盘古 (Pán gǔ) — Pangu, the creator of the universe in Chinese mythology

Definition

盘古 (Pán Gǔ) is the primordial creator god of Chinese mythology who separated heaven and earth and shaped the world. A proper name — always capitalized in English as 'Pangu'.

noun
Pangu, the creator of the universe in Chinese mythology

Examples

  • ，盘古，。
    Zài zhōng guó shén huà zhōng, Pán gǔ kāi tiān pì dì, chuàng zào le shì jiè.
    In Chinese mythology, Pangu split heaven and earth apart and created the world.
  • 盘古。
    Pán gǔ De chuán shuō tǐ xiàn le gǔ dài zhōng guó rén duì yǔ zhòu qǐ yuán de xiǎng xiàng.
    The legend of Pangu embodies the ancient Chinese imagination of the origin of the universe.
  • 盘古（Purusa）。
    Xǔ duō xué zhě rèn wéi Pán gǔ shén huà yǔ yìn dù shén huà zhōng de yuán rén (Purusa) yǒu xiāng sì zhī chù.
    Many scholars believe the Pangu myth shares similarities with the Purusa myth in Indian mythology.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 盤; 盘 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
皿皿mǐn
Sound part声符shēngfú
般
般bān盤pán
Same sound today

The traditional form 盤 pairs 般, which gives the sound, with 皿, a vessel. This note is about 盤, not the simplified 盘.

Open 盘 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

One reading of 古 sees a shield-like shape above an open mark, showing strength and firmness. Another sees a person spitting out bad-tasting food.

Open 古 →

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