STORY OF DARKNESS (BY BOST, 2025)

Many cultures have a creation myth; it so happens that Chinese culture has incorporated the dragons in their creation myths.

How wonderful is that?

01- LONGZE READS THE CREATION  STORY OF DARKNESS

A Brief History:

The Book “Epic of Darkness”, compiled in primeval China, is a collection of folklore and legend relayed in epic poetry. Preserved by the inhabitants of the Shennongjia mountain area in Hubei Province, it includes accounts from the birth of Pangu till the historical era.

In August 1982 an old local farmer submitted a rare songbook to Hu Chongjun. The booklet (leaflet), written in brush and ink with about 3,000 lines of seven Chinese characters each, was split into four sections. These sections were: a) The beginnings of the Universe; b) The Birth of Pangu; c) The Great Flood; d) The birth of mankind up until the beginnings of the Three Sovereigns and The Five Emperors. Believing “The Epic of Darkness” to be finest written representation of the oral Han creation myth, Hu went on to study and compile more manuscripts as well as the oral accounts from the elderly living in Shennongjia. It took him 9 years to eventually finish the documentation. Hu had to sort through more than 30, 000 lines of collected manuscript to compile a 5,500-line summary.

 

Here’s a brief retelling (with some liberties taken) of the Han Chinese creation myth:

In the beginning of time, all that was manifest was a cloud of gas, chaos and darkness. A Deity called Jiang Ku, after expending vast effort, created the first drop of water. Another God, Lang Da Zi, swallowed that drop of water and expired. Immediately his body was split into the five elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth. From these elements Pan Gu came into being.

02- PAN GU

The Legend of Pan Gu:

In the primeval Universe there was nothing but a vast formless chaos which, after 18,000 years, merged to form a giant cosmic egg. Inside the egg, the perfectly opposed principles of Yin and Yang eventually balanced, and Pan Gu formed as a primitive, horned, hairy giant, clad in furs. As soon as he emerged from the egg Pan Gu set about the task of creating the world. With a swing of his giant axe, he separated the Yin from the Yang and created the Earth (murky Yin) and the Sky (clear Yang). In order to maintain this separation, Pan Gu stood between them and pushed up the Sky. This task took another 18,000 years; as each day the sky grew ten feet (three meters) higher, the Earth ten feet wider and Pan Gu ten feet taller.

03 - THE CREATION

Pan Gu was aided in this task by the four most prominent beasts: the Turtle, the Qilin, the Phoenix, and of course, the Dragon. After the 18,000 years it took to separate earth and sky Pan Gu passed away. His breath then became the wind; his voice became thunder, his left eye transformed into Sun, his right eye transformed into the Moon and his facial hair turned into brilliant stars and the Milky Way.

His body, his four limbs turned into the mountains and other of the extremities that marked the four corners of the world. (This account bears a strange similarity to Norse myth of the Giant Ymir, and also of the Babylonian tale of Tiamat.) His fur turned into bushes and forests; his blood formed the rivers; his muscles turned into fertile lands; his teeth and nails became metals; his bones became rocks and valuable minerals while his bone marrow transformed into sacred diamonds. Mankind was yet to be created at this point. His sweat fell as rain and the fleas on his fur carried by the wind became the fish and animals throughout the land.

From the five elements and animals were born demons and gods who fought each other until a great flood overcame the land. From this great flood, emerged two mighty dragons, one black and one yellow, which fought a mighty battle.

04- BLACK AND YELLOW DRAGON FIGHT

A goddess, the Sacred Mother Wu Tien, helped the yellow dragon defeat the black dragon. In gratitude, the yellow dragon laid three eggs which the Sacred Mother swallowed and gave birth to three gods: Heaven, Earth and Hell.

Later still, five dragons emerged from the flood, and they discovered a gourd across the Eastern Sea. Wu Tien opened the Gourd and found two humans within. Fuxi and Nuwa, who were ordered by Wu Tien to copulate and thus the human race came into being after the flood waters receded.

05- THE GOURD

In a different version it states: A brother and sister became the only survivors of the prehistoric Deluge by crouching in a gourd that floated on water. The two got married afterwards, and a mass of flesh in shape of a whetstone was born. They chopped it and the pieces turned into large crowds of people, who began to reproduce again. The couple were named “Pan” and “Gou” in the Zhuang ethnic language which stands for whetstone and gourd respectively.

In another version:  Nuwa, the Goddess, supposedly had used the mud of the waterbed to form the shape of humans. These humans were very smart since they were individually crafted. Nuwa then became bored of individually making every human, so she started putting a rope in the waterbed and letting the drops of mud that fell from it become new humans. These small drops became new humans, not as smart at the first.

