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Ancient China Mythology by Tibah Alremahi - Coggle Diagram
Ancient China Mythology by Tibah Alremahi
How to honor the gods
Household worship
daily offerings such as incense, tea, food, etc.
these shrines offer protection, blessing, guidance, if prayed to
households usually keep a shrine to many gods
The shrines can be images or statues
Temple festivals
the festival is on the deity's birthday
the rituals can include offerings, music, dance, at times opera
to certain gods and goddesses
the rituals are more elaborate
Ex. Hungry ghost Festival and Qingming festival
Divination Practices
used to find guidance
usually performed at temples
common practice
methods like "casting lots"
pilgrimages
They usually go to mountains and temples which are sacred
big aspect of their religion
pilgrimages are religious journey's
Mount Tai has been related with the Jade Emperor
Ancestor Veneration
protected spirits and were important
often burned joss paper and offered food to celebrate
ceremonies for the ancestors
they celebrated like this especially during the Qingming festival
Buddhist and Taoism ceremonies
many practices
meditation
to honor the gods they worship
to seek progress within their spirtual journies
scripture reciting
Life cycle rituals
so the people need to conduct ceremonies to ask for the deity's protection and blessing
these rituals are to worship but also to maintain tradition
gods bring major life events
brings sense of community
reminds people of their social roles and harmony
Chinese Mythology and Cosmology
Creation Myths
then Pangu came from the egg
Pangu separated chaos and good from each other ( Yin and Yang)
begins with an egg
this created the Earth and the Sky
Another myth was a goddess making humans from clay
YinYang and the 5 elements
5 elements are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.
The Yinyang is the forces of the universe
complementary
interdependent
constant flux
the concept has to do with cosmology
each element represents different gods, seasons, directions, and aspects of life, etc.
Heaven, Earth, Underworld
Divided into 3 realms
underworld - Yinjian
ruled by Yama
Earth- Di
specific roles but doesn't mention ruler
Heaven - Tian
ruled by Jade Emperor
Heavenly Bureaucracy
proven by Heavenly Bureaucracy
different gods are in charge of different human events
Cosmology reflects the life on earth
gods have a heirarchy
Karma and Reincarnation
apart of life, death, and afterlife
The gods in the Ten Kings of Hell control the rebirthings
Buddhist idea
they judge the souls to establish what they are going to reincarnate into
Chinese Gods and Goddesses
Guanyin
originally male in India
known for kindness
Goddess of Mercy and Compassion
bodhisattva
Nuwa
related to many creation myths
created humans
one of the main feature in mythology
saves the world
repaired pillar of heaven
Jade Emperor
highest in authority among the gods
(Yù Huáng or Yù Dì)
intelligent and good ruler
ruler of heaven , Earth , and Hell
Fuxi
culure hero like Nuwa
inventor of hunting, fishing, and domestication.
related to the invention of an ancient text, l Ching
originated many human things
Shennong
contributed a great amount to human survivial, civilization
inventor of agriculture, herbal medicine, and market trade
"Divine Farmer"
taught men many skills
Zhong Kui
for protection against the bad spirits
his methods and tricks are to rid off evil
known as Ghost King
feirce look
figure off good and benevolence
Deep History of Chinese Religion
The first recorded known sign of Chinese religion was in the Shang Dynasty
1600-1046 BCE
first it was animal beliefs and the worshipping of ancestors, then the pantheon came along
In the Zhou dynasty, religion was elaborated more. Jade Emperor was more of a big deal.
heaven and earth were mirrored
Confucianism was respect for elders, ancestors, rulers.
Taoism was harmony and the introduction of the pantheon. Spiritual immortlity which is when the spirit of the dead unites with the universe.
Buddhism started the Han dynasty for the Chinese
Buddhism offered some deities of their own into the already existing pantheon
The pantheon shifted and evolved throughout the people's needs, ideas, cultural changes, etc.
