Comparative analysis of the legend of the shooter on the sun. From the Amur to Taiwan
https://doi.org/10.28995/2658-5294-2023-6-4-14-50
Abstract
The article by the well-known Russian sinologist Boris Lvovich Riftin (1932–2012) is devoted to a comparative analysis of one of the most widespread myths that tells about the existence of several suns in some ancient times and the destruction of superfluous ones by a mythological hero. To a large extent, the article is based on the author’s own field recordings among the natives of Taiwan, the peoples of Bunun and Taiya, in 1992–1998.
The researcher comes to the conclusion that the myth that relates the hero’s victory over the unbearable solar heat, was developed from a more general idea of an excessive number of suns. It is found in Europe as well as in Africa, but mainly in the Pacific region, East Asia and America. The myth of shooting superfluous suns exists mainly in mainland China, Taiwan and the Philippines, Indonesia and northeastern India, but is practically not noted north of the Amur river, among the Turkic peoples of Central Asia and Tibet. Thus, the area of distribution of this myth has clear boundaries, and many peoples who have similar stories belong to the Austroasiatic language family. Perhaps the ancient myth of the destruction of additional suns originally appeared in East Asia, and then during migrations was transferred to Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia and some islands in the Pacific.
About the Author
B. L. RiftinRussian Federation
Boris L. Riftin
Information about the publisher
Aglaya B. Starostina, Cand. of Sci. (Philosophy), Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; 12, Rozhdestvenka St., Moscow, Russia, 107031; abstarostina@gmail.com
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Review
For citations:
Riftin B.L. Comparative analysis of the legend of the shooter on the sun. From the Amur to Taiwan. Folklore: Structure, Typology, Semiotics. 2023;6(4):14-50. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.28995/2658-5294-2023-6-4-14-50
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