06 CREATION OF NEW HUMANS

Another interesting note:

When the earth had thus been shaped from the body of Pan Gu, ostensibly the three great rivers formed from his blood, then successively governed the world: as first the celestial, then the terrestrial, and finally the human sovereign.

They were followed by Yung-Ch’eng and Sui-Jen (fireman) who brought the fire down from heaven and taught man its various uses. The Prometheus myth, which by the way is not indigenous to Greece but also known in Mesopotamia and India, is another expression of this theme. There is a slight possibility therefore that the figure Sui-Jen has been derived from the same archetype as the Greek Prometheus.

 

Fin 

PIXIU OR PI YAO in 2025

POSITION OF PIXIU OR PI YAO IN 2025

Pi Yao (PIxiu) is a Chinese mythical hybrid creature considered to be a very powerful protector by Feng Shui practitioners. It resembles a winged lion. Pixiu is an earth and sea variation, a particularly influential and auspicious creature for wealth. Fierce looking and covered with whitish-grey fur, Pixiu has the head of a Chinese dragon.

Ancient Chinese depictions of Pixiu showed two different types of Pixiu. The difference is with their horns; the male has the single antler, and the female two. The male with one horn is called Tian Lu (Pi Chen) and female with two horns is known as Pi Ya. Tian Lu is in charge of wealth and displaying Tian Lu at home or in the office is said to prevent wealth from flowing away. Another interesting note is the belief that common wingless Pixiu assists in seeking wealth while a winged Pixiu assists students in furthering their studies.

As with the Chinese Phoenix, the common image of Pi Yao (Pixiu) has undergone change and today it is represented as a single sex. Pixiu has protruding eyes and sharp teeth. Its body resembles a Chinese lion and the legs of Pixiu are those of a Qilin. Looking at the posture of the Pixiu, the creature seems to project a sense of strength, elegance and mobility. Pixiu’s obvious characteristic is its fat body which indicates a full stomach loaded with unlimited amounts of good fortune. It has a single horn on its head and a pair of wings. Likewise, it has a big open mouth ready to gobble up fortune. Because of this a Pixiu statue is often employed in the home as a way of receiving and keeping fortune.

Pixiu is ranked 5th in the order of mythical beings, behind the dragon, phoenix, winged horse and sea horse.  Ancient architecture often displayed Pixiu to ward off Yin Qi (bad fortune). The statues of a Pixiu are typically seen on the four corners of the roofs of houses, particularly those of influential people such as the emperor. In ancient China, statues of Pixiu were also used as tomb guardians.

The myth behind the Pi Yao (Pixiu) is that the creature at one time had violated the law of Heaven, and so the Jade Emperor had punished Pixiu by restricting its diet to gold. Thus, Pixiu can only absorb gold, but cannot expel it. This is the origin of Pixiu’s status as a symbol of the acquisition and preservation of wealth. It is said to have a voracious appetite for only gold and silver. Therefore, traditionally to the Chinese, Pixiu has always been regarded as an auspicious creature that possessed mystical power capable of drawing Cai Qi (good fortune) from all directions.

Displaying a Pi Ya at the affected area of the house or office can avoid misfortune and disasters. The Pi Ya must be placed facing away from the house. For displaying at openings or entrances a pair of Pi Ya is needed.

Tian Lu is used for attracting wealth. One place is in the designated wealth area to attract wealth or accumulate wealth. Do not place Tian Lu facing any person directly on in a confrontational position. Ideally Tien Lu should not be placed on the floor, but it definitely should never be placed above eye level.

One cannot touch the face and head of the "Pixiu," because the touch of an ordinary person would ruin their wealth.

Pixiu (Pi Yao), a fierce creature has large fangs, visible in the creature’s mouth, with which it attacks demons and evil spirits, draining their essence and converting it to wealth. Pi Ya is useful therefore in warding off evil.  

Pixiu is also believed to guard against disease caused by evil spirits. Furthermore, Pi Ya has the ability of assisting anyone who is suffering from bad Feng Shui due to having offended the Grand Duke Jupiter (Tai Sui).

Tai Sui is very fond of his pet, the Pi Yao. You may appease Tai Sui therefore, by placing a Pi Yao or Dragon-headed Tortoise in the Northeast sector (where metal element is good in 2025) of the home or office facing Tai Sui Wu Sui (The Grand Duke of Jupiter) which resides in the southeast in 2025. For this cure, the placement of the Pi Yao should be obvious and not hidden from view, and there must be a metal element involved. Metal here refers to real gold and strong metal. The secret behind this cure is that the "Tai Sui mantra" must accompany the Pi Yao for maximum effectiveness. It actually refers to a set of Chinese incantation of the Tai Sui. This mantra had been used for centuries to help one overcome the wrath of Tai Sui. 

