Mythology is the story of ancient people's understanding and imagination of natural and cultural phenomena. Myths are not a scientific reflection of real life, but are the result of ancient times when human beings began to think and explore nature and combine it with their own imagination.
Mythology is the earliest fantasy oral literature of mankind. It is a product of human childhood, a precedent of literature. The myth is based on the low level of productivity in ancient times and the active demand of people to understand and dominate nature in order to survive and improve their productive capacity. Mythology is the crystallization of the wisdom of ancient humans.
Myths arose from ancient times of mankind. As one of the sources of folk literature, it strongly proves that the working people have always been the creators of spiritual civilization, and also reveals that folk literature has been closely related to the people's life and history from the very beginning.
As a form of folk literature, mythology is a highly fantastical story created by the people of ancient times that reflects the natural world, the relationship between man and nature, and social forms. The objective root of the emergence of ancient Chinese mythology is the production and reproduction of the real life of the ancient people.
Chinese myths and stories are an important part of ancient Chinese culture, and these stories reflect the unique understanding of the world, nature and the origin of human beings in ancient Chinese. They have been passed down orally to the present day and have become the spiritual heritage of the Chinese nation. In this article, we'll explore some of the Chinese mythological tales, revealing their deep cultural connotations and intriguing plots.
1. Ancient Chinese myths and stories
Ancient Chinese myths and stories include many well-known stories, such as Kuafu's day-to-day quest, Jingwei's reclamation, and Nuwa's mending of the sky in the Classic of Mountains and Seas. Known for their fantastic imagination and vivid plots, these stories express the ancient Chinese understanding of nature and human origins. They are not only treasures of literature and art, but also an important part of Chinese cultural heritage.
In the story of Kuafu's day-to-day chase, Kuafu ran hard to catch up with the sun, and eventually died of exhaustion. This story not only expresses the ancient Chinese's awe and understanding of natural phenomena, but also reflects their spirit of courage to explore and challenge.
In the story of Jingwei's reclamation, Jingwei turned into a bird and constantly reclaimed the sea with small stones, and finally filled up the sea. This story not only expresses the ancient Chinese's understanding of the forces of nature, but also reflects their perseverance and indomitable spirit.
In the story of Nuwa mending the sky, Nuwa used multicolored stones to mend the sky, and finally quelled the natural disaster. This story not only expresses the ancient Chinese's awe and understanding of all things in heaven and earth, but also reflects their selfless spirit of self-sacrifice and selflessness.
2. Chinese folk myths and legends
In addition to ancient myths and stories, there are also many myths and legends circulating among Chinese folklore. These stories are usually based on folk beliefs and traditional Xi, involving fantasy elements such as fairies and monsters. For example, the White Lady and Xiaoqing in "The Legend of the White Snake", and the Cowherd and Weaver Girl in "The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl" are all well-known myths and legends in China. These stories not only have strong local characteristics, but also reflect the moral concepts and humanistic spirit of the Chinese.
"The Legend of the White Snake" tells the story of a thousand-year-old snake spirit White Lady and Xiaoqing when they were playing in the world, and they fought wits and courage with Fahai and others because they fell in love with Xu Xian. This story not only shows the complexity and contradictions of human nature, but also reflects people's pursuit of love and justice.
The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl tells a touching love story. The Weaver Girl is the daughter of the Emperor of Heaven and was relegated to the mortal world because of her love for the Cowherd. The two finally met after going through hardships, but they could only meet once a year on Tanabata. This story not only shows the greatness and persistence of love, but also reflects people's yearning for happiness and freedom.
3. Myths and legends of China's ethnic minorities
There are also many myths and legends among China's ethnic minorities. These stories reflect the cultural characteristics and historical backgrounds of different ethnic groups. For example, the myths and legends of the Miao people have narratives about ancestors and totems, while the Yi people have magical legends about fire. These stories not only enrich China's cultural treasure trove, but also provide an important way for us to understand the history and culture of different ethnic groups.
The myths and legends of the Miao people have a narrative about the origin of mankind. Legend has it that Jiang Yang and Lei Gong are brothers, but because Lei Gong often goes out hunting and ignores family affairs, the family often lacks food and clothing. Jiang Yang discussed with Lei Gong, and the two took turns hunting, and they had to prepare before going out every time. Once, Lei Gong forgot to prepare dry food, so he had to eat wild fruits to satisfy his hunger. After eating the wild fruit, Lei Gong still wanted to eat meat, so he killed the tiger passing by. Jiang Yang was very angry when he learned about it, so he fought with Lei Gong. In the end, Jiang Yang defeated Lei Gong and kicked him out of the house. This story not only shows the Miao people's understanding of the origin of human beings, but also reflects their spiritual qualities of bravery, hard work, and kindness.
In the magical legend of the fire of the Yi people, there is a narrative about the origin of fire. Legend has it that a man named Attilaba went hunting in the wild when he saw an eagle pecking at a red mass. Curious, he walked over and saw that it was a fire. Attilabbas was amazed and brought the fire home. After many experiments, he found that fire can be used for roasting, heating, etc. So he passed the fire on to everyone. This story not only shows the Yi people's understanding of the origin of fire, but also reflects their spiritual qualities of bravery, wisdom and kindness.
In short, Chinese myths and stories are an important part of Chinese culture, they have attracted the attention of countless people with their unique cultural connotations and fascinating plots, and by Xi learning and appreciating these myths and stories, we can better understand China's cultural heritage and national spirit, and at the same time, can also stimulate our imagination and creativity.