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?

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