Tai Sui appeasing mantra

(The "Long Pi" pictured on either side of the duke is a traditional cure used by old time master’s to resolve shar from the Tai Sui. The big wings signify their ability to fly high and reach greater heights/goals. Inviting them to space will ease your efforts in diminishing obstructions. You will then gain a full grip and better control over your fortune and luck. It has the ability to transform negative chi into positive, overcome obstacles, prevent annual dangers caused to zodiacs, subdue bad luck, combat bodily harm and terminate stress.)

Fin

The Hunter and the Bobcat

The Hunter and the Bobcat

Once there was a great hunter and his family who lived in a remote part of the Northern wilderness, a long distance from any other lodge and it was seldom that they saw any faces other than those of their own household.

He was nevertheless content living in isolation, for he had a fair wife and two healthy, boisterous sons. Each day they were left in the lodge while he went out hunting in quest of the game whose flesh was their primary source of food. 

Game was very abundant in those days and his labors in the hunt and chase were often well rewarded. His two sons were still too young to accompany him and so all day long they were free to play make believe and discover things so long as they played within the confines of the lodge.

Observant as they were, they once espied a young man who visited the lodge during their father’s absence, and noted that these visits became more frequent as time went by. 

Curiosity winning over, once the elder of the two asked his mother in all innocence:

"Mommy, tell us who this tall young man is that comes here so often during our father's absence. Does the stranger wished to see father, but misses him? Shall we tell father when he comes back this evening so he can delay his departure time just a little?"

"Donquri, you little fool," said the mother angrily, "this is grown up business, mind your bow and arrows, and do not be afraid to enter the forest in search of birds and squirrels, with your little brother. It is not manly to be ever about the lodge. Nor will you ever grow up to become a warrior if you tell fibs or all the little things that you see and hear to your father. Say not a word to him about this."

The boys obeyed, but as they grew older and still noticed the visits of the stranger, their gut feeling being ill at ease, they resolved to speak again to their mother.

They now told her that they meant to make known to their father all that they had witnessed, for they frequently saw this young man passing through the woods, and he did not walk in the path, nor did he carry anything to eat. If he had any message to deliver at their lodge, why did he not give it to their father? For they had observed in other cases, that messages were always addressed to men, and not to women.

When her sons spoke thus to her, the mother was greatly perturbed. Fear took hold in her heart and she in great fury admonished them:

“You are still both young and have no real comprehension of things. Hence, you should not interfere in adult concerns. If you insist with your meddling and cause trouble, I will be forced to be more severe. “She said, "I warn you both, do not speak of this to your father or me ever again!"

In fear they, for a time, held their peace, but still noted that the stranger’s frequent stealthy visits to the lodge persisted, they long at last resolved to brave any consequence and disclose this fact their father. Their loyalty to their father demanded it after all!

Accordingly, one day when they were out in the woods, by then having grown up and learned to follow the chase, they caught up with their father and quickly told him all that they had seen in the past.

They watched with worrying eyes as the anger manifested on their father’s face then grew unnaturally dark. He remained silent and still for a while, and when at length he looked up there was unholy fire flaming in his pupils.

"It is done!" he said. "My children I ask that you tarry here until the hour of the setting sun, and then come to the lodge and you will find me there."

In two shakes of a hat he was at the lodge. The door flew open and he barged right in resembling a big fierce bear ready to tear all about him into smithereens.

But she was seated lone mending some tears in the children’s coats.

“Where is he?” He bellowed.

“Who?” She cried out in fear.

“You know very well who?” He murderously grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her senseless. “You broke your promise... Now I shall not beholden to my promise. I shall vanquish your kind one and all.” He growled at her.

She knew no amount of pleading will be of any use. He was heartless, a brutal hunter that had no compunction about killing entire species and wiping them from the mountains. On that day he’d cornered her and her younger brother after killing her parents, the two little bobcat pups were shivering with fright. 

He was about to deal both a death blow when she had stood in front of her brother to protect him and swore by the Great Spirit of the Mountains, that if spared, she would serve this brute without complaint to the end of her days. The Great Spirit had answered her prayers, and turned her into a human. The hunter in turn had promised never to hunt her kind, so long as she stayed away even from her brother and served only him. Tears streamed from her face remembering that cursed day and all the miserable days after that when she was not free and missed her brother terribly. Her only solace was that her kind was left alone from then on to thrive and hunt in the mountain whereas all other predators faced extinction without mercy from the Hunter. Some species were hunted to extinction. Meanwhile her brother had grown up among other bobcats that adopted him. Missing his sister terribly, he’d eventually tracked her scent and found her for the bond of kinship was very strong. 

