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The Pangu myth appears to have been preceded in ancient Chinese literature by the existence of Shangdi or Taiyi (of the Taiyi Shengshui). Other Chinese myths, such as those of Nüwa and the Jade Emperor, try to explain how people were created and do not necessarily explain the creation of the world. There are many variations of these myths.
The cosmic egg, world egg or mundane egg is a mythological motif found in the cosmogonies of many cultures and civilizations, including in Proto-Indo-European mythology. [1] Typically, there is an egg which, upon "hatching", either gives rise to the universe itself or gives rise to a primordial being who, in turn, creates the universe.
Chinese creation myths are symbolic narratives about the origins of the universe, earth, and life. Myths in China vary from culture to culture. In Chinese mythology, the term "cosmogonic myth" or "origin myth" is more accurate than "creation myth", since very few stories involve a creator deity or divine will.
Pangu, a central figure in Chinese mythology, is a primordial being who played a key role in the creation of the world. This myth, first recorded by Xu Zheng during the Three Kingdoms period, narrates how Pangu emerged from a cosmic egg, balancing the principles of yin and yang, and separated heaven and earth. [4]
A creation myth or cosmogonic myth is a type of cosmogony, [2] a symbolic narrative of how the world began and how people first came to inhabit it. [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] While in popular usage the term myth often refers to false or fanciful stories, members of cultures often ascribe varying degrees of truth to their creation myths.
Hundun creation myths involving humanity being born from a "thunder-egg" or lump of flesh, the son of an emperor, the Thunder god represented as a dog with bat wings, localized with the Miao people and Tai peoples. The animal Lei [b] "is a creature like a lump, without head, eyes, hands, or feet. At midnight it produces noises like thunder." [3]
Some mythology involves creation myths, the origin of things, people and culture. Some involve the origin of the Chinese state. Some myths present a chronology of prehistoric times, many of these involve a culture hero who taught people how to build houses, or cook, or write, or was the ancestor of an ethnic group or dynastic family.
Cosmic egg – Common motif in mythology and cosmogony; Elixir of life – Alchemical potion that grants immunity, eternal youth and immortality to its drinker; Counterparts of Ame-no-Minakanushi in other cultures. Amenominakanushi, the Japanese counterpart. Jade Emperor, the Chinese counterpart. Adi Buddha, the Buddhist counterpart.