Tungusic creation myth

The Tungusic creation myths are traditional stories of the creation of the world belonging to the Tungusic peoples of Siberia.

Account of creation

In one account of the Tungusic creation myth, Buga, their central deity, set fire to a vast primordial ocean. Following a long struggle, the flames consumed much of the water, exposing dry land. Then Buga created the light, separated it from darkness, and descended to the newly created land, where he confronted Buninka, the devil. A dispute arose between them over who had created the world. Buninka was spiteful and tried to injure Buga's creation.^[1]

Buninka broke Buga's twelve-stringed lyre, and Buga angrily challenged Buninka to make a fir tree and raise it to stand fast and firm in the middle of the sea. Buga agreed he would bow to Buninka's powers if he could do so, but if he failed, then Buga would subject himself to the same challenge. If Buga were then to succeed, Buninka must concede to Buga that he was the most powerful creator. Buninka agreed to the challenge and commanded a fir tree to rise from the sea. The tree grew, but it was weak and swayed to and fro, whilst Buga's tree was good.^[1] Buninka was forced to acknowledge Buga's greater power and bowed in homage. Buga put his hand to Buninka's head and turned it to iron. This caused so much pain in Buninka that he begged Buga for release. Buga relented, releasing Buninka to be allowed to wander the earth on condition he did no harm to man.^[2]

Buga then collected materials to make mankind. From the east he gathered iron; from the south fire; the west, water; and from the north, earth. From the earth he made flesh and bone; from the iron he made heart; from the water he made blood; and from the fire he gave them vitality, and thus he made two beings, a man and a woman. After they had increased in numbers, Buninka wanted to claim half as his own. Buga refused to give him any of the living but Buninka was granted the vicious men and women after they had died, Buga keeping the virtuous to himself.^[3] So after death, the evil join Buninka in hell, which is in the center of the Earth.^[3] Hell consisted of twelve caves, each with a different form of punishment.^[3]

Alternate versions

Almost identical versions of this myth are recounted in (Leeming 2009, p. 266) and (Sproul 2013, p. 217), but the creator is referred to as "God", and not 'Buga'.

A similar myth of creation of man from four elements by Buga is given in (Holmberg 1964) from (Spasskiy 1822, p. 34).

See also

• Mythology of the Turkic and Mongolian peoples
• Manchu shamanism
• Shamanism in Siberia

Notes

1. Y.Z. 1824, p.595, col.1.
2. Y.Z. 1824, p.595, cols.1-2.
3. Y.Z. 1824, p.595, col.2.

References

• Leeming, David A. (2009), Creation Myths of the World (2nd ed.), ABC-CLIO, ISBN 978-1-59884-174-9
• Y.Z. (June 1824), "Some Account of the Tungousians in general and the Transbaikal Tungousians in particular", Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register, 17 (102), Wm. H. Allen & Co: 593–602
• Sproul, Barbara C. (2013), Primal myths : Creation Myths Around the World
• Holmberg, Uno (1964), MacCulloch, John Arnott; Moore, George Foot (eds.), The Mythology of All Races, vol. 4 Finno-Ugric, Siberian, Cooper Square Publishers, Inc., New York

Further reading

• Spasskiy, G. (1822), "Zabaykalskie tungusy", Sibirskiy Sbornik (in Russian), 19–20