The Far East& The Pacific Islands

MYTHS

Objectives

Examine mythology from the Far East and Pacific Islands

Identify upcoming myths to read

Recognize the history and background information for upcoming myths

Essential Questions

What myths will we read from the Far East and Pacific Islands?

What countries are these myths from?

When were the myths written?

What are the myths about?

What do the countries’ cultures say about the myths?

Warm-Up

1) I will show you five collages about certain countries or states from the Far East

2) Without shouting answers, one person must raise their hand and state their guess

3) That person pretends to be Vanna White & touches the screen to see if they’re correct

NO CHEATING!

The Creation, Death and Rebirth of the Universe

•The Creation of the Universe and Human Beings

•Chi Li Slays the Serpent

• Amaterasu

• Kotan Utunnai (Ainu)

The Creation Cycle

The Taming of the Sun

Foursquare Notes1) India2) China3) Japan

4) New Zealand & Hawaii

Myths of the Far East& the Pacific Islands Timeline

Represent a number of different cultures recorded over a wide range of time

India- Reflect culture of Indo-European

peoples in 1500 B.C.China- Reflect Han dynasty in 206 B.C.-A.D.

220. (Earliest Chinese myths)Japan- From eighth century A.D. about Ainu

peopleNew Zealand & Hawaii- From middle of 19th

century

Indian Myths

Reflects Indo-European peoplesInvolves creating universe from

body of a divinity Explains the creation of human

beingsInvolves regeneration and the

cyclical nature of timeDharma- a definitive pattern of

righteous behavior required by that person’s position in society

Ramayana one of world’s greatest epics

Chinese Myths

Han dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220)

Earliest myths in existence213 B.C.- First emperor of

China burned all books that were not medicine, prophecy or farming

Chi Li- A virtuous young woman risks her life for the welfare of her community

Must use creative intelligence, strength, courage and skill to conquer her adversary

Japanese Myths

• Japanese crossed the Korea Strait into Japan during the early period of the Han Dynasty

• Kotan Utunnai- modern transcription of a myth of the aboriginal Ainu people, who were living in Japan when the Japanese arrived

New Zealand & Hawaiian Myths

Polynesian peoples migrated from Asia to Tahiti, and then from Tahiti to New Zealand, Hawaii & other Pacific islands

Myths determined by Polynesian people and Christian missionaries

Maori mythology has little western influence

Many Hawaiian myths changed or lost due to missionaries’ intervention in the native people’s culture