幸会幸会, It is a great honour to have you join us on the journey to discover and explore the 5000 years old Chinese Culture, History, Literature and Martial Arts.
Our club 星洲国术 (Pinyin : Xing Zhou Guo Shu) is a Chinese Culture, Martial Arts and Kickboxing Appreciation Group in Singapore.
Our club 星洲国术 (Pinyin : Xing Zhou Guo Shu) is a Chinese Culture, Martial Arts and Kickboxing Appreciation Group in Singapore.
How The World Was Created According To Chinese Mythology
Where did we come from? How was the world formed? These questions were raised thousands of years ago. Different religions and all sorts of stories from various cultures attempted to provide explanations to these questions.
In the West, it was believed that god created the world and the world was controlled by him. However, according to the millennium old Chinese Legends & Mythology 远古神话, Chinese were taught a giant called Pan Gu 盘古 sacrificed himself to create the world, most our ancestors were originally created from the materials of the world and some were even descendants of supernatural beings.
Westerners believe that god created human and god is superior to human. However this is not the case for the Chinese. Chinese believe that as human-beings, we all have Pan Gu’s power in our bodies, we are the brightest among all creatures, who have the power to overcome challenges and unfortunate circumstances. It is this belief that has driven the Chinese forward for millenniums.
In the West, it was believed that god created the world and the world was controlled by him. However, according to the millennium old Chinese Legends & Mythology 远古神话, Chinese were taught a giant called Pan Gu 盘古 sacrificed himself to create the world, most our ancestors were originally created from the materials of the world and some were even descendants of supernatural beings.
Westerners believe that god created human and god is superior to human. However this is not the case for the Chinese. Chinese believe that as human-beings, we all have Pan Gu’s power in our bodies, we are the brightest among all creatures, who have the power to overcome challenges and unfortunate circumstances. It is this belief that has driven the Chinese forward for millenniums.
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Pan Gu Opening The Sky 盘古开天
A long time ago, Ancient Chinese Tribal Civilization 远古部族 believed that the cosmos was a mixture of energy known in the Chinese language as Qi 气 and supernatural beings existed among the Qi. One of the supernatural beings was a male giant named Pan Gu 盘古.
Pan Gu was not contented to see the cosmos in such a state of chaos and emptiness 混沌 and he felt that he should do something about it. He used an axe and slashed through a part of the cosmos separating the Qi forming the “Up” and “Down”. The “Up” and “Down” became the Sky 天 and Land 地 as we know it today. After slashing through the cosmos, Pan Gu became weak and died. His breath became the wind and clouds, his voice became the thunder, his left eye transformed into the sun while his right eye transformed into the moon. Pan Gu’s limbs became mountains, his blood became rivers, his muscles became fields and land. His hair turned into stars, his body hair turned into grass and trees, his teeth and bones turned into various minerals, his bone marrow turned into precious stones and gems, his sweat turned into rain and dew, and the fleas on his body carried by the wind became the creatures living in this newly formed world. |
Nu Wa Created Humans 女娲造人
From a great distant a beautiful female supernatural being named Nu Wa 女娲 saw this newly formed world created by Pan Gu and came to explore it. Seeing all the wonderful creatures living in this world, it suddenly dawned on Nu Wa that it would be great if there were beings similar to her living in this world.
Nu Wa 女娲 decided to mould copies of herself from mud in the lakes. The mud figures she created came to life and wandered off to populate the land. After a while, Nu Wa realized that it would take too long to fill the world with people if she made each one by hand. So she dipped into the mud and flung the drops of mud in all directions. Each drop of mud became a separate human being. The people Nu Wa created by hand later became the Nobles 贵, while those she flung as drops of mud became the Commoners 民.
While Nu Wa was busy creating humans from mud, she was discovered by another male supernatural being who visited this world named Fu Xi 伏羲. From the every first time Fu Xi lay eyes on Nu Wa, he was taken by Nu Wa’s beauty and began to find opportunities to spent time with Nu Wa everyday.
Fu Xi wanting to impress Nu Wa invented hunting, fishing, cooking and even domesticating animals found in this world. Overtime Nu Wa began to enjoy Fu Xi’s company, agreed to permanently lived in this world with Fu Xi and be provided by him.
Nu Wa 女娲 decided to mould copies of herself from mud in the lakes. The mud figures she created came to life and wandered off to populate the land. After a while, Nu Wa realized that it would take too long to fill the world with people if she made each one by hand. So she dipped into the mud and flung the drops of mud in all directions. Each drop of mud became a separate human being. The people Nu Wa created by hand later became the Nobles 贵, while those she flung as drops of mud became the Commoners 民.
While Nu Wa was busy creating humans from mud, she was discovered by another male supernatural being who visited this world named Fu Xi 伏羲. From the every first time Fu Xi lay eyes on Nu Wa, he was taken by Nu Wa’s beauty and began to find opportunities to spent time with Nu Wa everyday.
Fu Xi wanting to impress Nu Wa invented hunting, fishing, cooking and even domesticating animals found in this world. Overtime Nu Wa began to enjoy Fu Xi’s company, agreed to permanently lived in this world with Fu Xi and be provided by him.
Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors 三皇五帝
Nu Wa 女娲 and Fu Xi 伏羲 lived for hundreds of years in this world together, with Nu Wa’s help Fu Xi devised the Chinese Eight Trigrams Ba Gua 八卦 to gain mastery over the world and they also biologically bear many children. Their children in turn bear many generations of descendants.
The people Nu Wa had previously created using mud also bear many generations of descendants and they learned to live together as tribes 部族. Some of these tribes were led by descendants of Nu Wa and Fu Xi.
Among the descendants of Nu Wa and Fu Xi was a genius leader with supernatural power named Shen Nong 神农. Shen Nong invented the practices of farming, storage of grains for winter, the use of herbal drugs for medical treatment and the calculation of passing day, month and year using the calendar. He led his people to occupy and cultivate vast stretches of forested lands and with grains no one would go hungry during winter. With the passing of Shen Nong’s knowledge the population in the land exploded.
With a large tribe under his care, Shen Nong 神农 was crowned the ruler by his people under the title Yan Emperor 炎帝. When Shen Nong was crowned as Yan Emperor, another descendant of Nu Wa and Fu Xi was crowned as Huang Emperor 黄帝 by another tribe of people.
It was said that Huang Emperor 黄帝 invented the wheel, cart, boat, bows & arrows, cultivation of silk worms and silk weaving. Huang Emperor was not known to have any supernatural power but he was known to be the first great Chinese military ruler. When the tribe of the Yan Emperor was mercilessly attacked by the people led by the tyrant leader Chi You 蚩尤, Huang Emperor led his people to save the tribe of Yan Emperor and defeated Chi You 蚩尤.
When Yan Emperor 炎帝 died, his tribe combined with the tribe of the Huang Emperor and came under Huang Emperor's rule. Hence, till today there is a saying of Chinese are 炎黃子孫 (Pinyin : Yan Huang Zi Sun), which means “The Descendants of Yan & Huang”.
When Yellow Emperor 黄帝 died, his throne was passed on to four more tribal rulers in his bloodline to rule his people, they were Zhuan Xu 颛顼, Ku 喾, Yao 尧 and Shun 舜.
When Shun 舜 died, the throne was passed to Da Yu 大禹 and many tribes in the land were unified by Da Yu 大禹 to form the Xia Dynasty 夏朝 at around 2070BC. Xia Dynasty (2070BC - 1600BC) was the oldest known dynasty of the Ancient Chinese Civilization. The forming of Xia Dynasty 夏朝 also marked the end of Tribal Rule and the Beginning of Imperial Rule for the Ancient Chinese Civilization.
According to the "Records Of The Grand Historian 史記" written by Si Ma Qian 司马迁 at around 94 BC, History of Chinese Civilization 华夏史 began with the accounts of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors 三皇五帝.
Nu Wa 女娲, Fu Xi 伏羲 and Shen Nong 神农 were known as Three Sovereigns 三皇 as they were described to have supernatural powers.
Yellow Emperor 黄帝, Zhuan Xu 颛顼, Ku 喾, Yao 尧 and Shun 舜 were known as the Five Emperors 五帝 as they were considered to be the emperors of the Tribal Era.
The people Nu Wa had previously created using mud also bear many generations of descendants and they learned to live together as tribes 部族. Some of these tribes were led by descendants of Nu Wa and Fu Xi.
Among the descendants of Nu Wa and Fu Xi was a genius leader with supernatural power named Shen Nong 神农. Shen Nong invented the practices of farming, storage of grains for winter, the use of herbal drugs for medical treatment and the calculation of passing day, month and year using the calendar. He led his people to occupy and cultivate vast stretches of forested lands and with grains no one would go hungry during winter. With the passing of Shen Nong’s knowledge the population in the land exploded.
With a large tribe under his care, Shen Nong 神农 was crowned the ruler by his people under the title Yan Emperor 炎帝. When Shen Nong was crowned as Yan Emperor, another descendant of Nu Wa and Fu Xi was crowned as Huang Emperor 黄帝 by another tribe of people.
It was said that Huang Emperor 黄帝 invented the wheel, cart, boat, bows & arrows, cultivation of silk worms and silk weaving. Huang Emperor was not known to have any supernatural power but he was known to be the first great Chinese military ruler. When the tribe of the Yan Emperor was mercilessly attacked by the people led by the tyrant leader Chi You 蚩尤, Huang Emperor led his people to save the tribe of Yan Emperor and defeated Chi You 蚩尤.
When Yan Emperor 炎帝 died, his tribe combined with the tribe of the Huang Emperor and came under Huang Emperor's rule. Hence, till today there is a saying of Chinese are 炎黃子孫 (Pinyin : Yan Huang Zi Sun), which means “The Descendants of Yan & Huang”.
When Yellow Emperor 黄帝 died, his throne was passed on to four more tribal rulers in his bloodline to rule his people, they were Zhuan Xu 颛顼, Ku 喾, Yao 尧 and Shun 舜.
