Top 12 Best Essays Analyzing Magical Elements in Mythological Stories (Literature 10)

In the Vietnamese mythology about the creation of the universe, the story of the Sky Pillar God is considered the opening tale, followed by stories of other gods like the God of Rain, the God of the Sea, the God of Wind, the Sun God, the Moon God, and stories of the gods who created all things and humanity such as the restoration of animals and the Twelve Midwives. The myth narrates that at that time, humans and all creatures had not yet appeared. The sky and earth were a chaotic, dark void, not yet clearly divided. The Sky Pillar God dug the earth and lifted stones to form a pillar to hold up the sky, dividing the sky from the earth. Through this myth, the ancient Vietnamese sought to explain the origins of natural phenomena like why there is a sky and earth, why they were separated, why the surface of the earth is uneven with some parts sunken and others raised, and why there are rivers, mountains, seas, and islands.

Part of the primordial myth group in Vietnam's folk literature, the story of "The Thunder God" also explains the origins of natural phenomena. Using their rich imagination, the folk creators invented a fantastical detail: the Thunder God, after striking an innocent person by mistake, was punished by the Jade Emperor and made to remain still in a forest in the heavenly realm. The Jade Emperor commanded a divine rooster to peck at the Thunder God occasionally, causing sharp pain, and the Thunder God couldn’t do anything about it. Once the Jade Emperor pardoned him, the Thunder God would jump in fear whenever he heard the sound of a rooster. People on earth, when hearing thunder, would imitate the rooster's sound to frighten the Thunder God. This myth attempts to explain the phenomenon of thunder in the sky and, in certain unfortunate cases, the deaths of humans and animals. It also reflects the folk wisdom of the people in dealing with extreme natural events.

The story of "The Sky Pillar God" is part of the Vietnamese folk mythology collection, specifically the creation myths, telling the origins of the universe and all living beings. The tale captivates readers not only due to its simple, easy-to-understand plot but also because of its magical details. A key moment in the story is when the Sky Pillar God balances the sky on his head, then uses his hands to dig the earth and build a large pillar to hold up the sky. After some time, when the pillar has dried and hardened, the god breaks it and throws the earth and stones in all directions, creating various terrains. This detail is crucial in explaining the division of the sky and earth, the formation of different landforms such as rivers, lakes, mountains, plateaus, and the symbolic Pillar of Heaven monument in Hai Duong. It also reflects the rich imagination of the folk creators.

The primordial myth collection includes many stories about the origins of the universe and animals, including the tale of "The God of Wind." Based on their perception of natural events, the folk creators invented a magical detail: the Thunder God's child, who played with a fan, caused the wind to blow and made a man's bowl of rice fall into a pond, prompting the Jade Emperor's punishment. The Jade Emperor sent the Wind God's child to the mortal world to herd cattle for the man who lost his rice. After a while, the Jade Emperor transformed the Wind God's child into a sagebrush plant to send wind messages to the world. This mythical detail was created to explain the phenomenon of gusty winds before storms and how to recognize natural occurrences through the sagebrush plant. It also highlights the folk knowledge of using sagebrush leaves to treat cattle colds.

The story of "The Sky Pillar God" is part of the Vietnamese folk literature’s primordial myth group, which tells the origin of the universe and all living beings. The story is captivating not only because of its simple and easy-to-understand plot but also for its fantastical details. A prominent element in the story is when the Sky Pillar God lifts the sky on his head and digs the earth with his hands to build a tall, thick pillar to hold up the sky. After some time, when the pillar hardens and dries, the god destroys it and throws stones and earth everywhere, creating various surfaces. This detail is crucial in explaining the division of the sky and earth, the formation of landscapes like rivers, lakes, mountains, plateaus, and the Sky Pillar monument in Hai Duong. It also showcases the vivid imagination of the folk author.

