中国寓言ChineseMythology

1、General Introduction,Exercises,Unit Goals,Lead-in Activity,Review,To know and be able to tell about the historical figures in Chinese mythology To be familiar with the historical development of Chinese mythology To understand the common themes and features of Chinese mythology To learn about some di

2、fferences and similarities of the Chinese creation story and the biblical story To learn useful words and expressions that relate to Chinese mythology and improve English language skills,Thus we hope to teach mythology not as a study, but as a relaxation from study; to give our work the charm of a s

3、tory-book, yet by means of it to impart knowledge of an important branch of education. -Thomas Bulfinch,Is mythology the same as religion? As far as you know, how was the world created? Have you heard of other creation stories besides Pan Gu? What do you know about Genesis in the Bible? What themes

4、do you think are particularly stressed in Chinese mythology,More,Pan Gu,Change,Match the mythical figures in the pictures with their stories by putting each of the names in the corresponding cell,Houyi,Kuafu,Nwa,The Eight Immortals,Sui,Phoenix,phoenix,Pan Gu,Sui,Nwa,Change,Kuafu,The Eight Immortals,

5、Houyi,Origin of Chinese Mythology,Features of Chinese Mythology,Themes in Chinese Mythology,Roots of Chinese Mythology,Myths About Man,Myths About Heroes,Myths About Gods,Myths About Animals,Mythology is a body of myths concerning a particular person or race. Ancient Chinese mythology was created wi

6、th the wildest imagination by people in primitive ages when faced with the unknown. Since almost every ethnic group has its own mythical gods and stories about their creative actions, there is not a systematic, integrated, and homogeneous “Chinese mythology” held and transmitted by all the Chinese p

7、eople. Myths in ancient China were usually spread in scattered and fragmented forms in various written material. These sources contain information about archaeology, literature, philosophy, geography, history, witchcraft, ethnography, religion, folklore, and so on,The people of China have a rich and

8、 complicated mythology that dates back nearly 4000 years. Throughout Chinese history, myth and reality have been intertwined. Historical figures have been worshiped as gods, and ancient myths are sometimes treated as historical truths. Three great religious traditions Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddh

9、ism have played a role in shaping the mythology. Shanhaijing (The Classic of Mountains and Seas), Chuci (The Songs of Chu), and Huainanzi are thought to be the major repositories of Chinese ancient myths,Shanhaijing -An encyclopedia of ancient China, It provides a lot of detailed information about m

10、ountains and seas, myths, witchcraft, and religion of ancient China. It had a great impact on Chinese literature. Both Shijing (The Book of Songs) and lots of outstanding poems, legends and novels of later ages were all based on myths in Shanhaijing with some adaptation and creation,Most China can t

11、race its historical roots in an unbroken line for more than 4,000 years, and its mythological roots extend even farther back in time. From about 2000 to 1500 B.C., a people known as the Xia dominated the northern regions of China,From about 1500 to 1066 B.C., China entered the Shang dynasty. People

12、at that time worshiped many deities, including natural forces and elements such as rain, clouds, rivers, mountains, the sun, the moon, and the earth. Their greatest deity, Shang Di, remains an important god in the Chinese pantheon,When a new dynasty, the Zhou, came to power in China in 1066 B.C., si

13、gnificant changes took place in religion. People still worshiped the old gods, but ancestor worship became increasingly important. Confucianism and Taoism appeared near the end of the Zhou dynasty. These two religious traditions have had an enormous influence on the development of the most basic and

14、 lasting principles of Chinese culture,Shortly before 100 A.D., Buddhism arrived in China from India and added another important influence to Chinese culture and mythology. Buddhist ideas gradually merged with Taoism and Confucianism in the minds of many Chinese,Several common themes appear througho

15、ut much of Chinese mythology. Among the most significant are the creation of the world out of chaos, the importance of nature, and reverence for ancestors,Mythical stories are entwined with history. Feature l: They sing the praises of labor and creation. Feature 2: They extol perseverance and self-s

16、acrifice. Feature 3: They praise rebellion against oppression. Feature 4: They eulogize the yearning for true love. Feature 5: They encourage good deeds and warn against sin,The first living creature and the creator of the world. Among his acts of creation were the separation of the earth and sky, t

17、he placement of the stars and planets in the heavens, and the shaping of the earths surface,Pan Gu,Nwa (also referred to as N Kwa) appeared in literature no earlier than 350 BC. Her companion, Fuxi, (also called Fu Hsi) was her brother and husband. They are sometimes worshiped as the ultimate ancest

18、or of all humankind, and are often represented as half-snake, half-humans. It is sometimes believed that Nwa molded humans from clay for companionship. She repaired the sky after Gong Gong damaged the pillar supporting the heavens,Nwa,Mentioning myths about gods, we should keep in mind that popularl

19、y known gods are closely intermingled with religions, mainly Religious Taoism and Buddhism,On the basis of legends and folk tales, the supreme lord is the Jade Emperor(玉皇大帝) who had his Court, palace, ministers, etc. The major gods were the Queen Mother of the West(西王母娘娘), the Eight Immortals(八仙), t

20、he Bodhisattvas(菩萨), the four Heavenly Kings(四大天王), Buddhas(佛), Arhats(罗汉,Houyi shot down the suns,The sun is sometimes symbolized as a three-legged crow called a sunbird. There were ten of these sunbirds, each of whom are the offspring of Di Jun, God of the Eastern Heaven. The ten sunbirds resided

