Abstract

This paper mainly studies the cultural differences between Chinese and Western from the perspective of mythology. Chinese and Western mythology are quite different in their origin, the images of Gods and their change, Gods' nature and marriage civilization. As the main culture form of ancient human, the mythology is the ancient people in the face of nature, the picturesque interpretation of the natural forces. Mythologies express the aspirations of primitive time’s human  to conquer the forces of nature and dominate the forces of nature. In the long process of inheritance, with the national economic and social’s development, mythology keeps improvement and enrichment; it becomes one of the way to learn each nation’s ancient civilizations, religious, artistic and philosophical. Mythology is the embryo of the national culture, reflecting the cultural differences between China and the West. These differences are the cultural attributes of each nation, learn cultural differences from Chinese and western countries not only helps us know about each other’s cultural characteristics, but also helps us to examine our own cultural attributes.

Key words: Chinese and Western mythology, culture, differences

CONTENTS

中文摘要

Abstract

1. Introduction-1

2. The Origin of Chinese and Western Mythologies-2

2.1 Chinese mythologies-2

2.1.1 Origin-2

2.1.2 Represent myth-2

2.2 Western mythology-2

2.2.1 Origin-2

2.2.2 Represent myth-3

2.3 The reasons of the differences-3

2.3.1 Different time-3

2.3.2 Different geographical environment-3

2.3.3 Different process of saving and spreading-3

3. The Differences Reflected in Mythologies-4

3.1 Differences of spirit-4

3.1.1 Collectivism and individualism-4

3.1.1.1 Relationship between Chinese mythology and collectivism-4

3.1.1.2 The relationship between western mythology and individualism-4

3.1.2 Advocating peace and advocating war-5

3.1.2.1 Prehistoric myths’ legends of the value of the harmony-5

     3.1.2.2 Ancient Greek myths’ legends of the value of the dispute-5

  3.2 Differences of literary views-6

3.2.2 Type of origin-6

3.2.1 Type of flood-7

3.2.3 Type of the sun-7

3.2.4 Type of fire-7

3.2.5 Type of hero-7

3.3 Differences of culture-8

3.3.1 Different influences on each culture-8

3.3.2 Different ideal gods-9

4. Reflection on the Differences Between Chinese and Western Cultures from the 

  Perspective of Mythologies-11

4.1 The direction of Chinese and western political system-11

4.2 The attitude of human to nature-12

4.3 The different ethics and morality of Chinese and western-12

5.Conclusion-13

Works Cited-14