Creation In Myths Essay, Research Paper

Torrefiel, Neil

Lucero

The creation of man and the world is a question that has resonated since the conscience of thought and analysis began. We as human beings have the tendency to seek out the reasons and truths of the phenomena that occur around us, and our desire to achieve answers has not hindered our exploration of human existence. We tease ourselves by asking the most simplistic questions: why are we here; how did we come to be; who created our world? And as our minds seek into the unknown and force us to develop the theories of our origins, the human hunger for reason and truth begs to differ. Stories have collected throughout the generations that have preceded us, and its transition from person to person further molded these myths into a realistic fantasy that not only defined the people that held them, but captured believers that, in effect, became religion. As wide as cultural boundaries may seem, the myths that exist in different societies exhibit a common thread of understanding, whether it be character personas or moral comprehension. Three myths that demonstrate similarities in the development of forces, are the Japan, Polynesian, and Babylonian myths.

In the Japanese creation myth, the characters Izanagi no Mikoto and Izanami no Mikoto give birth to a many children who make up the world in which we live in today. 8 of their children are the islands of Japan, and the others include the god of the wind, gods of the sea, god of fire, and god of mischief. These gods make up the forces that create life on earth. In the Polynesian creation myth, the characters Father Rangi and Mother Papa also produce many children. Tu, is the fierce father and god of war-spirited humans; Tane is the father and god of trees, birds, and insects; Rongo is the father and god of edible cultivated plants; Tangaroa is the father of fish and sea reptiles; Haumia is the father and god of fern root and edible wild plants. All five children explain the various species of life on earth. The same pattern is found in the Babylonian creation myth. In this myth, the characters Father Apsu and Mother Tiamat have children/grandchildren, one who controls the heavens. These three myths explain the many forces that exist in our world.

The Japanese, Polynesian, and Babylonian myths illustrates a world created from a mother and father being. The character of the father is one that has all power, all decision, and controls everything and the family. The character of the mother is defined as the caretaker, and a key component that holds the family together. All three myths exhibit a form of cooperation within the family to achieve natural harmony. Without one child the other does not succeed, a phenomenon expressed in the Polynesian myth where all children try to escape from the void within their parents attachment. The mother/father image is important to be distinguished in these three myths, and work as and important figure in it as well. In the Japanese creation myth, Izanami and Izanagi portray two strong individuals who created land and gave forth to fire, wind, land, and others pertaining to nature. In the Babylonian myth, although literally obscured, Father Apsu and Mother Apsu, too, are important to the story s plot. All three myths seek to identify the most important members of the human race, the father and the mother.

The father and the mother are important to the family. They give life to their children, who abide by the rules and exhibit the attitude instilled within them. The Japanese, Polynesian, and Babylonian myths stress and importance to the two beings that make a family. Just as they are the creator of everything as described in the myths, in reality, are the breath of life, and give their children the life to live and spread forth their own intuitions.

The image of the mother and father is one that is continually praised amongst our society. We take the parental image and transpose that with the image of creation, for our parents create us, and for that we all are thankful.