Mythological Events E2 | The Dawn of Civilization

The Dawn of Civilization

From the creation of humanity to the foundations of civilization: exploring the legends of Nüwa, Fuxi, and Shennong.

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🎙️ Visit our website for detailed show notes and visual references about Chinese civilization myths

Key Cultural Concepts

Sheng (笙) [shung]

Ancient Chinese reed pipe instrument

Significance: One of the oldest Chinese musical instruments

Bagua (八卦) [ba-gwa]

Eight Trigrams system created by Fuxi

Significance: Foundation of Chinese cosmology and divination

→ Learn more about Bagua in our episode on Eastern Philosophy

Qi (气) [chee]

Life force or vital energy

Significance: Fundamental concept in Chinese philosophy and medicine

→ Explore Qi in depth in our episode on Eastern Philosophy

Exploring Ancient Wisdom

• How do these creation myths reflect ancient Chinese social structures?

• What similarities do you see between Shennong's herbal experiments and modern scientific method?

• Why do you think many Chinese deities are depicted with hybrid forms?

• How do these myths about the origins of civilization compare to those from other cultures?