myths.

今天我們要給創世神話劃上句號。

Over the past four episodes we’ve seen the universe created from nothing, via the actions

在前面四集當中， 我們見識到宇宙怎麼從無至有

of earth mothers, sky fathers, and of course, vomiting supreme beings.

在天父、地母、嘔吐的至高神 他們的手中所創造出來。

We’ve seen creation used to explore the relationships between parents and children

我們見識到用來探討親子關係、 兩性關係的創世神話...

and between men and women.

還有古蛇。

And snakes.

最後這一集，我們要來探討在大自然中， 人與動物的關係。

And on that note, today, we’re going to examine the earthly interconnection between

唷！圖特，來個 High Five 吧！

humans and animals.

啥？

High five, Thoth!

對，我知道人類也是動物的一種。

What?

你知道我說的是什麼意思。

Yes, I know humans are animals.

[速成班主題曲]

You know what I mean.

《神話速成班》

INTRO Before we get into the creation myths, let’s

進入創世的神話之前，

start with a little scientific mythology about man’s best friend.

我們先來看一則科學界的神話。 是跟人類最好的朋友有關的。

Of course, I mean dogs.

當然，我說的是狗。

Sorry Thoth.

歹勢，圖特。

Dogs were, if not the first, then among the first domesticated animals, and they play

狗是最早被人類訓養的動物之一。

an important role in mythology.

他們在神話中扮演著重要的角色。

Romulus?

羅慕路斯？

Remus?

雷木斯？

I’m looking in your direction.

我就是在說你們。

One of the stories that we tell about the domestication of dogs is that it started when

關於人類訓養狗的一種說法認為，

early hunter gatherers chose to tame and then breed some of the less aggressive wolves in

早期的漁獵民族開始選擇馴服

order to increase the hunters’ capacity to capture game.

較溫馴的野狼來增加獵人打獵的效率。

Eventually, these cross and interbred wolves became dogs.

最後，這些狼交互配種之後就成了狗。

Who’s a good boy?

誰是乖寶寶？

Who’s a good boy?

任何不會咬掉你的手的犬科動物都是乖寶寶。

Thats Right!

這個說法聽起來很有道理， 但是有個問題。

Any canine that didn’t bite off your hand is a good boy!

布萊恩‧黑爾與凡妮莎‧伍茲在《國家地理雜誌》 裡發表的一篇文章，將整個理論

It’s a nice story and it seems to make sense, but there are problems with it.

翻轉過來，提出有些科學家認為 是野狼先接近人類的，

In an article in National Geographic, Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods argue that some scientists

而不是人類先接近野狼。

are flipping this narrative on its head and saying that it was wolves that sought out

實際上，人類主動去捕捉野狼 並訓練牠們來替自己做事反而比較不合理。

humans, rather than the other way around.

早期的漁獵社會的效率是很高的，

It doesn’t make much sense for humans to try to capture wolves and get them to work

這也就是為什麼他們很有可能是 摧毀古代生物群的元兇。

for us.

而且，他們為何要把獵物分給狼群？

Early hunter gatherers were pretty good at hunting, which is why they might have been

他們自己和這些狼群一樣急需食物。

to blame for the destruction of megafauna in the prehistoric world.

黑爾與伍茲所說的科學家認為 狼群接近人類反而比較合理。

Also, why would humans want to share the spoils of the hunt with a wolf?

或許牠們是在垃圾堆裡找一些殘羹剩飯來吃。

They’re hungry.

這些狼肯定是比較友善的狼群，

Like the wolf.

兇惡的狼早就被人類宰了。

Hare and Woods explain that scientists think it is more likely that wolves approached humans,

所以這群友善的狼，經過數代的交配之後，

probably by scavenging around their garbage pits.

變成了現在的可愛的「吸塵器天敵」。

These would have been the friendliest wolves; aggressive ones would have been killed by

別問我貓的事。

anxious humans.

我什麼都不知道。

So, it was the friendly wolves that, over many generations, were bred into the loveable

貓到底算不算被訓養的動物？

vacuum hating rapscallions that we know and love.

我總覺得牠們在隱藏什麼。

Don’t ask me about cats, though.

肯定有陰謀。

I got nothing there.

絕對有問題。

Are cats even really domesticated?

依照慣例，我們又回到了猶太/基督教的 聖經《創世紀》裡面的創世神話，

I feel like they’re hiding something.