When Shun 舜 died, the throne was passed to Da Yu 大禹 and many tribes in the land were unified by Da Yu 大禹 to form the Xia Dynasty 夏朝 at around 2070BC. Xia Dynasty (2070BC - 1600BC) was the oldest known dynasty of the Ancient Chinese Civilization. The forming of Xia Dynasty 夏朝 also marked the end of Tribal Rule and the Beginning of Imperial Rule for the Ancient Chinese Civilization.
According to the "Records Of The Grand Historian 史記" written by Si Ma Qian 司马迁 at around 94 BC, History of Chinese Civilization 华夏史 began with the accounts of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors 三皇五帝.
Nu Wa 女娲, Fu Xi 伏羲 and Shen Nong 神农 were known as Three Sovereigns 三皇 as they were described to have supernatural powers.
Yellow Emperor 黄帝, Zhuan Xu 颛顼, Ku 喾, Yao 尧 and Shun 舜 were known as the Five Emperors 五帝 as they were considered to be the emperors of the Tribal Era.
Three Sovereigns 三皇
- Nu Wa 女娲
- Fu Xi 伏羲
- Shen Nong 神农, The Yan Emperor 炎帝
Five Emperors 五帝
- Yellow Emperor 黄帝
- Zhuan Xu 颛顼
- Ku 喾
- Yao 尧
- Shun 舜
* You might see slightly different accounts to the history of Ancient Chinese Tribal Civilization as many Chinese historians did editorials of it over the last 2000 years.
According to modern day anthropologists and historians, the earliest written records of Nu Wa 女娲 and Fu Xi 伏羲 appeared in China at about 2500 years ago. The mythology of Nu Wa 女娲 “Creating Humans Out Of Mud” could be an ancient metaphor to imply that early Chinese Civilization started as a matriarchal society when tribesmen only knew of their mothers, not their father. There was no moral or social order and there was no concept of family.
The story of Nu Wa 女娲 decided to live with Fu Xi 伏羲 and be provided by him could imply that early Chinese Civilization moved from matriarchal to patriarchal society. The practice of marriage rituals, the concept of permanent family nucleus and the fundamental laws of humanity had began. Chinese Civilization moving from matriarchal to patriarchal society could be as early as 3000BC - 2600BC and Fu Xi 伏羲 could be one of the of male tribal leader during that changing era.
Modern day archaeological digs of 5000-7000 years ago China’s early civilizations like the “Yang Shou Culture 仰韶文化”, "Long Shan Culture 龙山文化" and “Ma Jia Bang Culture 馬家浜文化” along the China’s Yellow River 黄河 and Yangtze River 长江 revealed that China’s early tribesmen 部族 were hunter-farmers living in village settlements along fresh water source. They domesticated dogs, pigs, goats and cattles, and they grew millet for food and hemp to make cloth. They were also armed with stone knives, shovels, harpoons, hammers, axes and arrows to hunt and protect themselves against wild animals. They crafted pottery and stated small-scale production of silk by raising and domesticating the silkworm. These early civilizations was said to be closely linked to the accounts of the "Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors 三皇五帝".
According to modern day anthropologists and historians, the earliest written records of Nu Wa 女娲 and Fu Xi 伏羲 appeared in China at about 2500 years ago. The mythology of Nu Wa 女娲 “Creating Humans Out Of Mud” could be an ancient metaphor to imply that early Chinese Civilization started as a matriarchal society when tribesmen only knew of their mothers, not their father. There was no moral or social order and there was no concept of family.
The story of Nu Wa 女娲 decided to live with Fu Xi 伏羲 and be provided by him could imply that early Chinese Civilization moved from matriarchal to patriarchal society. The practice of marriage rituals, the concept of permanent family nucleus and the fundamental laws of humanity had began. Chinese Civilization moving from matriarchal to patriarchal society could be as early as 3000BC - 2600BC and Fu Xi 伏羲 could be one of the of male tribal leader during that changing era.
Modern day archaeological digs of 5000-7000 years ago China’s early civilizations like the “Yang Shou Culture 仰韶文化”, "Long Shan Culture 龙山文化" and “Ma Jia Bang Culture 馬家浜文化” along the China’s Yellow River 黄河 and Yangtze River 长江 revealed that China’s early tribesmen 部族 were hunter-farmers living in village settlements along fresh water source. They domesticated dogs, pigs, goats and cattles, and they grew millet for food and hemp to make cloth. They were also armed with stone knives, shovels, harpoons, hammers, axes and arrows to hunt and protect themselves against wild animals. They crafted pottery and stated small-scale production of silk by raising and domesticating the silkworm. These early civilizations was said to be closely linked to the accounts of the "Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors 三皇五帝".
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* Some ufologists also speculated that the mythology of Nu Wa 女娲 and Fu Xi 伏羲 could imply that they were ancient aliens who came to give mankind knowledge. The ancient murals of Nu Wa and Fu Xi were often depicted as they were having snake like tails interlocked in the manner much like modern day DNA diagram, implying that they could be aliens who came to populate earth. But till there are archaeological facts to prove this alien theory, we shall not comment further on this speculation.
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