Chinese

= =
 * What role does the creation myth play in Chinese culture?**

1.

media type="file" key="Pangu Creation Myth.mp3" width="240" height="20"
 * Pangu Creation Myth**

The creation myth of Pangu portrays the fractionation of things from primordial chaos the most. In fact, the central idea of the myth embodies the separation of complementary opposites within a greater whole. Before the opposing forces were split, the world was in a state of chaos. Everything was mixed together and natures had not yet been separated from each other. Pangu broke the egg of chaos by separating earth (yin) from heaven (yang) and formed peace and order in the world by doing so.
 * Motif paragraph**

Every culture has its own distinctive and unique creation myth and there are many variations of these myths existing within each culture. Creation myths are spring off from society and therefore a reflection of a region’s culture. One can see the distinctiveness of a culture from its creation myth.
 * Essay**

The creation myth of Pangu as we know it today is derived from a Chinese folklore that has mingled with origin stories of other cultures. The Chinese have adapted it to become a common popular creation myth. (Qin) The Creation myth of Pangu is centered on the separation of yin and yang which reflects the very foundation that Chinese culture is built upon. This idea is featured in many aspects of China's diverse culture.

2.

The concept of feng shui is prevalent in Chinese architecture. The role of Feng shui in architecture is comparable to that of yin yang in Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine is centered on achieving balance between yin and yang within the body while feng shui focuses on constructing a city, site, building, or object within yin yang boundaries. (Frank)

3.

The balance of yin and yang is a vital element in Chinese cuisine. There is always a balance between the colors, flavors and textures in Chinese cooking. It is traditional Chinese belief that certain foods retain yin, or cooling properties while other foods retain yang or warm properties. Consuming a balance of the two foods is believed to be the key to maintaining a healthy diet. (Parkinson)

4.

The concept of yin yang embodies the nature of many branches of classical Chinese science and philosophy, as well as being a primary guideline of traditional Chinese medicine. (Porkert) It is a central principle of different forms of Chinese martial arts and exercise, such as baguazhang, tai chi and Chi Kung.

5.

The creation myth of Pangu reflects the concept of yin and yang which is at the very core of Chinese culture. This concept is present in China’s cuisine, architecture and even martial arts. Creation myths are a people’s idea of how they originated. This is a very important if not fundamental aspect of their culture since it reflects their very own essence. Creation myths play a key role in shaping a people’s traditional beliefs and ways of life, therefore they are essential in revealing the root of a culture.

Parkinson, Rhonda. "Yin and Yang in Chinese Cooking." Chinese Recipes - Chinese Cuisine - Chinese Food and Cooking. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. .
 * Annotation #1**


 * A.** This article covers the role of yin and yang in Chinese cuisine and the balance of the two in order to maintain a healthy diet according to traditional Chinese belief.
 * B.** This source was very useful and the information was reliable. The information on this page is presented in an objective manner.This page is not masked for advertising and the author didn't express any personal opinions. The purpose of this source is to inform.
 * C.** This source was helpful to me because it provided information on how the concept of yin yang applies to Chinese culture and more specifically, examples of how it is applied to Chinese cuisine. It helped me shape my argument of how the idea of yin yang is featured in many aspects of Chinese culture. I used the information included in this source as an example to support my thesis**.**

Qin, Naichang. "Pangu - Definition." Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - WordIQ Dictionary. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. .
 * Annotation #2**


 * A.** This source examines some theories on the possible origin of the Pangu creation myth. It provides two possibilities of how the myth originated and how it has become what is it today.
 * B.** This information in this source is useful and reliable. This source isn't biased, it doesn't contain advertisements or personal opinions and the information is presented in an objective manner. The purpose of this source is to inform.
 * C.** This source was helpful to me because it provided an explanation of the origin of the Pangu creation myth which helped me write my tag in my introduction. This source has changed my perception of the origin of the Pangu creation myth because it suggested that the myth may very well have mingled with origin stories of other cultures instead of being native to China.

**Works Cited** Qin, Naichang. "Pangu - Definition." Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - WordIQ Dictionary. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. . Parkinson, Rhonda. "Yin and Yang in Chinese Cooking." Chinese Recipes - Chinese Cuisine - Chinese Food and Cooking. Web. 09 Dec. 2010. . Frank J. Swetz (2002). The Legacy of the Luoshu. pp. 31, 58. Porkert (1974). The Theoretical Foundations of Chinese Medicine. MIT Press. ISBN 0262160587.

1. "China." Map. Web. . 2. Digital image. Web. . 3. Digital image. Web. . 4. Digital image. Web. . 5. Digital image. Web. .
 * Images cited**