在第一章裡面，神創造好天地、星辰、 以及所有的動物之後，他說：

There’s some plot.

「我們要照著我們的形像， 按著我們的樣式造人，

They’re up to something.

使他們管理海裡的魚、 空中的鳥、地上的牲畜、

Let’s return, as we so often do, to the Judeo-Christian Biblical story of creation

和全地，並地上所爬的一切昆蟲。

from Genesis.

神就照著自己的形像造人， 乃是照著他的形像造男造女。」

In Chapter One, after creating the heavens and the earth and the stars and all the animals:

「神說：『看哪，我將遍地上 一切結種子的菜蔬，

God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion

和一切樹上所結有核的果子，

over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over

全賜給你們作食物。

all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”

至於地上的走獸，和空中的飛鳥，

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female

並各樣爬在地上有生命的物， 我將青草賜給他們作食物。』

he created them.”

事就這樣成了。」

(Gen 1 26-27) … And God said, “Behold I have given you every plant yielding seed

毫無意外，又有更多的草要除了。

which is upon the face of all the earth and every tree with every seed in its fruit; you

在《創世紀》的第二章裡， 神給人類治理萬物的權柄。

shall have them for food.

但是與之前的有一點點出入。

And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps

在這個版本中，神先創造了人，才創造動物。

on the earth, everything that has breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.”

「神說：『那人獨居不好， 我要為他造一個配偶幫助他。』

And it was so.

神用土所造成的野地各樣走獸， 和空中各樣飛鳥，

(Gen 1 29-30).

都帶到那人面前看他叫甚麼， 那人怎樣叫各樣的活物，那就是他的名字。」

Sounds like more gardening to me, surprise surprise.

不錯嘛！

In the second chapter of Genesis, God grants humans control over the other earthly creatures

長頸鹿、鯊魚、蒼蠅都是創造來幫助我們的。

in a slightly different way.

兩個版本的創世神話裡， 都把人類放在動物世界的頂端，

In this version, God creates man before the animals.

使人類有權柄隨意處置他治下的萬物。

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him

牠們基本上就是來實習的。

a helper fit for him.”

第二個版本中，用雙管齊下的方式， 確立人類治理萬物的權力。

So out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air,

首先，讓人類比動物先被造出來， 就先贏在了起跑點上。

and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called

其次，第一個人類又獲得了命名萬物的特權， 更確立了人類比動物優越的地位。

every living creature, that was its name.”

而且，他也做的不錯啊。

(Gen 2 18-19) Isn’t that nice?

尤其是河馬。 「希波波他摩斯」

Giraffes and sharks and biting flies were made just to help us.

但並非所有的神話都有 這種人與禽獸的階級分別。

Both creation stories set up a clear hierarchy in the animal world with human beings at the

在許多美洲原住民部落的創世神話中， 是動物幫忙創造了世界。

top given the power to do whatever they want with all animals below them.

牠們創世過程中通常是以導師、 甚至是關鍵角色的身份出現。

Basically, they’re our interns.

在現今美國西南方的部落當中， 他們的創世神話是

The second version of the story affirms human control over animals in two ways.

我們目前還沒探討到的創世神話模式： 「闢地神話」

First, by having man created prior to the animal kingdom, humans are granted literal

這類的故事中，原本居住在地底世界的人類 或最後變成人類的生物，

primacy.

被引導至一系列的地中世界，最後來到 如今所謂「大地」的地表世界。

Then, their power is increased over animals by the first man receiving the privilege of

霍皮族流傳的神話中，各種動物 （包括「蜘蛛奶奶」和一隻花栗鼠）

naming them.

幫忙找到了通往天空之地的入口： 希葩普霓 (Sipapuni)。

And, I mean, he did a pretty good job.

顯然藏在大峽谷之中有這麼一個地方。

Especially with hippopotamus.

納瓦霍族的闢地神話中， 人類（同時也是某種昆蟲）

But not all myths about humans and animals employ this strict hierarchy.

在燕子的幫助下穿過希葩普霓 來到地表世界。

In a number of creation stories from Native American tribes animals are partners in creation,

我很喜歡這類的神話。

often acting as guides or even as the key participants in creating the earth.

人類與大自然合作，

The tribes of what is now the Southwestern United States have creation stories that follow

一同開創一片新天地！

a model we haven’t yet seen, the emergence myth.

