Creation Myths from China: Sources, Stories and Representations
Dr. Tom Lavallee, Asst Prof. FLL. (discussant), Sarah Allen, Charles Coylott, Kimberly
Duede, Jamar Gaddis, Daniel Grenchik and Chirag Patel
(all of above are students enrolled in FL11d, Chinese 102 or 202)
This roundtable will explore the concepts of cosmogony, myth and the narrative
elaborations of creation stories from the Chinese (primarily ethnic Han) tradition. Using
both primary sources translated from Chinese into English, many of which
simultaneously fall within philosophical, religious, historical and literary genres, and
selected scholarship of Chinese mythology, comparative mythology and the history of
religion in China, the participants will discuss how the universe came into being as
represented in the Chinese tradition. Discussion will include close readings of written
and visual texts.
Anticipated audience: Students from the following classes will be encouraged to attend:
Introduction to Chinese Culture (FL111d), Chinese 102, Chinese 202 and IS324 Land
and People of Asia.