The Universe (天地, Tiāndì?) or World (世界, Shìjiè?) is the place that consists of Heaven and Earth. It is the location where the entire story of Journey to the West takes place in.
History[]
In the order of the universe, a cyclus consists of 129,600 years and is divided into twelve epochs: Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, Yu, Xu, and Hai, with each epoch lasting 10,800 years.[1]
- Xu: Heaven and Earth become obscure and all things indistinct.
- Hai: During this epoch, there is only darkness. As there are neither beings nor the two spheres, it is also called Chaos (混沌, Hùndùn?) or Great Vagueness (鴻濛, Hóngméng?). After Hai ended, the creative force begins to work after great perseverance. At this point, the firmament first acquires its foundation.
- Zi: The ethereal and the light rises up to form the Four Phenomena (四象, Sìxiàng?) of the Sun, Moon, Stars and Heavenly Bodies (日月星辰, Rì yuè xīng chén?). That's why they say Heaven is created during Zi. After Zi ended, the universe begins to harden and becomes solidified.
- Chou: The turbidity forms the Five Elements (五形, Wǔxíng?) of Water, Fire, Mountain, Stone and Earth. That's why they say Earth is created during Chou.
- Yin: The heavenly aura descends and the earthly aura rises up, Heaven and Earth copulates and all things are born from that. Humans, beasts, and birds came into being. That's why they say Humans are born during Yin. At this point, the so-called Three Forces (三才, Sāncái?) of Heaven, Earth and Humanity (天地人, Tiān dì rén?) was established.
Following Pangu’s construction of the universe, the rule and the ordering of the relations by the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors (三皇五帝), the world was divided into Four Great Continents (四大部洲):[1]
- Eastern Continent of Superior Body
- Western Continent of Cattle−gift
- Southern Continent of Jambu
- Northern Continent of Kuru
Beyond the ocean there was a country named Aolai. It was near a great sea, the East Sea, in the midst of the sea was located the Flowers and Fruit Mountain. This mountain came into being after the creation of the world and formed the origin of the Ten Continents and Three Islands (十洲三島).
Trivia[]
- In Chinese legend, Pangu was said to be the first human, born from the union of the yin and yang forces. He assisted in the formation of the universe by separating heaven and earth. His body later became geographic features such as mountains and rivers.