Many modern cultures are very similar. These similarities have been around since the origins of the cultures. Even though most cultures may seem very different, they have similar beliefs. Many of these beliefs are expressed in a culture’s creation myth and by comparing the myths from different cultures you can find many similarities.
The African and Chinese myths for example, show a close similarity in the creation of humans. In the African myth “The Creation of the Universe, Ife, and Human Beings,” Obatala becomes lonely and decides to make humans for companionship. He starts digging in the soil and finds clay. Using the clay, he shapes figures that look just like himself. He gets thirsty so he makes some palm wine to drink. After drinking many bowls, he continues making humans. He then calls on Olorun to breathe life into them. After they are alive, he realizes that the ones he made when he was drunk are all disformed. In the Chinese myth “The Creation of the Universe and Human Beings,” Nugua isn’t satisfied with animals and fish and decides to make a more intelligent being that would be superior to all other living things.
As she is gliding along the Yellow River, she decides to use the clay from the riverbed to create them. Sitting down along the shore, she makes figures that look like herself but have two legs instead of a dragon tail. After they are made, she breathes life into them and impregnates some with yang and some with yin. She becomes tired of making them this way thinks of a faster way. Nugua rolls a rope in the riverbed until it is completely covered. Then she shakes the rope and each drop of mud that falls off becomes a human. The second method produces humans that were inferior to the ones that were handmade though.
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There are five components of human culture; symbols, language, values and beliefs, norms, and material culture and technology. Symbols are anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share a culture. Language is a system of symbols that allows people to communicate with each other. Values are culturally defined standards by which people assess desirability, goodness, and ...
The Chinese myth is also similar to the Miwok myth in that they both show that their cultures valued strength. In the Chinese myth, Pangu breaks out of the egg but can’t stand up because the heavens are too heavy. He decides the only way for life to exist on the earth is if he holds up the heavens. So for 18,00 years, Pangu holds up the heavens eating only the mists and never sleeping. As time goes on, he rises to his knees, then stands up with his elbows bent, and finally straightens his arms. Every day he grows a little more and pushes the heavens upward. After the heavens are high above the earth, he realizes how tired he is and decides to take a rest. He lies down and falls asleep and his body gives form to the universe. In the “Miwok Indian Myth,” Coyote finishes making the world and the lower animals. He then calls all the animals together to consider making humans. They sit in a circle with the strongest, the mountain lion, at the head all the way down to the weakest, the mouse, who sits to the mountain lions left. They all give their opinions on what they think humans should be like. The mountain lion thinks that humans should have strong claws. The grizzly bear thinks humans should have great strength.
The Aztec and African myths are similar in that they both have sacrifices in them. In the Aztec myth “The Creation of the Universe,” the first four worlds are a failure and are all destroyed. The gods gather together to decide who will illuminate the fifth world by creating the fifth sun. The fifth sun will combine all four of the previous elements of earth, air, fire, and water. A wealthy god volunteers, thinking about the praise he will get. One more god is needed but nobody volunteers so they ask Nanautzin if he will come to their aid. Never before being worthy of their attention because he is misshapen and ugly, and covered with sores, he accepts. The two gods purify themselves for the next four days. All of the gods then build a pyramid of stone and make a bonfire on top of it.
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The first man was perfect, Made in the image of God and likeness (Genesis 1:26). Image in this case can not refer to the body; God is a spirit while man is earthly. Image here would mean the divine attributes that God endued man with, separating mankind from other animals. Short gives six God like qualities that man posses. These are language, creativity intellectual ability, dominion over the ...
They are then told to jump into the flames. The wealthy god goes first but can’t get enough courage to do it. Nanautzin goes instead and bravely jumps in the flames. Seeing this, the wealthy god builds up enough courage and jumps in too. In the African myth, Olokun is not pleased that Obatala has taken away part of her kingdom when he made land. She conceives a plan to flood Ife. The flood ravages Ife and the remaining people flee to the hills. They ask for the gods help but have to sacrifice two goats to get it. One goat so the gods will listen and the other for Eshu.
The similarities in these creation myths can tell people that even though different cultures began at different times and places they still think alike. No matter where they are from or what their race is, people from different cultures share similar beliefs. This gives all humans something in common with each other.
