Cross-Cultural Dialogues in Mythic Cosmogonies: A Comparative Study of the Manchu Creation Epic The Welkin Warand Ancient Near Eastern Creation Narratives

期刊: 《Frontiers of social sciences》 DOI:10.64649/yh.fss.2025030006 PDF下载

Xiaoxu Tian

School of Sociology and Ethnology, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

摘要

In the study of “myth”, scholars have long debated its conceptual boundaries and interpretative frameworks. Creation myths, as sacred narratives that elucidate cosmogony and anthropogenesis, offer unique insights into humanity’s primordial worldview. This thesis conducts an intercultural comparative analysis of The Welkin War—a foundational epic in Manchu oral tradition—and Ancient Near Eastern creation narratives, focusing on their cosmogonic frameworks, divine hierarchies, and ecological philosophies. By juxtaposing motifs such as primordial chaos, divine conflict, and anthropomorphic agency, the study reveals divergent mythological logics shaped by distinct geopolitical and cultural ecologies. Specifically, it highlights how the matrilineal cosmology of the Manchu text contrasts with the androcentric theogony of Mesopotamian myths, while both manifest profound reverence for natural forces. Methodologically, this research integrates structuralist analysis with ethnographic contextualization to illuminate the interplay between mythopoeic imagination and socio-cultural evolution.

关键词

The Welkin War; Ancient Near Eastern creation narratives; comparative mythology; cosmogonic patterns; cultural ecology

参考文献

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