Ho Po: Unmasking the River God of Ancient China. History of Religions/Volume 29 (Spring 1990) .
Throughout time myths have a tendency to evolve as new meanings are given to them. This essay will shine some new light on the old legend of Ho Po, the River God of China.
The Myth of "Ho Po taking a bride" starts with Hsi-men Poa coming into power as the official of Yeh. He had noticed that most of the people where in poverty and decided to look into this. When he did he found that this was because of the annual providing of a bride for the River God, Ho Po. Which if not done would result in the over flowing of the river and many deaths. Hsi-men Pao decided to attend the next offering of a bride to the river god. As the next offering came about he saw two to three thousand people gathered dressed in bright colored clothing. When the bride was being brought up Hsi-men Poa asked to take a look at her. When he did so he saw that she was an old ugly women in her seventy's. He felt that she was not fit to be the bride of Ho Po and surly he deserved better. So he asked the Shaman to go and tell Ho Po of the delay. When she had not returned His-men Poa had all three disciples and the three village elders throw themselves in one after the other as the each did not return. While he was picking the next batch to go and make sure things were ok the people begged he for no more people to throw themselves in. He thought this was fine and said, "That they must have not of returned because Ho Po must of liked their company so much he decided for them to stay. After this day the annual offering of a bride to the river god was never spoken of again. To stop the flooding problem Hsi-men Poa had twelve canals dug to divert the water to be used as irrigation for the land. .
With new light shined on this myth the Author "Will show how behind the cannibal monster in this morality tale there lies a prince; behind the sacrifice of an innocent, a shamanic romance; behind the human hero, a chthonic beast.
The Masks of Ancient China Most cultures have their roots in mythology. ... The flesh off his body became the soil and his fluids became the oceans and rivers. ... Lan Ts'ai Ho, the most unusual of the immortals, is portrayed as both male and female. ... Ho Hsien Ku is the knowledgeable female among the eight and the last one of the group to become immortal. ... Numerous star gods existed from ancient times. ...
In ancient times, most civilizations tended to naturally form near river valleys. ... Rivers, mountains, and other geographic features contributed sufficiently to the growth and development of two prevailing civilizations: the Indus River Valley Civilization and Ancient China. ... The natural geographic features of Ancient china, like the Huang He and Yangtze Rivers, the Takliman desert, and the Tian Shan and Himalaya Mountains, greatly contributed to the growth and development of the Ancient Chinese Civilization. ... As shown, the geographic features of Ancient China such as the rivers, dese...
There weren't any banks in ancient China, so that's why they strung together the coins. ... The geography of ancient China can be conveniently divided up into three regions; deserts, mountains, and rivers. ... There are two major rivers in China; they are Chang Jiang, also called Yangtze, and the Huang, also known as The Yellow River. ... Next, there are two major rivers in China. ... The definition of Yangtze roughly means "Long River" in Chinese. ...
There are events and shopping streets during the traditional Chinese New Year. ... Fong Ma Po Public Toilet has become the second runner-up of the Best Toilet Competition in 2006. ... On the middle top of the root, there is a rectangular shape frame that introduces the name of the toilet, Fong Ma Po Public Toilet, both in Chinese and English. ... It is a place full of traditional culture and the spirit of the older Chinese generation. ... For these reasons, Fong Ma Po Public Toilet deserved to get an award....
Without the Nile River the civilization of Ancient Egypt would never have existed. ... This ancient civilization would never have been born if not for the Nile River. ... The Nile River made farming in Ancient Egypt easier and more successful. ... The Nile River provides inspiration for art, their paintings depicted pictures of the sun god Ra, harvests, ornamental objects, and the Nile River. ... The Nile River has shaped the society of Ancient Egypt in multiple ways. ...
He was Ho Chi Minh, and I admire him because of different reasons. ... Secondly, uncle Ho was a determined man in my mind. ... The French had split what was known today as Vietnam into three separate states - Cochin China (South Vietnam), Annam (Central Vietnam), and Tonkin (North Vietnam)". ... Ho soon understood the situation and suffering of the country. ... It seems similar to Uncle Ho did when he went to France. ...
Nothing is too big that you cannot achieve because Po Po believes in you.... I rushed to my Po Po's room at the back of my rented home. ... Po Po had a big heart. ... " I gave Po po my sweetest smile and said to myself, "I want to be like Po Po. ... " Po Po passed away 3 months ago. ...
Ho Chi Minh was the North Vietnamese leader during war with America. Ho Chi Minh shared the same political beliefs as his father. ... Ho truly believed that Vietnam deserved to be free of colonial rule. ... Ho Chi Minh nationalism was present after France ended the fighting with Vietman, Vietnam gained their independence from France but Ho was not finished. Vietnam was to split into two with Ho ruling the North. ...
Geography How large is China? ... Plains along rivers and lakes. Major rivers The Yellow River (China's Sorrow, Cradle of Chinese civilization) The Yangtze River People The Han Chinese 1. ... They combined gathering, hunting, livestock raising, forms of agriculture less developed than those of the Han Chinese, and coastal and river fishing. _____________________________________________________________________ Prehistory Interestingly, while there are myths and legends which describe creation and the dawn of Chinese culture, the true origin of the Chinese re...
