Pangu Creates the World

In this Chinese creation myth, Pangu awakens inside chaos, separates heaven and earth, and holds them apart until the world becomes stable. His body then transforms into the natural world, showing how courage, endurance, and sacrifice can create new possibilities.

HSK 6–7-9

Illustration inspired by Pangu Creates the World.

Story preview

  1. 很久很久以前，世界还不是世界。

    hen3 jiu3 hen3 jiu3 yi3 qian2 shi4 jie4 hai2 bu4 shi4 shi4 jie4

    A long, long time ago, the world was not yet the world.

  2. 没有天空，没有大地，没有山川河流，也没有日月星辰。

    mei2 you3 tian1 kong1 mei2 you3 da4 di4 mei2 you3 shan1 chuan1 he2 liu2 ye3 mei2 you3 ri4 yue4 xing1 chen2

    There was no sky, no earth, no mountains or rivers, and no sun, moon, or stars.

  3. 那时的一切，都包在一片巨大的混沌之中。

    na4 shi2 de5 yi1 qie4 dou1 bao1 zai4 yi1 pian4 ju4 da4 de5 hun4 dun4 zhi1 zhong1

    Everything at that time was wrapped inside a vast chaos.