On Differences of Gods in Chinese Myths and Greek Myths from Cross—culture Perspective

姚遠

【Abstract】Kluckhohn thought cross-cultural understanding and communication could be facilitated by analyzing a given cultures orientation to five aspects ： Human Nature ； Man-Nature Relationship ； Time ； Activity ； and Social Relations. This thesis applies it to contrast the differences of gods between the myths.

【Key words】Chinese myths； Greek myths； values orientation theory

1. Human nature

According to Values Orientation Theory， there are 3 kinds of orientations： good， evil， mixed.

Confucianism dominates Chinese culture， and “the theory of original goodness of human nature” is core. It can be seen from Chinese myths， where the main gods are positive， such as Pan Gu， who sacrificed to becoming nature environment； Nu Wa， who devoted her body to mending the sky；

But， human nature is defined as a mix of goodness and evil by western culture. In Greek myths， gods also have negative aspects like Athene， the symbol of peace， is narrow-minded. In order to make Trojan Horse plan works， she arranged snakes to kill Laocoon. Also， Apollo， the god of sun， is callous. He cheated to win Pan on music and peeled off Pans skin.

2. Social relations

There are 3 kinds socila relations： hierarchical， collateral or individualistic. Western culture focus on humanism. But in Chinese culture， collective well-being is more important.

That is why Xuan Zang would choose to face various difficulties to go on a pilgrimage for Buddhist scriptures， in order to realize universal redemption.

But， Greek myths pay attention to person-centered status. Like Zeus， the emperor of gods， possess ordinary person shortcomings. He often abuses his power like kidnapping women. Also， Hephaestus， who can make miscellaneous magic weapons， but can not appease anger about her mothers contempt.

3. Activity

There are 3 kinds of activities views： being， inner development， or striving. The culture that appreciates striving focuses on achievement， while the culture that focuses on inner development pay attention to experiencing life.

Chinese culture prompts industrious spirit. So， in Chinese myths， Jiang Ziya， who was an old man over 70 years old， still assist Ji Chang to overthrow the rule of Shang Dynasty.

Western culture motivates people to enjoy life. So， the figures in western myths are full of desires and lusts like ordinary people. Aphrodite， the god of love， was the lawfully wedded wife of Hephaestus， but carried on a clandestine love affair with Ares.

4. Man-nature relationship

There are 3 kinds of man-nature relationship ： subordinate to nature， dominant over nature， or live in harmony with nature.

Chinese culture thinks people should be in harmony with nature. That is why Yu is can use geographical resources to control flood and why Di Xins scorn of God brought about natural disasters and Gods fury.

But， in western culture， humans strive to conquer nature.So， in the myths， each Greek god is in charge of a certain natural phenomenon. For examples， Apollo is the symbol of the sun， Artemis represents the moon.

5. Time

Views on time orientation includes primary value placed on past， present， or future.

Chinese people always respect ancestors and value experience. So， the Chinese myths have a strong enlightenment of the moral education. Almost all the rulers in history hope they can be sagacious governors like Shun in myth， who was a saint in ancient time.

Western cultures eyesight is on future. Western people seldom worship human ancestors and also not dogmatically follow the regulations. So， in Greek myths， Cronus， the little son of the first sky god Ouranos， due to Ouranoss tyranny， traitorously cut his fathers penis， without fear of authority. But， after Ouranoss conquer， he was afraid of losing status， so he acted like his father. His tyranny incurred failure， too.

6. Conclusion

Chinese culture thinks people are born good in human nature， adopts collective orientation of social relations， encourages to thrive in the activity orientation， pay attention to harmony in man-nature relationship， and respects traditions， so gods are positive and play a role model.

But， western culture lays attention to individualism， considers human nature is mixed with goodness and evil， and wants to conquer the nature. So， gods not only gain positive images but also have bad qualities， and dare to challenge danger and authority.

References：

[1]Kluckhohn Clyde.Values and value- orientations in the the- ory of action[M].T.parsons E.shills.toward A General Theory of Action，1962.