Since the beginning of human history,people have lived in close contact with animals—usually as hunters and farmers—and have developed myths and legends about them.All kinds of creatures,from fierce leopards to tiny spiders,play important roles in mythology.A myth can give special meanings or extraordinary qualities to common animals such as frogs and bears.However,other creatures found in myths—many-headed monsters,dragons,and unicorns—never existed in the real world.

Many myths explore relationships between humans and animals.Sometimes animals perform services for humans,such as guiding them through the underworld or helping them complete tasks.A large group of myths involving animals concern transformations,or changes,between the human and animal states.

Gods,Creators,and Heroes: In some mythological traditions,gods took on animal form.Although supernatural animals were not gods themselves,they were often created,given power,or protected by the gods.

Animals are linked to human origins as well as to the origin of the world.Many native American clans believed they were descended from animals,and the Yao people of southern China traced their origins to a dog ancestor.Animals also helped shape human existence by acting as messengers to the gods.

Symbols: Animals sometimes appear in myths and legends as symbols of certain characteristics they are believed to represent.Common phrases such as“sly as a fox”or“brave as a lion”are everyday examples of the practice of using animals to represent human qualities.The dog often appears as a symbol ofloyalty in myths and legends,and the tiger stands for power and vitality.Many cultures have stories in which animal characters representing human qualities present moral lessons.

Chinese animal symbols hold incredible power in all cultures.So it should come as no surprise that these animal themes and motifs are found in every square inch of rich Chinese culture and heritage.The Chinese understand the deeper meanings of animals,and utilized the characteristics of each creature to represent traits they wish to call upon in their own lives.The following arejust a few examples:

Butterfly: In Chinese culture the Butterfly represents love,specifically young love.Happily flitting from flower to flower,it signifies a happy social life for the young and young-at-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 feathered 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 the heavens.

Horse: The seventh of the Chinese Zodiac Signs,the Horse represents endurance,loyalty,and purity to the Buddhist way ofthinking.It is also a symbol for quick advancement in rank,and recognition ofstrength.

Magpie: This Chinese animal symbol translates into the bird of joy.It is believed that when the Magpie nests in your house,it brings much cause for celebration and many happy occasions.Those wishing to settle down will do well to have this symbol in their lives,as it attracts the nesting,settling energies into our lives.Additionally the Magpie is a powerful symbol to attract the joy associated with marriage and children.

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 pranks,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 movies,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 thatbreaks the laws ofsociety.

An animal may be monstrous simply because of abnormal size.The most dreadful monsters,however,do not correspond to anything known in the real world.Often they are hybrids,mixtures of different species—another breaking of natural boundaries.Dragons,for example,are usually visualized as a snake or reptile with bat’s wings and sometimes with a head resembling that of a horse.In some traditions,dragons have multiple heads or can change shape.

Questions Basedon the text

1.Read Text C and fillin the following blanks.

1)The main theme of Text C is that______________.

2)The fox is often a symbol of____.

3)The dog is often a symbol of____.

4)The tiger stands for____and____in myths and legends.

5)Monsters represent our darkest fears:____and uncontrollable____.

6)A large group of myths involving animals concerns____,or changes,between the human and animal states.

7)The most dreadful monsters are often____,mixtures of different species—another breaking ofnatural boundaries.

8)____in the myth are easily to become monstrous ifthey are reshaped.

2.Match the animals in Column A with the symbolic meanings in Column B according to Chinese culture.

Column A

1)the wolf

2)the rat

3)the sheep

4)the monkey

5)the bee

6)the butterfly

7)the peacock

Column B

A.timidity and gentleness

B.cruelty

C.diligence

D.brightness

E.contemptibility

F.beauty

G.vanity

Notes

1. Shanhaijing: (literally The Classic of Mountains and Seas )is a Chinese classic text that is at least 2,000 years old.It is largely a fabled geographical and cultural account ofpre-Qin China as well as a collection of mythology.The book is about 31,000 words long,and is divided into eighteen sections;it describes over 550 mountains and300 channels.

2.Leviathan:is a sea monster referred to in the Tanakh(the Christian Old Testament).The word leviathan has become synonymous with any large sea monster or creature.In modern literature(such as the novel Moby - Dick )it refers to great whales,and in Modern Hebrew,it means simply“whale.”

3.Godzilla:a fictional Japanese giant monster.

For Fun

Book to Read

Best Chinese Myths

It is a book illustrated by Kok Hao Yun and translated by Gong Lizeng as Asiapac Books(1999).Generations have been enthralled and inspired by characters of yesteryears,drawing upon their wisdom and virtues for motivation and guidance.The enduring quality of these myths has been proven with the passage of time.We can witness how our world was created by Pan Gu and how human beings were fashioned by Nü Wa.Coupled with life-like and intricate drawings by cartoonist Kok Hao Yun,these classical Chinese myths are bound to entertain and educate.

Movie to See

Lotus Lantern

The movie is about Chen Xiang’s journey to look for his mother.His mother is a goddess who possesses a magical Lotus Lantern whose light can scare away evil and his father is a mortal.His uncle Erlang Shen punishes them by killing the father.When his uncle,a strict and powerful god,kidnaps Chen Xiang,his mother fights to save her son.

Websites to Visit

http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Pa-Pr/Pan-Gu.html :This website serves as Myth Encyclopedia,where you can find articles about myths and legends about the world.

http://www.whats-your-sign.com/signs.html :Created by Avia Venefica,this website is meant to be the Doorway to Symbolism.It has many of the creator’s writings on symbolic meanings with fine pictures. Rfd3gK+kCrYFEQzRQx5EKHZAG+uZyvYWwV3bloTlhfnwgiOhlFFMu8GFi0Y0Oo4J