers, oceans, animals and plants. But, humans have yet to exist.
The earth was soon filled with gods, giants and even monsters. Of these impressive inhabitants, a single mother goddess named Nuwa was the most important. She was the creator and bringer of order, and had the torso and upper body of a human but the bottom half of a dragon. Nuwa was a shape shifter much like Pangu and could switch forms.
Nuwa embarked on an expedition around the world, and found it beautiful, compelling and rich in natural resources. But it was a lonely to live in too, since human beings were yet to exist and only animals roamed the land. She felt very sorry for herself and desired company.
With this thought in mind, Nuwa proceeded to scoop handfuls of mud and shaped little replicas of herself, but with one difference – instead of a dragon-like bottom half like her own, she gave her little mud creatures legs and the ability to walk upright. She took painstaking care in creating these ‘dolls’ and felt very proud of herself with her results.
Nuwa arranged her mud dolls in a row and breathed life into them. The creatures took life into humans and danced about the delighted Nuwa, calling her Mother and making a din of joy. With this success Nuwa sought to make more mud creatures.
Hand-crafting each human by hand proved a cumbersome duty even for the tireless mother goddess, therefore she employed her magic powers to achieve a quicker result. She dipped a cane stick into some mud and shook off the excess onto the ground. The mud-droplets took shape into humans, albeit not as beautifully rendered as her initial few people.
Did you like this tale? Stay tuned for parts II, III and IV!
Blessings and all the best,
Corey
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