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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Ivy Agyekum
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DOI:10.17265/2328-2177/2026.03.002
Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, China
This study presents a comparative analysis of Han Chinese creation myths and the Heliopolitan creation tradition of ancient Egypt. Both mythological systems share a foundational cosmogonic motif in which the universe emerges from a primordial state of chaos. In Han mythology, the giant Pangu separates heaven and earth, while in the Heliopolitan tradition the god Shu performs a similar role by dividing the sky goddess Nut from the earth god Geb. Despite these parallels, important differences remain. The story of Nuwa creating human beings represents a distinctive anthropogenic narrative within Han mythology. Additionally, both traditions emphasize cosmological duality: Chinese mythology frames this through the dynamic balance of Yin and Yang, whereas Egyptian mythology expresses duality through divine pairs within the Ennead. Another notable similarity is the presence of divine kinship relations that sometimes involve sibling unions. Finally, this study argues that cultural and historical contexts shape the transmission of mythological narratives. In the Chinese case, later patriarchal interpretations appear to have reshaped certain traditions, including narratives that once emphasized Nuwa as a primary creator deity.
creation myth, cosmogony, Han Chinese mythology, Egyptian mythology, Heliopolis
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