She was fearful for what the Hunter might do if he ever found out; still she could not help herself, for she loved her brother dearly. He called on her frequently and relayed to her all the news about her kind which somewhat mitigated her homesickness.

She pleaded and pleaded with the hunter for his mercy. But he was bent on revenge and called on the Great Spirit to punish her. The Great Spirit punished her for violating her promise by turning her into a horrid version of a Bobcat. And so from then on she was barred from having any contact with her children as well as being shunned by her own kind. She was forced to live a horrible existence for the duration of her natural life, always lurking in the shadows.

Meanwhile, the two ingrate sons, that had more their father’s temperament than their mother’s, remained sporting away the time till the hour for their return had come.

When they reached the lodge the mother was not there. They dared not to ask their father whither she had gone, and from that day forth her name was never spoken again in the lodge.

In the course of time the two boys grew to be men and, although the mother was nevermore seen neither in the lodge nor on the paths in the forest, nor by the river side, she still lingered near the lodge.

Changed, but the same, with ghastly looks and arms that were withered, she appeared to her sons as they returned from the hunt, in the twilight.

At night she darkly unlatched the lodge-door and glided in, and bent over them as they sought to sleep. Oftenest it was her bare brow, white, and bony, and bodiless, that they saw floating in the air, and making a mock of them in the wild paths of the forest, or in the midnight darkness of the lodge.

Fuelled with false facts, with outraged bias against her, the sons viewed their mother as a terror that hunted their peace and lives. They cursed her existence for according to them she made every spot where they had seen her, hideous to the living eye. The hunter never witnessed such; still he was frustrated and grew somewhat weary of his sons’ complaints. Finally his sons were resolved, together with their father, now stricken in years, to leave the country.

They began a journey toward the South. After traveling many days along the shore of a great lake, they passed around a craggy bluff, and came upon a scene where there was a rough fall of waters, and a river issuing forth from the lake.

In pursuit of them the mother came out of the woods in the form of a giant, grotesque, rabid bobcat. At this moment, one of them looked out and saw a stately crane sitting on a rock in the middle of the rapids. They called out to the bird, "See, grandfather, how we are persecuted? Come and take us across the falls that we may escape her."

The crane so addressed was of extraordinary size, and had arrived at a great old age, and, as might be expected, he sat, when first described by the two sons, in a state of profound thought, revolving his long experience of life there in the midst of the most violent eddies.

When he heard himself appealed to, the crane stretched forth his neck with great deliberation, and lifting himself slowly by his wings, he flew across to their assistance.

"Be careful," said the old crane, "that you do not touch the crown of my head. I am bald from age and long service and very tender at that spot. Should you be so unlucky as to lay a hand upon it, I shall not be able to avoid throwing you both in the rapids."

They paid strict heed to his directions, and were soon safely landed on the other shore of the river. He returned and carried the father in the same way; and then took his place once more where he had been first seen in the very midst of the eddies of the stream.

But the woman, who had by this time reached the shore, cried out, "Come, my grandfather, and carry me over, for I have lost my children, and I am sorely distressed."

The aged bird, now questioning his earlier judgement, at first obeyed her summons, and flew to her side. He was a suspicious sort and seeing how hideous she looked in her grotesque bobcat form, once more doubted her story. She had to have been an evil spirit in pursuit. She would harm then soon as she crossed the water. And so feeling rather noble he harboured a secret desire to harm this evil spirit and defend them. He carefully repeated the warning, expecting her to disregard it, that she was not to touch the crown of his head. Outwardly he begged her to bear in mind that she should respect his old age, if there was any sense of virtue left in her.

She promised to obey; but they were no sooner fairly embarked in the stream, that instantly the crane cast her into the rapids, and shook his wings as if to free himself of all acquaintance with her.

“Why have you wronged me?” She cried as she sunk in the raging stream. The woman disappeared, was straightway carried by the rapid currents far out into the waters, and in the wide wilderness of shore-less depth, without companion or solace, and was lost forever.

“I’m preventing you from harming any other, you foul creature!” He responded very much pleased with himself for doing the noble thing.

Suddenly however the gust of wind derailed him and unable to find his bearing, he too plummeted into the waters. 

“What a fool!” The hunter gritted his teeth for the loss of such a fine meal. They picked themselves off the ground and trudged along to find some other game to satisfy their growing hunger.

The mountain spirit could stand this injustice no longer, and in one breath, turned the hunter and his sons all to field mouse. 

They deservedly from then on live in fear and hunted by many.

Fin