Chinese Myths

This article was written by Phin Upham

Before man walked the Earth, there was darkness all over the land and chaos ruled supreme. Within that darkness there was an egg that formed. Pangu came from that egg, after having slept for eons. After a time, he had grown too large for his egg and broke it upon stretching his limbs. The egg’s lighter parts floated upward to create the heavens, while the dense parts sank deep into the Earth.

Pangu was pleased with his creation, but feared that heaven and Earth would merge if he did not force himself between them. He balances the sky on his head, and plants his feet into the ground. He grew ten feet per year for 18,000 years, which is how the vast distance between heaven and Earth was created. Pangu, then exhausted, went to sleep and never woke up.

His body formed the elements, with the wind and clouds from his breath, and the thunder formed from his voice. The sun and moon are Pangu’s eyes, while his arms and legs became the four compass directions we know today. His flesh became the soil, and his back became the mountains. His blood became the rivers, like veins throughout the landscape. His sweat formed the dew of the world, while the hair on his head became the stars that trail through the sky. The parasites that his body carried became humanity, which feeds upon the bounty of the Earth.

Pangu is dead and the myth is long lost to time. But some still claim that Pangu’s moods influence the weather.

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About the Author: Phin Upham is an investor at a family office/hedgefund, where he focuses on special situation illiquid investing. Before this position, Phin Upham was working at Morgan Stanley in the Media and Telecom group. You may contact Phin on his Phin Upham website