The Ancient World (HUM 124 - UNC Asheville)/The Chameleon Finds

Over View
The Chameleon Finds is an ancient creation story that originates from the Yao people in China. Like most creation stories, it begins with no people, only Mulungu and the " decent peaceful beasts" of the earth. The story then shifts and describes a chameleon weaving a fish trap in order to catch fish to eat. One morning, when Chameleon pulls up his trap he finds a "little man and women" in it. Chameleon takes the beings to Mulungu who instructs him to put the humans on the ground so that they may grow. Once Chameleon did this, the beings grew into "the size people are today." The animals watched the people as they made fire. The fire angered Mulungu as mankind began to burn things and use it to eat the animals. The animals ran off into the forest to distance themselves from the people and Mulungu had a spider help him leave the earth to dwell in the sky.

Characters
Mulungu - Divine being/God

Chameleon - Son of Mulungu. Chameleon can be seen as a messenger between the divine and mankind.

Decent Peaceful Beasts - Animals that inhabit the Earth

Interpretation
Mulungu lived peacefully on earth with the animals until mankind was discovered by Chameleon. When the beings grew to full size, they began to wreak havoc on the animals when they created fire. Man and women burned down the forest in which the animals lived and set fires to kill and roast the animals. The animals racing into the forest to get as far away from mankind as possible can be connected to how present day animals remain distant from us or even run away when they see people walking. In many creation stories, the God's or God do not inhabit the earth. The Chameleon Finds starts with Mulungu living on earth until mankind forces him to use a spider to help him into the sky. Thus, the Yao culture blames humans for driving the goods off the face of the earth. To the Yao people, human's progress on earth was viewed by nature as negative and cruel.