The Giant

Ancient Chinese Myths and Cosmology

  • Ancient Chinese myths primarily focused on everyday life rather than creation.

  • The story of Pan Gu was introduced around the 4th century CE as a myth to explain cosmic concepts central to Taoism.

The Concept of Tao

  • The Tao is a fundamental concept in Taoism, described as the source that gives birth to everything.

  • Sequence of creation according to Taoist beliefs:

    • The Tao gives birth to the One.

    • The One gives birth to the Two (Yin and Yang).

    • The Two give birth to the Three.

    • The Three give birth to every living thing.

  • Concept of Ch'i (or Qi):

    • All things consist of Yin and carry Yang and are held together in the Ch'i, representing teeming energy.

  • Pre-creation state described as follows:

    • There was no dark nor light, form nor shape, only emptiness.

The Birth of Pan Gu

  • From Tao emerged the perfect and infinite cosmos, visualized as a hen's egg.

  • Within the egg, a significant sigh emerged, referred to as Ch'i or the Original Breath, that facilitated the birth of the Three: Yin, Yang, and Pan Gu.

Pan Gu's Awakening

  • Pan Gu awoke from a deep slumber lasting 18,000 years, realizing he was cramped in the cosmic egg surrounded by darkness.

  • Yin and Yang were present but motionless, their potential trapped.

  • In a powerful act, Pan Gu drew himself up and struck the egg, resulting in its cracking open.

  • This action caused Yin and Yang to separate:

    • Yang became the light, representing the sky.

    • Yin became the heavy earth and moisture.

  • The Universe of Ten Thousand Things was born from this cosmic explosion.

Expansion of Heaven and Earth

  • Pan Gu needed to widen the gap between Yin (Earth) and Yang (Heavens).

  • He planted his feet firmly on the ground and pushed to create more space:

    • Each day, he succeeded in raising the sky by 3.3 meters and deepening the Earth by 3.3 meters.

  • Pan Gu had to grow at the same rate to maintain his role in the cosmic balance.

  • He used a giant hammer and chisel to carve the foundations of the Earth, incorporating equal proportions of Yin and Yang in his creations.

  • This cosmic endeavor lasted another 18,000 years.

The End of Pan Gu

  • Upon completing his work, Pan Gu reached a height of 45,000 kilometers, sustaining the Heavens like a massive pillar.

  • During his work, he experienced a range of emotions that influenced the weather:

    • Happiness led to gentle and calm weather.

    • Sadness and fatigue resulted in storms and bad weather.

  • After completing his task, Pan Gu was exhausted and felt confident the sky could support itself.

  • As he aged and neared death, his body sunk to the Earth.

Transformation upon Death

  • As Pan Gu died, several transformations occurred:

    • His breath formed winds and clouds.

    • His last words became thunder.

    • His eyes transformed into the sun and moon.

    • His limbs defined the edges of the world (north, south, east, west).

    • His blood became lakes, seas, and rivers.

    • Flesh turned into fertile soil; bones and teeth became solid rock and veins of metals.

    • Bone marrow created precious gems.

    • Hair transformed into trees, grass, and flowering plants.

    • Body hair became the stars in the sky.

    • Bugs that infested his decomposing body transformed into humans.

Implications of Human Existence

  • The creation story illustrates the insignificance of humans when compared to the vast and magnificent world that Pan Gu created.

  • Highlights the deep philosophical and ethical connection of humans to the natural world and the cosmos.