Episode 5: The Legend of 10 suns and 12 moons | Chinese mythology Explained

ArtMiz Media

31 Aug 202304:28

Summary

TLDRIn ancient Chinese mythology, the Heavenly Emperor De Jun, with a monkey's body and a bird's head, had ten sun sons and twelve moon daughters. The Sun Goddess She Her managed her ten sun sons, who took the form of three-legged crows, bringing warmth and light to the Earth. The Moon Goddess Chang Shi, after a year of pregnancy, gave birth to twelve moons, who illuminated the night sky in rotation. These celestial bodies represented the cycle of day and night, symbolizing the matriarchal society's reverence for maternal love and sacrifice.

Takeaways

🐒 The Heavenly Emperor De Jun is depicted with a unique appearance, having the body of a monkey, the head of a bird, two horns, a single leg, and a hunched back.
🌞 De Jun's ten sons symbolize the sun, taking the form of three-legged golden crows that bring warmth and light to the Earth.
🌛 The Moon Goddess Chang'shi, one of De Jun's wives, gave birth to 12 daughters representing the 12 moons.
🌅 The Sun Goddess She Her, another wife of De Jun, lives beyond the Eastern Sea and manages her ten sons' routine, ensuring the cycle of day and night.
🌄 The ten suns take turns rising, each responsible for a day, providing light and warmth, and are rejuvenated in a warm spring by She Her.
🌳 The Fusang tree, a mythical tree, is said to be the bathing and resting place for the ten suns after their daily duties.
🌜 The 12 moons, daughters of Chang'shi, noticed the darkness when the suns set and proposed to light the night to bring illumination.
🌙 The 12 moons take turns lighting the night sky, each responsible for a month, forming the 12 months of the year.
🌌 The absence of the moon in the sky for a few days each month symbolizes the rest period of the moons.
🌟 The script highlights the ancient Chinese reverence for the sun and moon, as well as the matriarchal figures of She Her and Chang'shi, who embody maternal love and sacrifice.

Q & A

Who is the Heavenly Emperor De Jun and what does he represent?
-The Heavenly Emperor De Jun is a figure from ancient Chinese mythology who is said to have the body of a monkey, the head of a bird, two horns on his head, a single leg, and a hunched back. He represents a divine entity associated with the sun and is considered the father of the ten suns and twelve moons.
What are the characteristics of the Sun Goddess She Her and her sons?
-The Sun Goddess She Her is described as living beyond the Eastern Sea and is the mother of ten sons who embody the sun. Her sons take the form of three-legged golden crows, emitting a scorching temperature and a dazzling aura. They take turns rising to bring warmth and light to the Earth.
How does the daily routine of She Her's sons affect the lives of people on Earth?
-The daily routine of She Her's sons, the ten suns, allows people to work at sunrise and rest at sunset, creating a harmonious and joyful lifestyle where humans and animals coexist peacefully.
What is the significance of the fusang tree in the myth?
-The fusang tree is significant in the myth as it is where the ten suns bathe and rejuvenate after immersing themselves in the spring. The tree is described as enormous and is associated with the process of renewal and the cycle of the suns.
Who is the Moon Goddess Changshi and what is her role in the myth?
-The Moon Goddess Changshi is the mother of the twelve moons and is responsible for giving birth to them. She addresses the endless darkness on Earth by allowing her daughters to provide gentle illumination during the night.
How do the twelve moons contribute to the night sky according to the legend?
-The twelve moons take turns illuminating the night sky, each moon representing a month, thus forming the 12 months of a year. They bring a soft glow to the nocturnal world, ensuring that there is always some light during the night.
What is the symbolic meaning of the twelve moons taking a few days of rest each month?
-The symbolic meaning of the twelve moons taking a few days of rest each month is to represent the feminine aspect of the lunar cycle, where the moon does not appear in the night sky during those days, reflecting the natural cycle of the moon's phases.
How do the folk tales about the moon describe the relationship between Changshi and her daughters?
-Folk tales about the moon depict Changshi as deeply loving her daughters and personally bathing them, which symbolizes the depth and grandeur of maternal love.
What does the contrast between She Her and Changshi represent in terms of maternal roles in ancient Chinese society?
-The contrast between She Her and Changshi represents the dual aspects of maternal roles in ancient Chinese society. She Her, as the mother of the sun, embodies selflessness and sacrifice, bringing light and warmth daily, while Changshi, as the mother of the moons, guards her daughters and sprinkles moonlight over the world, symbolizing the depth of maternal love.
How are the images of She Her and Changshi revered in ancient Chinese culture?
-The images of She Her and Changshi are particularly revered in ancient Chinese culture as they reflect the matriarchal nature of society at the time and capture the profound feelings and understanding of the sun, moon, and maternal love.
What is the significance of the physical description of De Jun in the myth?
-The physical description of De Jun, with a mix of animal and human features, signifies his divine and supernatural status. It also reflects the rich imagination and symbolism in ancient Chinese mythology, where such descriptions often carry deeper meanings related to the character's attributes or powers.

