Chinese LegendsCreation Myths

Pangu Creates the World

A primordial giant sacrifices himself to transform a chaotic void into the natural world.

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Illustration for Pangu Creates the World - a creation myths Chinese Legends story with moral lessons

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Story Summary

Explore the Chinese legend Pangu Creates the World. Discover how a giant emerged from a cosmic egg to separate heaven and earth through ultimate sacrifice.

In the beginning, the universe was a dark, chaotic void shaped like a cosmic egg. Within this egg, the giant Pangu slept for eighteen thousand years. When he finally awoke, he shattered the shell with a mighty axe. The light, clear parts of the egg floated upward to form the Heavens, while the cold, heavy parts sank to become the Earth. To prevent them from merging again, Pangu stood between them, pushing the sky higher every day. For another eighteen thousand years, he grew ten feet taller each day, and the sky grew ten feet higher. Exhausted by his monumental labor, Pangu eventually collapsed. In his death, his body underwent a final transformation: his breath became the wind, his voice the thunder, his left eye the sun, and his right eye the moon. His limbs became the mountains, his blood the rivers, and his hair the stars, ensuring that the world he created would be filled with life and beauty.

The Moral

True greatness lies in self-sacrifice and the idea that we are all deeply interconnected with the natural world.

“From the breath of his lungs came the wind and clouds, and from his final sacrifice, the world was born.”

Fun Fact

The myth of Pangu is relatively young compared to other Chinese legends, first appearing in written records during the Three Kingdoms period in the 3rd century AD.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the moral of Pangu Creates the World?

The moral is that self-sacrifice and perseverance can create a lasting legacy for others. It also teaches that humanity and nature are one, as the world is literally formed from Pangu's essence.

How long did Pangu stand between the sky and earth?

Pangu stood between the heavens and the earth for eighteen thousand years, growing every day to keep them apart. This period represents a vast, primordial era of transition and stability.

What happened to Pangu's body after he died?

Pangu's body transformed into the physical features of the Earth. His eyes became the sun and moon, his blood became the rivers, and his breath turned into the wind and clouds.

What did Pangu use to separate the heavens and the earth?

In many versions of the myth, Pangu uses a massive axe to crack the cosmic egg. Once the elements began to separate, he used his own body as a pillar to keep them from merging back together.

What was the universe like before Pangu?

Before Pangu, the universe was a state of 'Wuji' or chaos. It was often described as a dark, swirling mass contained within a cosmic egg where heaven and earth were inextricably mixed.

Why is Pangu important in Chinese mythology?

Pangu is revered as the first sentient being and the creator of the physical universe. He serves as a foundational figure for Chinese cosmological beliefs regarding balance and the origins of life.