Class 10

Class 10

Maui

Maui as Rank’s HeroAT THE CREATION OF THE WORLDRa, the god of light, and Hine, the goddess of darkness and

death, call upon the children of the Earth (Papatuanuku) and Sky (Ranginui) to sever their parents' smothering embrace. Their success creates the first dawn of a new world.

THE BIRTH OF MAUIAges pass and mere mortals journey in and out of our earthly

realm, becoming the ancestors that watch over us. Into this world, Taranga brings five sons.

The youngest is Maui, who dies as a baby. Hine, the goddess of death, rises from the spirit world to embrace the soul of the lifeless infant. But Taranga, in her grief, refuses to give up her baby to death. Instead, she wraps Maui in a lock of her hair and casts Maui into the ocean.

Maui and Rank, continuedUNDER THE SEAThe sons and daughters of the ocean god, Tangaroa, find the dead

infant wrapped in the protective strands of his mother's dark hair. Also drawn to the baby, Ra (god of the sun) marshals the sea spirits to bring Maui back to life, plucking him from the jellyfish and adopting him into his godly kingdom.

Thwarted in her claim for Maui's spirit, Hine relinquishes the baby to Ra's care, while promising to welcome Maui at his death, just as she welcomes all mortal men.

IN THE REALM OF THE SUN-GODRa schools Maui in the godly arts, teaching him an ancient prayer

(karakia). In ignorance of his human limitations, Maui dares to wield Ra's sacred weapon (patu) and unwittingly conjures a vision of his mother, Taranga. Recognizing the comb (heru) in her hair, the impulsive youth is inspired to go in search of his earthly roots.

Rank’s MauiON THE BEACHReturning to the land of his mother, Maui encounters his brothers at play.

Unfamiliar with the customs of the mortal world, he offends them by refusing to take up their offering (taki) with respect. Unpracticed at combat between mortals, Maui is beaten by his brothers.

Rejected and alone, Maui realizes he is out of place both in the world of his mother, Taranga, and his adoptive father, Ra - a mortal raised by gods. In his despair, Maui has a vision of death, but is determined not to fail.

AROUND THE FIREMaui has an emotional reunion with his mother, which is later tempered by

the realization that his former tormentors are actually his older brothers. Taranga tries to welcome Maui by including him in a song that celebrates the family's sacred fire, but his brothers want nothing to do with him.

Snubbed again, Maui accidentally extinguishes his family's fire. When Taranga discovers that the sacred flame has been extinguished, she orders the brothers to fetch a new flame from the cavern of fire.

Chi Li Slays the Dragon

Amaterasu comes out of the cave.

Susano o MikotoDespite his reputation as a bit of a bad boy amongst the Shinto gods, Susanoo is credited with giving certain cultural gifts to mankind, including agriculture. In Japanese art, Susanoo is most often depicted with wild hair blowing in the winds,wielding a sword and fighting the eight-headed monster Yamato-no-Orochi.

Susano oSusanoo became dissatisfied with his share and ascended

to heaven to see his older sister. Amaterasu, fearing his wild behavior, met him and suggested that they prove their faithfulness to each other by bringing forth children. They agreed to receive a seed from each other, chew it, and spit it away. If gods rather than goddesses were born, it would be taken as a sign of the good faith of the one toward the other. When Susanoo brought forth gods, his faithfulness was recognized, and he was permitted to live in heaven.

Susanoo, becoming conceited over his success, began to play the role of a trickster. He scattered excrement over the dining room of Amaterasu, where she was celebrating the ceremony of the first fruits. His worst offense was to fling into Amaterasu’s chamber a piebald horse he had “flayed with a backward flaying” (a ritual offense).

Hine Titama: The Maori Myth

Hinetitama is dawn, the first true human. She was the daughter of Tane and Hine-ahu-one who bound earthly night to earthly day. She became Hine-nui-te-po, the Goddess of Death, after discovering that Tane was not only her husband, but also her father. She is shown here becoming fragmented As she changes from an earth-dweller into the Goddess of Death.

P’an Ku'He then began to Fashion the material of Chaos, separating Yin and Yang into sky and earth, in which he was aided by the four most fortunate creatures who had emerged from the Egg with him: the Unicorn, the Dragon, the Phoenix and the Tortoise. They were engaged in this labor for 18,000years and each day P'an Ku grew ten feet, using his ownbody as a pillar to force heaven and earth apart.

Yin and Yang

Four Main Aspects of Yin and Yang Relationship Yin-Yang are opposites

They are either on the opposite ends of a cycle, like the seasons of the year, or, opposites on a continuum of energy or matter. This opposition is relative, and can only be spoken of in relationships. For example: Water is Yin relative to steam but Yang relative to ice. Yin and Yang are never static but in a constantly changing balance.

Interdependent: Can not exist without each otherNothing is totally Yin or totally Yang. Just as a state of total Yin is reached, Yang begins to grow. Yin contains seed of Yang and vise versa. They constantly transform into each other. Example: no energy without matter, no day without night. The classics state: "Yin creates Yang and Yang activates Yin".

Mutual consumption of Yin and YangRelative levels of Yin Yang are continuously changing. Normally this is a harmonious change, but when Yin or Yang are out of balance they affect each other, and too much of one can eventually weaken (consume) the other. Four (4) possible states of imbalance: Preponderance (Excess) of YinPreponderance (Excess) of YangWeakness (Deficiency) of YinWeakness (Deficiency) of Yang

Inter-transformation of Yin and Yang.One can change into the other, but it is not a random event, happening only when the time is right. For example: Spring only comes when winter is finished.

Group PresentationsCount off by 8. Each group will take a handout

and fill it out thoroughly. Include the specific element and an explanation of how the myth fits the element.

Remember to be thorough in your explanations as this will be the format for the essay part of the midterm.

HomeworkClass 11 ()ct. 28) Rosenberg: pp: pp. 521 – 526

Gassire’s Lute Print up and read Mwindo-- under

Myths on the website