Immortal Beasts, Above and Beneath | ATIN: Stories from the Collection

Summary

The script explores the significance of mythical creatures like dragons, phoenixes, and birds in Chinese and Filipino cultures. It discusses how these creatures were integrated into local beliefs and folklore, such as the Sarimanok in the Philippines, symbolizing prosperity and messengers to the heavens. The narrative also touches on the adaptation of these mythologies with cultural exchanges, like the Bakunawa and its counterparts in Hindu and Buddhist cultures. It concludes by reflecting on the enduring allure of mythologies in human experience, despite the age of science.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Mythical creatures like birds and serpents hold a significant place in our collective imagination, revealing the meanings and values we create.
• 🐉 A 14th-century Chinese stoneware jar features mythical creatures like a dragon and a phoenix, showing the importance of such symbols in trade ceramics.
• 🛶 Chinese trade wares often depicted mythological creatures, which may have resonated with local mythologies and spiritual beliefs.
• 🕊️ Birds, with their ability to fly, are often associated with the sky and heavens, and are seen as messengers in various folklore.
• 🦜 The Sarimanok is a mythical bird in Philippine folklore, symbolizing Maranao identity and associated with legends of love and prosperity.
• 🌑 The Sarimanok is believed to dwell between Earth and the underworld, with offerings made to it for prosperity.
• 🌙 The Sarimanok is linked to the moon goddess in some legends, and is seen as a bridge to the heavenly realm.
• 🐉 The Bahunawa, a serpent-like deity in Philippine folklore, is believed to cause eclipses by swallowing the sun or moon.
• 🌍 The concept of a celestial beast devouring heavenly bodies is a recurring theme in ancient cultures worldwide.
• 🔮 Despite the age of science and reason, mythologies continue to fascinate us, suggesting that the fantastical will always be a part of human experience.

Q & A

What is the significance of mythical creatures like birds and serpents in our collective imagination?

Mythical creatures like birds and serpents hold a real and significant place in our collective imagination as they reveal the meanings and values we create beneath the surface of our physical experience.

What is an example of a 14th-century Chinese trade ceramic mentioned in the script?

A 14th-century stoneware jar from a Chinese province is an example of trade ceramics featuring an iron-painted dragon and phoenix, which are mythical creatures in Chinese lore.

How were mythological creatures depicted in Chinese trade wares?

Chinese trade wares from various excavations often featured mythological creatures such as dragons and phoenixes, which were painted on the ceramics.

What role did birds play in various folklore?

In folklore, birds, given their capacity for flight, are often associated with the sky and heavens, and they often play the role of messengers or vessels.

What is the Sarimanok and why is it significant in Philippine folklore?

The Sarimanok is a popular and enduring mythical bird in Philippine folklore, symbolizing Maranao identity, and is associated with numerous legends, including one where it brought a king to the Heavenly realm.

How did the Sarimanok become a symbol of Maranao identity?

The Sarimanok became a symbol of Maranao identity through its association with legends and its depiction in their art and culture, including stories of it bringing the king to the Heavenly realm.

What is the significance of the fish in the Sarimanok's beak?

The fish in the Sarimanok's beak symbolizes offerings, which were believed to ensure prosperity for those who gave them.

What is the Bahunawa in Philippine folklore?

The Bahunawa is a deity in Philippine folklore, known by many names, and is credited as the cause of eclipses, believed to swallow the sun or moon.

How did ancient Filipinos adapt to the names of Bakunawa's counterparts from Hindu Buddhist cultures?

Ancient Filipinos adapted the names of Bakunawa's counterparts, such as Naga and Rahu, into their own language, with Rahu becoming 'laho' in Tagalog, which means eclipse and also means to disappear.

Why do mythologies continue to fascinate us even in the age of science and reason?

Mythologies continue to fascinate us because they tap into a sense of awe in our minds, and even with rational explanations, the fantastical will always have a place in the human experience due to the limitless nature of our imagination.

What is the recurring trope of a celestial beast devouring heavenly bodies in ancient cultures?

The recurring trope of a celestial beast devouring heavenly bodies is found in ancient cultures around the world, including China, India, and Southeast Asia, often symbolizing the cause of eclipses.