Sociology 2: Analysis of Chinese, Hindu, and Buddhist Creation Myths

This assignment for Sociology 2 explores and compares creation myths from Chinese, Hindu, and Buddhist traditions. The student identifies and describes the Chinese creation myth centered on Pan Gu, discussing his role in the origin of the universe. The assignment then compares this myth with Hindu and Buddhist creation myths, highlighting similarities and differences in the themes of birth, the origin of life, and the entities responsible for creation. The comparison includes the roles of Brahma in the Hindu myth and the shared belief in a single entity from which life emerges. The assignment emphasizes how these myths, despite cultural differences, offer explanations of the world's origins. The student also references academic sources to support the analysis. The core argument is that creation myths, regardless of their origin, provide insights into how different cultures perceive the beginning of life and the universe.

Student Name:
Student-ID No:
Sociology

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Myths in the World
1. Identify and describe a creation myth from Chinese mythology in the
learningresources, or identify and describe a creation myth from another culture.
.
Even if there are a lots of creation myths that are circulated by individuals of Chinese descent,
practically all of them accept Pan Gu. So, they usually claim that Pan Gu was the foremost
creature and all life in the universe, particularly the earth and the outer space, is made up of this
creature.
2. Compare and contrast this myth to other myths that you have read so far in this course.
In the course there was study of Hindu creation myth and Buddhist creation myth. This myth
started with the theme of birth because but shows new life and start of life on earth might have
been imagine that just like the start of a child's life. However, it is not that every culture has
belief that life started on the earth. As per the Chinese myth of creation, it is believed that the life
originated either above or below the earth. As per the Hindu myth it is also believed that the
mother of Ganesh, Parvati created Ganesh from clay and then converted that clay to flesh and
blood so here the creation was through clay. However in the Chinese mythology, Nuwa created
figures from yellow Earth and gave them life and capacity to bear children.
As per the Chinese myth, there was destruction of the cosmic egg and the parts of Pan Gu
created heaven, sky and the earth. Pan Gu expanded between the earth and heaven for the 18,000
years. He was a male and so he is considered as the universal father for everybody. As per
Chinese myth, whatever is there on the earth is literally part of Pan Gu's body (YoonHee Hong).
It was stated that his eyes turned to be the sun and the moon, his breath was the wind and his
blood created water and rain, while hair making the stars. So it shows how his body is the main
essence of whatever is there in the universe.
Considering the Hindu mythology, it has been given that the world was created on the wish of
Lord Vishnu where Lord Brahma created heaven, earth and skies by dividing the lotus flower

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into 3 parts. He also made grass, flowers, trees, animals as well as insects. So Brahma is
considered as the one which give life feelings to the creatures he made (Malkovsky).
As the way myths are about the origin of the world, the ending of the world or a paradisiacal
situation, there is still a capability of explaining what can never be seen by people on their own.
Even though, these two different myths are based on other ideas still they have a single entity
from which they believe that the life has emerged. In case of Hindus it is Brahma and in case of
Chinese it is Pan Gu. Both the cutures have similar beliefs yet the names of God differ. The way
in which all the evolution took place is also different in both the cultures.

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References
Malkovsky, Bradley. "Some Thoughts On God And Spiritual Practice In Yoga And
Christianity". Journal Of Hindu-Christian Studies, vol 30, no. 1, 2017. Butler University, Irwin
Library, doi:10.7825/2164-6279.1657.
YoonHee Hong. "From Broader Myth To Broader Mythology－The Extension Of Mythology By
Yuan Ke And Chinese Mythology Today". The Journal Of The Research Of Chinese Novels,
null, no. 33, 2011, pp. 1-27. The Society For The Research Of Chinese Novels,
doi:10.17004/jrcn.2011..33.001.