The Five Worlds And Their Suns Summary

The question has existed throughout time: how was the earth created and where did we humans come from? In modern times, society has the benefit of science and technology. We can take a bone sample and deconstruct it's DNA or chemically discover it's age. Through studying biological material, chemistry, and the laws of physics modern day scientist can gain an idea of our human/earthly origins. This technology was obviously not always available and before them existed the creation myths of the world. Through reading these myths, there are a number of concepts that consistently appear through each one of them. Although these myths are from different cultures across the world and through different time periods, many still repeat similar themes …show more content…
Each of these creation myths at first describes how the earth is created and then how the mountains or the animals come to be. All these components stem from one being's body or one source and so logically all forms of nature are connected at a very basic level. An ant, the ocean, and the mountains were created from the same divine singular material in theory. We are all small pieces of the whole and the world requires every piece to exist. 'The Five Worlds and Their Suns' explores this concept of balance in nature as it relates to prosperity of the human race. In the first four worlds, the sun was made up of only one element (or what the Aztec culture believed to be the elements) and the humans were too greedy/disrespectful/improper. In the fifth world, the sun is comprised of all four elements (earth, air, fire, and water). In this world there was balance and every small part made up the balanced whole. In Amaterasu, the sun and moon balanced each other. "In a great rage, she left the palace [...]. Now that her brilliance no longer illuminated heaven and earth, day became as black as night. [...] plans would no grow. People everywhere stopped their activity [...]" (p. 337 from Amaterasu). When the sun became upset, the world fell into chaos and it wasn't until the forces were united that the world returned to homeostasis. This concept is also explored in Nu Kua, where she neutralizes the destructive nature of Kung Kung. …show more content…
This is a natural paring when exploring love/romance or new beginnings but the male and female relation is also one of opposing forces. The Chinese creation myth 'Yin and Yang' tells of the universe being created by two forces. Yin was feminine in nature and characterized by heaviness, darkness, earthiness, passiveness, submissiveness, and cool. The opposing force of masculine Yang, who possessed principles of light, celestial, aggression, and warmth. From Yin and Yang, the earth and heavens were created perspectively. Although this myths talks about the creation of the universe, the underlying theme is about the balance (Yin and Yang) between aggression (male) and submission (female). In 'The Creation Cycle', the male God Nanautzin is transformed into the 5th sun when he jumps into the fire. This is similar to the ideas expressed in 'Yin and Yang' where the masculine represents divinity and light. The masculine hostile and sometimes barbaric theme is also displayed in Amateurasu's brother, God of Moon. Her calm and tolerant nature is what stands between a peaceful world and a chaotic one. Female in turn become the saviors or protector of earth. The Corn Mother is a great representation of ideas of earth/growth/sun/life/fertility. Not only does is the Great Mother the mother to all of human species, she sacrifices her life in love so generations after can be nourished