Spatial contrast in Chinese mythological worldview (based on mutual transformations of birds and fish)

   The article discusses the spectrum of spatial models expressed in the process of categorization and further mutual transformations of birds and fish in the Chinese mythological picture of the world. The understanding of such a universal category as space enables us to describe the national image of the world, including the Chinese worldview. Our research is based on the ancient Chinese monument “山海经” (“Shang Hai Ji”) and the philosophical treatise “庄子” (“Chuang Tzu”). An important research element is the description of three types of relationships between birds and fish: the coexistence of fish and birds, the transformation of the bird into the fish and the fish into the bird. The research results revealed such spatial oppositions as sky – water, south – north, top – bottom. In this case, the first word of the contrast always has a positive connotation, while the second word has a negative one. At the same time, the identified types of the contrast are characterized by national-cultural features, as specified in the concept of yin-yang and the five elements of Chinese traditional philosophy. In this regard, the members of the opposition do not confront each other but interact, turn into each other, which reflects the idea of the cyclical process in the life of the Chinese, the process that is subject to renewal and development.

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