A Brief Comparison of Heroes in Chinese Mythologies and in Japanese Mythologies
A Brief Comparison of Heroes in Chinese Mythologies and in Japanese Mythologies
1 Abstract
Traditional mythologies are closely related to religions, a certain religion often depends on its myths to convince people and thus survive. Mythologies can be created and modified by religious groups.1In this paper, I compare the heroes in the Japanese mythologies, mainly the Kojiki2 and the Fudoki3 and the
Chinese mythologies, mainly the Shan Hai Jing4 and Huainanzi5 and have found that the common things between heroes in Chinese myths and that in Japanese myths is that they revolted against authority, conquered the nature, and protected people from monsters. The reasons for these common features may lie in the similar religious beliefs that ancient Chinese and Japanese form in the progress of civilization. However, I have also found some features in different: 1) the Chinese heroes tend to be more persistent and the Japanese heroes are more courageous and victorious 2) The Japanese heroes sometimes rely on luck while the Chinese heroes never do so. Though some are really confusing, these differences may cast a light on the differences of tradition religious beliefs in China and Japan.
2 Common points of heroes in Chinese mythologies and Japanese mythologies
2.1 Conquering the nature
In Chinese mythologies, there are many heroes who conquered the nature. For example, in the myth of
“Nü repaired the wall of heaven”6, there is such a description:”In the past time when the earth was wa cracked, the sky was broken, the fire always burned and never vanished, the lands were always flooded and people were frequently preyed by beasts, Nü refined the stone of five-color and by which she wa repaired the wall of heaven, killed the black dragon to benefit the Chinese people and put an end to the great flood.”7Also in the story of Shennong, he ate countless herbal and hence figured out and taught the ancient Chinese the basic herbal medicine8. What’s more, Yu
1 Abstract
Traditional mythologies are closely related to religions, a certain religion often depends on its myths to convince people and thus survive. Mythologies can be created and modified by religious groups.1In this paper, I compare the heroes in the Japanese mythologies, mainly the Kojiki2 and the Fudoki3 and the
Chinese mythologies, mainly the Shan Hai Jing4 and Huainanzi5 and have found that the common things between heroes in Chinese myths and that in Japanese myths is that they revolted against authority, conquered the nature, and protected people from monsters. The reasons for these common features may lie in the similar religious beliefs that ancient Chinese and Japanese form in the progress of civilization. However, I have also found some features in different: 1) the Chinese heroes tend to be more persistent and the Japanese heroes are more courageous and victorious 2) The Japanese heroes sometimes rely on luck while the Chinese heroes never do so. Though some are really confusing, these differences may cast a light on the differences of tradition religious beliefs in China and Japan.
2 Common points of heroes in Chinese mythologies and Japanese mythologies
2.1 Conquering the nature
In Chinese mythologies, there are many heroes who conquered the nature. For example, in the myth of
“Nü repaired the wall of heaven”6, there is such a description:”In the past time when the earth was wa cracked, the sky was broken, the fire always burned and never vanished, the lands were always flooded and people were frequently preyed by beasts, Nü refined the stone of five-color and by which she wa repaired the wall of heaven, killed the black dragon to benefit the Chinese people and put an end to the great flood.”7Also in the story of Shennong, he ate countless herbal and hence figured out and taught the ancient Chinese the basic herbal medicine8. What’s more, Yu
References: 3 FANG Tao(note), 山海经 [San Hai Jing] (ancient Chiense version), Zhonghua Publishing House, 2009 version), 1990 8 OO no Yasumaro, 古 事记 [Kojiki] (modern Chinese version), People’s Literature Publishing version), Peoples Literature Publishing House, 1978 10 OGIHARA Chizuru, 出雲国風土記 [Fudoki of Izumo-no-Kuni] (Japanese version), 1996 11 WAN Lihua(note), LAN Xu(note), 孟子 [Mencious], Zhonghua Publishign House, 2006 12 Wikipedia of “牛郎织女”[Niulang and Zhinv]