21、in a mulberry tree in the Eastern Sea; each day one would travel around the world on a carriage, driven by Xihe, Mother of the Suns. Eventually, the sunbirds grew tired of the routine and decided that all of them were to rise at the same time. The heat on earth became intense. As a result, crops shr

22、iveled in the fields. Lakes and ponds dried up. Human and non-human animals cowered in shelters or collapsed from exhaustion. Time passed and the suffering continued. Emperor Yao decided to plead for divine intervention and to ask Di Jun for aid. Di Jun was well aware of his sons misdeeds and sent f

23、or Houyi, the God of Archery, to teach his sons a lesson. Di Jun wanted Houyi to simply frighten them so that they would not dare to cause mischief again. Houyi, too, wanted to settle this crisis peacefully, but a single glance at the scorched land was enough to convince him that desperate measures

24、were needed. Angered by the suffering of the people caused by the Sun-birds misconduct, Houyi lifted up his bow and shot them down one by one. Upon killing the ninth, Emperor Yao hurried to halt him as killing the last one would leave the world in total darkness. Houyi agreed and was hailed as a her

25、o for mankind, but later, Houyis actions caused him to make enemies in Heaven and as a result he was punished with divine wrath,One day, Kuafu decided to chase and catch the Sun. With each stride he gets closer to the Sun, however, he could never catch up to it. He followed the Sun from the East to

26、the West, draining all rivers and lakes crossing his path as sources of water to quench his burning thirst as he closed in on the star. However, he wasnt able to finish his quest because he died of the extreme heat and exhaustion. The wooden club he was carrying grew into a vast forest. In one versi

27、on, Kua Fu turns into a mountain range. In modern Chinese usage, the story of Kua Fu chasing the Sun is used to describe a person who fails to obtain his goal because he greatly overestimates himself,Kuafu,Emperor Huang Di,Emperor Yao， Shun， Yu,Gods, Creators, and Heroes: In some mythological tradit

28、ions, gods took on animal form. Although supernatural animals were not gods themselves, they were often created, given power, or protected by the gods,Jingwei is a bird in Chinese mythology, transformed from the daughter of Yandi named Nwa (different from the goddess Nwa who created mankind and repa

29、ired the heavens). After she drowned when playing in the Eastern Sea, she metamorphosed into a bird called Jingwei. Jingwei is determined to fill up the sea, so she continuously carries a pebble or twig in her mouth and drops it into the Eastern Sea,Jingwei,Butterfly: In Chinese culture the Butterfl

30、y represents love, specifically young love. Happily flitting from flower to flower, it signifies a happy social life for the young and young heart. Chinese legend has it that the butterfly symbolizes an undying bond between lovers,Crane: The Crane is legendary in China for being the prince of all fe

31、athered creatures on earth. Next to the Phoenix, the Crane is the most favored of all Chinese bird symbols. The Crane is the ancient symbol for longevity because of its exceptionally long life span. In many legends, the spirits ride on cranes, which are also said to bear the souls of the departed to

32、 the heavens,Horse: The seventh of the Chinese Zodiac Signs, the horse represents endurance, loyalty, and purity to the Buddhist way of thinking. It is also a symbol for quick advancement in rank, and, recognition of strength,Magpie: This Chinese animal symbol translates into the bird of joy. It is

33、believed that when the Magpie nests in your house, it brings much cause for celebration and many happy occasions,Tricksters: Many myths feature animal tricksters, mischievous and unpredictable beings who use deceit, magic, or cleverness to fool others. Although some tricksters are just playing prank

34、s, others act in harmful ways. Occasionally, the tricksters themselves wind up being tricked or trapped. Their limited magical powers may echo the greater powers of the gods,Monsters: From the great sea beast called Leviathan in the Bible to the mutant lizard Godzilla of modern science fiction movie

35、s, monstrous animals appear in many kinds of myths. Monsters represent our darkest fears: chaos and uncontrollable destruction. A monster is more than just a large or fierce animal. It is something abnormal, something that breaks the laws of society,Review,Useful Expression,Critical Thinking,Review,

36、the creation of the world; genesis; advance with giant strides,descendants of Emperors Yan and Huang,a mythical bird Jingwei tries to fill the ocean with twigs and pebbes,Nwa mending the sky,Kuafu chasing the sun,a persistent spirit triumphs over mountainous tasks,the cowherd and the weaving maid,Ch

37、ange flying/ascending to the moon,someone who is very virtuous and highly respected by people,with whole-hearted dedication, old and rock will crack open,开天辟地,炎黄子孙,精卫填海,女娲补天,夸父逐日,愚公移山,牛郎织女,嫦娥奔月,百鸟朝凤,精诚所至金石为开,Discuss the following topics: 1) In which way is Chinese mythology related to Chinese religi

38、on, especially religious Taoism and Buddhism? 2) What are the characteristics of Chinese mythology? 3) How is peoples real social life reflected in Chinese mythology,Fill in the blanks according to the knowledge youve learned about Chinese mythology,More,1) Mythology is a body of concerning a partic

39、ular person or race. 2) Chinese mythology is similar to modern . 3) A is a story considered sacred and true, while a is a story handed down from generation to generation that has no real evidence to back it up. 4) To some people Shanhaijing is considered as an of ancient China，as it provides a lot of detailed information in ancient times. 5) Three great religious traditions , and have played important roles in shaping the mythology. 6) _for family and ancestors is an important element of Confucianism. 7)In Chinese mythology,_ was the first living creature and th