在經過之前的嘔吐、死亡， 這樣的情景不能不說是一股清流。

In these stories, humans or creatures that become humans are led from an original underground

另一種創世神話也有動物作幫手，叫做： 「大地發掘者」

world into a series of interim worlds until they emerge into the surface world that is

美國東北方森林裡的易洛魁印第安人 就有個很好的例子。

recognizably earth.

潛入〈思緒泡泡〉

In a Hopi version of this story, various animals including the Spider Grandmother, and a chipmunk

從前，人類住在天上， 也就是現在我們稱為天堂的所在。

help to find the entry hole or sipapuni, to the land beyond the sky.

大酋長的女兒生了重病，藥石罔效。

Apparently, there is one of these entry ways in the Grand Canyon.

在村莊中有一棵大樹， 樹上長滿了玉米，是全村的食物來源。

In a Navajo version of the emergence story, the people, who are also sort of insects,

大酋長的朋友做了一個夢， 他按照夢的情景，告訴大酋長

fly through the sipapuni into the higher world, assisted by swallows.

叫他把女兒放在樹邊，把樹挖掉。

I like these myths.

大酋長就照著做了。

Humans working with nature!

正在挖的時候，一個憤怒的年輕人跑了過來。

Literally rising towards creation!

他在病床前大小聲喧嘩、喊叫。

It’s just a nice breath of fresh air, almost literally, after all the vomiting and death

他說：「這棵樹是全村人食物的來源！」

that we’ve had so far.

然後踢了大酋長病重的女兒一腳。

Another type of creation story featuring animal helpers is called the earth diver myth.

她就這樣摔進了樹邊的深坑，

A good example comes from the Iroquois Indians of the Northeastern Woodlands of the United

掉進了這個世界。 此時，這個世界只是一片汪洋。

States.

水上飄著鴨、鵝等各類水鳥。

Let’s dive into Thoughtbubble.

因為到都是水，沒有女孩的落腳之處，

A long time ago, humans lived up in the sky in what we now consider heaven.

所以水鳥群集在一起，成了一座鳥島，

The daughter of their great chief became very sick, and they were unable to cure her.

救下了從天而降的女孩。

In the village was a great tree on which grew the corn that had fed all the people.

一段時間後，水鳥群累壞了， 就問誰能頂替牠們。

One of the chief’s friends had a dream in which he was told to tell the chief to lay

大烏龜頂替了牠們的，扛起了女孩。 但牠也是會累，沒辦法永遠扛下去。

his daughter beside the tree and dig it up.

於是動物們決定弄一塊真正的陸地讓她居住。

The chief did as the dream said.

蛤蟆受眾人所託，潛入海底收集土壤。

While this was going on an angry young man came along.

牠把挖出來的土壤放在大烏龜的殼上。

The angry young man didn’t have the best bedside manner.

越堆越多、越來越大， 最後就成了承載萬物的大地。

He pointed out the tree provided the fruit which fed the people, and gave the sick daughter

謝謝〈思緒泡泡〉

a push with his foot.

水鳥們，幹的不錯！

She fell through the hole that had been left when the tree had been dug up.

蛤蟆（圖得）也是。

The young woman fell into this world, which at the time was all water.

圖特，這是圖得。 圖得...圖特...

On this water floated ducks, and geese and all the other water birds.

還有很多沒說到的，但是這則神話 包含了「大地發掘者」神話的關鍵要素。

As there was no earth on this water at the time, there was no place for the falling woman

雖然這則神話與其他創世神話有很多相似之處──

to land, so the birds joined their bodies together into a sort of duck island, where

尤其是「世界起初只有水」這一點──

the falling woman landed.

但是人類與動物的關係卻大不相同。

After some time, the birds grew tired and asked who would care for the woman.

動物們不再是等著讓人類命名、馴養的傻鳥，

The Great Turtle took the woman, and when he grew tired he asked who would take care

牠們有自己的語言、想法、思慮、計畫。

of her.

動物萬歲！

They decided to prepare land on which she would live-- the earth.

牠們也有自己的情緒。和我們一樣 會累、會對單調的工作感到無聊。

The Toad, after some convincing, dove to the bottom of the primal sea, and collected soil

下次看到馬拉車、或是拿羽毛逗貓玩的時候，

which was placed on the broad carapace of the Great Turtle.