One fascinating detail in the myth I have read is from the Indian myth about the Fire God A Nhi, who has seven rainbow-colored arms and an unusually long and quick-moving tongue. At first glance, Fire God A Nhi appears terrifying, but without him, we would have no light, warmth, or the ability to cook food necessary for survival. Like other gods, his role is to create natural phenomena, and although sometimes his actions inadvertently harm others, such as the Thunder God’s strikes, his purpose remains clear. The mythical detail, although not real, captivates people of all ages. Humans created such stories to explain the forces of nature, reflecting a desire to understand and conquer the natural world.

In Chinese mythology, there is a deity considered the greatest among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, known as "Nuwa". According to Chinese legends, she was the creator goddess and wife of Fuxi, the leader of the Three Sovereigns. In Vietnamese mythology, however, the most renowned creator deity is the "God of the Pillar of Heaven". The story of the God of the Pillar of Heaven belongs to the genre of creation myths in Vietnamese folklore, explaining the origins of the world. The tale is simple, yet fascinating, built on magical elements. The most enchanting detail is how the God of the Pillar of Heaven used his head to support the sky and his hands to dig earth, constructing a massive pillar to prop up the heavens. It was through this act that the earth and sky were separated. Once the sky became firm and rigid, the deity shattered the pillar, scattering stones and earth to form mountains, islands, and seas. The sea emerged from the depressions where the deity had taken earth to build the pillar. This story appeared during a time when the world was an "undifferentiated, dark, and cold" place, with no living beings. The god had a colossal body, with legs that were "impossibly long". Yet, despite his enormous form and strength, he carried out a simple but extraordinary task: "One day, the god stretched his body, looked up, and propped up the sky. He dug earth, carried stones, and erected a pillar to hold up the heavens." This task might seem ordinary, like the work of a laborer digging and carrying stones, but it was extraordinary because the deity was not building a house or planting a tree—he was propping up the sky. No ordinary human could perform such a task. The massive pillar that the deity built "pushed the sky high into the clouds", separating the heavens from the earth. When the sky became solid, the god destroyed the pillar, scattering earth and stones to form mountains, hills, and islands. The remaining depressions became seas. The magnitude of the pillar was so immense that it could only exist in the imagination. These magical details helped ancient Vietnamese people explain the formation of the earth, mountains, and seas. The tale of the God of the Pillar of Heaven is deeply nationalistic, even citing the "Pillar of Heaven" at Thach Mon Mountain in Hai Duong, proving the story's roots in Vietnamese culture. The myth's magical elements add to its intrigue, showcasing the creative imagination of ancient Vietnamese people and contributing to the foundation of Vietnam's early folklore.

Imaginary and fantastical details are those that do not exist in reality. These elements are characterized by being bizarre and mysterious. In myths and legends, people create such fantastical details to craft extraordinary stories, explaining events or phenomena that cannot be explained through ordinary means, or to elevate certain figures that are admired and revered. One such example is the myth of Nuwa repairing the sky. The story goes that Nuwa, the goddess who created all living beings, sought to restore balance after a catastrophic event where the sky was torn apart during a battle between the gods. To fix the heavens, Nuwa tirelessly worked day and night, using five-colored stones to patch up the sky. She used these stones to build mountains, repairing the rifts. Exhausted by the task, she passed away, her body merging with nature. This element highlights the mythical and beautiful nature of Nuwa, symbolizing the deep respect and reverence the people had for her. Moreover, this detail provides an explanation for the existence of the multicolored clouds in the sky.

As we know, imaginary and fantastical details in mythology are those that are not real. These are strange and bizarre elements that serve as significant markers for the entire story. People have created such elements to craft miraculous tales, explaining events or phenomena that defy conventional explanation. One such detail that stands out is the myth of Nuwa repairing the sky to save humanity. The story tells that Nuwa, the goddess who created all living beings, sought to restore order after a catastrophic event where the gods of Water and Fire fought, causing the sky to tear apart and plunging the world into suffering. In response, Nuwa worked tirelessly, day and night, to mend the sky. She used five-colored stones to build mountains, ignited fire to melt the stones into a glue-like substance, and carefully patched the holes in the sky. This element emphasizes the mysterious and beautiful nature of Nuwa, illustrating the people's deep gratitude and reverence for her. According to legend, this myth also explains why the sky is often adorned with five-colored clouds.