Outlines

00:00

🌞 The Myth of the Heavenly Emperor and the Sun Goddess

This paragraph delves into ancient Chinese mythology, focusing on the Heavenly Emperor De Jun and his family. De Jun, depicted with a unique set of features, had ten sons and twelve daughters symbolizing the sun and the moon. The Sun Goddess She Her, one of his wives, lived with her ten sons near the Eastern Sea. These sons, in the form of three-legged golden crows, were responsible for bringing light and warmth to the Earth, following a daily cycle of rising and setting. The people revered the sun and lived in harmony, with She Her managing her sons' routine. The paragraph also describes the legend of the Fusang tree and the role of the Dragon Chariot in the sun's journey across the sky.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Heavenly Emperor De Jun

The Heavenly Emperor De Jun, also known as the Jade Emperor, is a central figure in Chinese mythology who is often depicted as the ruler of heaven. In the video, De Jun is described as having a unique physical appearance, combining the body of a monkey, the head of a bird, and other distinctive features. This character is central to the mythological narrative, symbolizing the divine authority and the cosmic order.

💡Sun Goddess She Her

She Her, also known as Xi He, is the Chinese goddess of the sun and the mother of the ten suns. In the script, she is portrayed as living beyond the Eastern Sea and managing the daily routine of her sons, who embody the sun. She Her's role in the video emphasizes the importance of the sun in ancient Chinese cosmology and the reverence for the sun as a life-giving force.

💡Three-legged Golden Crows

The three-legged golden crows are mythical birds in Chinese folklore, each representing one of the ten suns. The video describes them as taking turns rising to bring warmth and light to the Earth. This concept is integral to the story, illustrating the cyclical nature of day and night and the harmonious balance of the natural world.

💡Fusang Tree

The Fusang tree is a mythical tree mentioned in the video as the place where the suns bathe and rejuvenate after a day of providing light. It is described as an enormous tree that sprouts from the scalding water of the spring where the suns bathe. The Fusang tree symbolizes renewal and the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth.

💡Moon Goddess Chang Shi

Chang Shi, or Chang'e, is the Chinese goddess of the moon and the mother of the twelve moons. In the video, she is depicted as giving birth to twelve moon children who bring light to the night sky. Chang Shi's role highlights the cultural significance of the moon in ancient China and the association of the moon with femininity and nurturing.

💡Maternal Love

Maternal love is a recurring theme in the video, represented by both She Her and Chang Shi as they care for their children, the suns and moons. This concept is central to the narrative, emphasizing the selflessness and sacrifice of mothers in providing for their offspring and the deep bond between mother and child.

💡Matriarchal Society

The video reflects the matriarchal nature of ancient Chinese society through the reverence for the goddesses She Her and Chang Shi. These figures are highly esteemed, showcasing the importance of women and motherhood in cultural and societal structures. The matriarchal aspect is significant as it provides a historical context for the roles and status of women in ancient times.

💡Cosmic Order

The cosmic order is a fundamental concept in the video, represented by the structured routine of the suns and moons. The orderly rise and set of the suns and the cyclical illumination of the moons by Chang Shi's children illustrate the harmony and balance in the universe, which is essential for the well-being of all living beings.

💡Harmony

Harmony is a key concept in the video, depicted through the peaceful coexistence of humans and animals and the balance between day and night. The harmony is maintained by the suns and moons, ensuring a stable and prosperous world. This concept is central to the theme of the video, emphasizing the importance of balance and cooperation in nature and society.

💡Mythological Creatures

Mythological creatures such as the three-legged golden crows and the moon goddess's children are central to the video's narrative. These creatures are integral to the mythological tales, representing cultural beliefs and values. They serve to explain natural phenomena and provide a framework for understanding the world in ancient Chinese mythology.

💡Selflessness and Sacrifice

Selflessness and sacrifice are highlighted through the actions of She Her and Chang Shi, who tirelessly care for their children and ensure the well-being of the world. These qualities are exemplified in the video as the mothers' devotion to their offspring transcends their personal needs, reflecting the cultural ideal of self-sacrifice for the greater good.

Highlights

The Heavenly Emperor De Jun had ten sons representing the ten suns and twelve daughters representing the twelve moons.

De Jun, the Heavenly Emperor, has the body of a monkey, the head of a bird, two horns on his head, a single leg, and a hunched back.

De Jun had three wives, two of them being the Sun Goddess She He and the Moon Goddess Changshi.

At the beginning of time, She He lived beyond the Eastern Sea near the Sweet Springs, with her ten sons who embodied the suns as three-legged golden crows.

The ten sons took turns rising, bringing warmth and light to the Earth, ensuring that humans lived harmoniously, working by day and resting by night.

She He managed the rhythm of time, leading the suns from east to west daily, rejuvenating them each night in the Sweet Springs.

When the suns bathed in the springs, the water became scalding and sprouted the Fusang tree, which became their resting place.

The brilliance of She He rejuvenating her sons at night is seen as the starry night sky in mythology.

Moon Goddess Changshi gave birth to twelve moon children, pure and bright, who later provided gentle illumination to the Earth during the night.

The twelve moons took turns lighting the night sky, forming the twelve months of the year, and rested a few days each month, symbolizing the phases of the moon.

Changshi, deeply loving her daughters, is said to personally bathe them, reflected in the folk tale of seeing a woman aiding the moon in its bath.

The sun goddess She He symbolizes a mother’s selflessness and sacrifice, tending to her sons to bring light and warmth to the people.

Moon goddess Changshi represents the depth and grandeur of maternal love, guarding her daughters and providing moonlight to the world.

These tales of the sun and moon goddesses reflect the matriarchal nature of ancient society in China.

The myths about She He and Changshi showcase ancient China's understanding of celestial cycles, maternal love, and the balance between day and night.