Introduction to English Mythology

Author: Guo Yuejin
Compiler/Origin:
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-07-01
Features: Almost every island in the Pacific Ocean is inhabited by people with brown skin. For hundreds of years, they have told the story of the gods' creation. Below is an ancient legend passed down by the Māori people of New Zealand. Long ago, there was no ocean, no land, no sky—only darkness and formless void. The chief god was Ranginui. He was the Father Sky, and his wife, Papatūānuku, was the Mother Earth. They loved each other and lived together. They had 70 sons, all of whom were gods, each governing the ocean, the earth, the wind, the forests, the birds, the plants, the humans, the insects, the fish, and the bugs. The 70 sons of Ranginui and Papatūānuku lived in the narrow space between their parents. They had almost no room to move and could not see any light. They constantly complained. "We are just complaining without taking action—it's useless!" one said. "If we separate our parents, we will have enough space to move around." The other gods thought this was a good idea. "One of us must separate Ranginui from our Mother Earth." They took turns, but Ranginui was too heavy to be moved. Finally, it was Tāne, the god of nature, who took his turn. He lay down and pushed against Ranginui with his feet, pushing and pushing, and Ranginui moved a little. Tāne pushed harder, and Ranginui flew far away. The gods thought he might never stop. They laughed and shouted with excitement, except for Tāne-hēra, the god of the wind, who was unhappy. Compared to his mother, Tāne-hēra loved his father more. When the gods remained on the earth, he flew up to the sky to stay with his father. After Ranginui and Papatūānuku were separated, they were both very sad. Ranginui cried, and his tears became rain on the earth. Papatūānuku sighed, and her sorrowful thoughts drifted like clouds toward her husband. Tāne was sad for his parents. Papatūānuku was naked and cold. Tāne covered her with forests and grasslands watered by Ranginui's tears. Though lonely, she became beautiful. "You made Mom look better," Tāne said to Ranginui. "But what can you do for me?" The god of nature flew to his father's side, hung a golden sun around his chest, and draped a red cloak over him. Later, he realized his father didn’t like the red cloak and took it off. But sometimes, at sunrise and sunset, a part of the red cloak could still be seen draped over him. During the day, Ranginui wore blue clothes; at night, Tāne scattered many twinkling stars over him and hung a bright moon. Finally, Tāne put birds into the forest he had created, so everyone could hear the joyous songs of the birds. Tāne-hēra was still angry with his brothers. He howled from the sky, diving down to the sea to fight the god of the ocean. He slapped the water, creating waves. The ocean surged over the land, and the god of the earth fought against the god of the wind and the god of the sea. None of them, except the warrior Tawhirimatea, could match Tāne-hēra in battle. When the wind stopped, the sea returned to calm. The birds sang again in the forest. "There’s still one thing missing," Tāne said. "We need men and women to walk through the forests, listen to my birds sing, and sail in the seas ruled by the brothers of the gods, singing praises for the gods!" Tāne created a woman from the red clay of Papatūānuku. Soon, his dream came true. People loved everything Tāne had created—flowers, birds, fish, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, and the magnificent mountains. The Māori say that at the beginning of the world, the god of nature, Tāne, created the world and all the beautiful things in it.