Mythology encompasses the collection of religious or cultural myths, which aim to explain different aspects of a community, people, or events. These myths comprise diverse stories that serve the purpose of justifying or illuminating specific matters.
In numerous instances, myths are perceived as conventional and primitive. They typically consist of fictional tales that communities and societies utilize to instill fear. These myths possess an extensive historical background, spanning centuries, and were frequently utilized by ancient civilizations like the Greeks.
Despite being viewed as illogical and unreal, myths have an important function in understanding culture, traditions, and behavior. Mythology includes both a collection of myths and the study of these stories. Certain scholars consider myths to be widespread misconceptions about social issues. Mythology is closely related to ancient narratives like folklore and l
...egends.
Characters in myths, whether gods or humans with supernatural abilities, are often not actual individuals. These myths serve to explain the origins of customs and taboos within a society and are therefore a significant aspect of its culture and tradition. Some communities regard myths as factual records of their existence. Additionally, myths establish societal norms and guide behavior, as morality cannot be solely determined based on scientific principles.
The purpose of this paper is to investigate Asian mythology. Asia, home to over 3.8 million people, is a vast continent that includes a wide range of ethnic groups, landscapes, cultures, ways of life, and forms of government. Covering around 29.5% of the Earth's land area, Asia holds the title as the largest continent on our planet. It is bordered by several seas and oceans such as the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, and Sea of Marmora.
In recent
years, the categorization of countries such as Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Armenia, and Turkey as part of Asia's Far East has been revised due to their economic and cultural circumstances.
Asia is a diverse region that extends from India to neighboring European countries in the west. It is renowned for its vibrant culture and traditions. Over time, clashes between various cultures have occurred, with dominant ones absorbing weaker ones. Regrettably, these conflicts frequently resulted in violent confrontations and loss of life.
The text highlights the diversity and specificity of Asian mythology in individual countries, showcasing a wide range of stories and beliefs. It mentions various deities like the Hindu god Ganesa and the supreme Gautama, as well as sacred ruins in Cambodia. Asian mythology is known for its profound depth and occasional complexity, encompassing elements such as rites of passage in pre-Islamic Iran, demons in China, and the Japanese belief in the afterlife. Mongolia and Korea also have rich collections of myths (Pandharipande & Rajeshwari 233).
Chinese Mythology
The writers in China were heavily influenced by alchemy ideas and superstitious beliefs of Buddha, leading them to share their own tales about Chinese gods.
The art of writing emerged in the Tang dynasty, with writers composing stories about various aspects of human nature, such as relationships and social life. Many of these stories revolved around gods and supernatural characters. Chinese myths either originated from ancient primitive communities predating recorded history or were written by scholars.
The myths of gods and ghosts in ancient China depicted them with human qualities, reflecting the life during their existence. The gods and goddesses in China played a significant role in governing various aspects of life and human connections.
Among them, Ch’eng- Huang were often distinguished individuals in society who had deceased. Following their death, their spirits were elevated to a divine status. Ch’eng- Huang served the purpose of safeguarding the community from potential threats posed by foreign invaders.
They also revealed wicked individuals within the community.
Chung Hu
The gods' aim was to safeguard the virtuous members of the community. They brought punishment upon those who violated the laws set by the supreme gods in heaven. Additionally, they bestowed rewards upon those who performed admirably in society.
Kuan Ti
Kuan Ti's primary duty involved guarding warriors on the battlefield. He gained renown for his extraordinary abilities in combat. More than 1600 temples, scattered throughout China, were utilized as places of worship for these deities.
Shi-Tien-Yen-Wang
The rulers of the underworld and gods of death, known as Shi-Tien-Yen-Wang, were believed to punish sinners in ancient China. The country's diverse cultural groups, speaking different languages, gave rise to a wide range of mythologies. Chinese myths were conveyed through pictographic figures, allowing them to transcend linguistic barriers. Much of Chinese mythology revolves around living beings, including creatures and supernatural humans. These myths originated from a mix of fear towards external aggressors and religious/cultural beliefs prevalent during that era.
There are various aspects of Chinese mythology;
Taoism
Taoism was practiced in the pursuit of physical immortality. It emphasized that change could only be experienced and sought a balance between natural and abstract laws.
Confucianism
This belief focused on gods who established order in society. Correct behavior was to be maintained at all times. Chinese people believe that chaos and confusion prevailed at the
beginning of the earth.
The earth was engulfed in darkness and an egg emerged. This egg hatched into the colossal being known as the Pangu. As Pangu grew larger, the lower part of the egg became the earth, while the upper parts transformed into the skies.
Japanese mythology
Having a history spanning over 2000 years, Japanese mythology encompasses two types of religion: Shinto, a localized belief system; and Buddhism, which arrived in Japan from India through Korea and China. The Japanese people have faith in numerous gods, goddesses, and spirits.
The Japanese myths, which describe the earth's formation, have been transmitted orally and in writing. These myths originated from ancient records and have great importance in Japanese culture. Kagura dances are performed to pay tribute to Shinto shrines. The goddess Amaterasu had a crucial role in establishing Japan's imperial family (Pandharipande & Rajeshwari 123).
The goddess sent her grandson to earth with jewelry and other attractive materials. When he arrived, he was warmly welcomed and given the chance to rule Japan. The Japanese also believe in a primeval ooze of mud from which the earth was formed (Rozwadowski ; Andrzej 156).
Korean mythology
Korean mythology is a combination of Chinese myths, Buddhism from India, and Confucianism. The Korean culture is rich with legends.
Each region in Korea had its own unique legends. In addition, Korean shamanism was widely practiced and popular in the country. Aminism served as the predominant religion, with believers commonly worshipping mountains, trees, and plants, believing them to possess souls. Due to Korea's division into multiple regions, the myths and beliefs varied from one place to another.
Buddhism arrived in Korea in the 4th century and had a significant impact
on the existing myths and traditions of the time. The native myths and traditions of indigenous Koreans were facing extinction, as those who followed their own religion were frequently persecuted and killed (Leeming & David 367).
Indian mythology
Hindu culture is incredibly rich and distinct from other cultures worldwide. India's unique culture is passed down through generations orally or through written texts.
The myths, which are told as stories, are the basis of Indian culture. They are considered the most effective means of learning by the Indians, as they capture the attention of young minds. What sets Indian mythology apart is that it offers multiple perspectives to describe the same facts. Among the various myths in India, the Buddha is the most prevalent.
The main objective of Buddhism is to reduce human suffering and promote societal harmony. In the Buddhist faith, there is recognition of three gods: Vishnu, Siva, and Brahma.
Hindu deities
Over time, the belief in Hindu gods has evolved. Hindus have adapted their worship of specific deities to meet changing demands. The Vedic Deities, considered as heavenly rulers, are highly esteemed by Indians.
The purpose of the Vedic gods is to defeat the forces that withhold rainfall from falling. There are various Vedic gods; Agni, Surya and Yuma (Tseng ; Nishizono 57)
Work Cited
- Leeming, David. A dictionary of Asian mythology. Oxford University Press, 2001.
- Leeming, David. The Oxford companion to world mythology. Oxford University Press, 2005.
- Pandharipande, Rajeshwari. The Eternal Self and the Cycle of Sa?s?ra: Introduction to Asian Mythology and Religion. Simon ; Schuster Custom Pub., 1996.
- Rozwadowski, Andrzej. From semiotics to phenomenology: Central Asian petroglyphs and the Indo-Iranian mythology. Na, 2001.
- Tseng, W.
S., S. C. Chang,
M. Nishizono. The topic of discussion is Asian culture and psychotherapy.
Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2005.