記得考慮到這點。

It increased in size until it provided the land to accommodate all the living creatures.

說實話，牠們肯定受夠了。

Thanks Thoughtbubble.

動物們不但在這則創世神話中露臉了，

And nice work, water birds.

而且還救了人類的祖先、 建立了我們的家。

Also, Toad.

沒有了大烏龜、蛤蟆的幫助，

Thoth, meet Toad.

就沒有大地可以居住、種植食物。

So there’s a lot more to the myth than this, but it captures the key elements of the earth

因為有動物才有這個世界， 所以對動物心存感恩是很重要的。

diver story.

這些美洲原住民神話很複雜， 在閱讀的時候，要記得...

Although it has some things in common with other creation myths we’ve seen, especially

它們與其他創世神話最大的不同在於：

the idea that the world began as water, the relationship between human beings and animals

它們是有生命的故事。 在口耳相傳之下不斷得變化。

it’s quite different.

不像其他創世神話白紙黑字寫好了， 比較沒有太多的變化。

For one thing, far from being dumb creatures waiting to be named and tamed by a man, these

從這些「闢地」與「大地發掘者」神話當中，

animals can talk, think, deliberate and plan.

我們還能觀察到美洲原住民 看待人類與大自然、與動物之間的關係

Animal empowerment!

與其他文化截然不同。

They also have emotions similar to the ones we feel, especially getting tired and bored

根據聖經的說法，人類與神有特別的關係。

of a tedious task.

因此與其他生物相比，神偏愛人類。

Think about this the next time you watch a horse pull a cart, or you’re trying to entertain

對於這點，兩位神話學教授 伊娃‧德里與瑪格麗特‧迪維尼認為：

your cat by waving that feathery thing in front him.

「這樣的特權被解釋成給予 信徒對大自然肆意妄為的權利。」

I’m telling you: they’re gettin’ fed up.

這兩位教授同時也提到另一方面：

Even more important than being given real agency in this creation story, it’s the

美洲原住民將世界視為成就使命之所在。 成就使命不是靠統治，而是要維持平衡。

animals who both save humans’ progenitors, and create our home.

自己與其他人類保持平衡、也與 其他動物、外在世界同樣保持平衡。」

Without the helpful turtle and the brave toad, there would be no land to live on, and also

有些人可能會想說：「等等，這聽起來像是 對美洲原住民的刻板印象。

no earth to grow food.

彷彿他們與大自然有著神秘的連結，

The creation of the world requires animals and thus it is crucially important to be grateful

而我們應該向他們學習與大自然和平相處。」

to them.

沒有錯，這確實是文化上的刻板印象。

These Native American myths are very intricate and when you read them – and you should

常常被用來給美洲原住民戴上「原始」的帽子。

– it’s important to remember that they are very different from many of the other

但是，我覺得比起之前討論的那些

creation stories because they are living stories, communicated by way of a constantly evolving

嘔吐、戰爭、生吞嬰兒的神話比起來。

oral tradition, unlike more or less stable literary texts.

把宇宙當作共容共存的所在， 比激烈鬥爭、尖酸刻薄的故事好太多了。

Still, one of the interpretive take-aways from these emergence and earth diver stories

那個把病重女孩踢進洞裡的傢伙除外。

is that Native Americans perceive a different relationship between animals and nature and

謝謝收看。 我們下週見。

humans than people from other traditions.

According to the biblical tradition, human beings have a special relationship with God

who prefers them to all other creatures.

According to mythology professors Eva Thury and Margaret Devinney, “This privilege has

been interpreted by some as giving believers the right to dispose of nature as they please.”

On the other hand, according to these scholars, “Native Americans view this world … as

the place where their destinies will be fulfilled, not by domination but by maintaining a balance

achieved by living in harmony with themselves and other humans as well as with animals and

the exterior world.”

Now some of you might be saying, wait, this sounds like a stereotypical view of Native

Americans, like they have some mystical connection with nature and that we should look to them

for a way to understand how better to live in harmony with it.

And you would be right, that is a cultural stereotype, one that has often been uncritically

linked with an idea of Native Americans as primitive.

But, I will say, maybe in comparison to the other stories we’ve heard, with all the

vomiting, and wars, and eating of children, it’s kind of nice think of the universe

as a place of collaboration, and not one of acrimony.

Except that jerk who kicked that lady down the hole.

Thanks for watching.

See you next episode.