Human history begins with the emergence of humans. There have always been many legends and debates about how humans originated.
However, the theory of evolution is still the current authoritative theory.
In 1859, the British biologist C.R. Darwin published the book "The Origin of Species", which clarified the development rules of organisms from low-level to high-level, from simple to complex, but the book did not mention human problems.
In 1871, he published the book "The Origin of Mankind and Sexual Selection", citing many evidences that humans evolved from extinct ancient apes.
But he did not realize the essential difference between humans and animals, nor could he correctly explain how ancient apes evolved into humans.
F. Engels proposed the scientific theory that labor creates human beings. In 1876, he wrote the article "The Role of Labor in the Transformation from Ape to Man", pointing out the fundamental reason why humans separated from the animal state. It is labor, and the essential difference between humans and animals is also labor.
The article discusses the transformation process from apes to humans: ancient apes initially lived in groups in tropical and subtropical forests. Later, some ancient apes went down to the ground in search of food and gradually learned to use two feet Walking upright, the forelimbs are freed, and they can use tools such as stones or sticks, and finally develop to make tools with their hands.
At the same time, the physique, including the brain, has developed accordingly, and various human characteristics have emerged.
Engels called the ancient apes living in trees "tree-climbing apes", the creatures in the transition period from apes to humans as "man in the making", and the ability to make tools. A person is called a "fully formed person."
With the continuous discovery of fossil materials and the continuous improvement of dating methods, people's understanding of human origins has also continued to deepen.
Although there are still many problems, clues to the origin and development of human beings can now be roughly sketched.
However, the theory of evolution cannot solve biological problems in nature. In recent years, it has been controversial because the evidence of evolution is contradicted by evidence from nature.
It has even been almost overturned or rewritten, but it continues to center on evolution because there is no new theory to explain the problem.
It can be seen that the issue of human origin is not a simple issue that can be explained.
This issue still requires each of us to work hard to explore.
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The origin of human beings can be said to be academically The most vexing issue is that anthropologists, archaeologists, historians, biologists, chemists, and even philosophers and religious scientists have all conducted research on the origins of mankind from various angles. However, , so far there is still no most convincing statement.
Various ethnic groups have quite rich myths and legends about the origin of human beings. Some of them are quite similar, but of course there are also many differences. Among these myths, it is very interesting that we can find that there are differences with the theory of evolution. A place of coincidence.
Summarizing various myths, the origin of human beings can be divided into five types: "called out", "originally existing", "changed from plants", "changed from animals" and "made from soil". Let’s describe them separately.
"Egyptian Mythology" says that human beings are called out by gods.
Since ancient times, Egypt has always been a mysterious place. She is the most self-enclosed of all ancient countries. She has her own way of life. It is difficult for external civilization to affect her, so her human beings The origin is also different from that of other people.
The Egyptians believed that long before Egypt appeared in the world, the almighty god "NU" existed. He created everything in the world. When he called "Subi", the wind came into being. ; Calling "Tefuna", there will be rain; calling "Habi", the Nile River will flow through Egypt. He calls again and again, and all things appear one by one. Finally, he speaks "man and woman", and in a blink of an eye, Egypt and it was filled with many people.
After the work of creation was completed, Nu transformed himself into a man's shape and became the first Pharaoh, ruling the human race on earth and creating peace and prosperity.
Myths that have always existed in human beings are scattered among the North American Indians and the Maori people of New Zealand.
In Indian mythology, it is said that God created the heaven and the earth, and then led humans up from the underground to live on the earth.
Maori mythology says that "Ranchi" and "Baba" are heaven and earth and the source of all things. At that time, heaven and earth were not separated and everything was dark. His son was eager to get light, so he used force to separate the heaven and earth. Pushing aside, light appears, and human beings who have always been hidden in the darkness are discovered. It turns out that they are also born from heaven and earth.
The belief that humans are transformed from plants has become a Germanic myth. It says that the god Odin (ODIN) and other gods were walking on the beach one day and saw two trees growing on the sandbank, one of which looked like a tree. The other tree was majestic, and the other tree had a graceful posture, so he ordered the two trees to be cut down and made into men and women respectively. Odin first gave life to them, and the other gods gave them reason, language, blood, skin color, etc., becoming the ancestors of the Germans.
The myth that humans were transformed from animals is quite common.
In Australian mythology, it is said that humans are transformed from lizards; American mythology says that humans are transformed from mountain dogs, beavers, apes, etc.; Greek mythology also says that a certain tribe of people are transformed from swans, and a certain tribe of people are transformed from cows. .
From this myth of "animals turning into humans", we can find something very close to the theory of evolution. Especially in American mythology, it is said that humans were transformed from apes, which is completely consistent with the theory of evolution. This coincidence , very intriguing.
There are several myths about the origin of human beings in our country. The earlier one is "Huainanzi Spiritual Chapter": "There are two gods (yin and yang) mixed together, and they are in the camp of heaven... Similar to Qi. Insects (turbid gases turn into insects, fish, birds and beasts), and essence becomes humans (pure gases turn into humans).
This statement has not received much attention.
A later theory refers to the fact that when Pangu was dying and transformed into all things, the parasites on his body turned into humans.
Yi Shijuan 1 quotes the Five Movement Calendar Years: "The insects in (Pangu's) body turned into Li Meng (people) due to the influence of the wind."
This statement has not spread.
Another theory is that human beings were created by the Yellow Emperor, and then were given limbs and five senses by other gods, Shang Pian and Mulberry. See Huainanzi's chapter on Lin: "The Yellow Emperor gave birth to yin and yang, and Shang Pian gave birth to ears and eyes. Sang Linsheng’s arms and hands….
"This statement is very interesting and very similar to what Germanic said. Unfortunately, what kind of gods Shang Pian and Sang Lin are are not described in other ancient books, leaving only a mystery.
Among all myths, the theory of "creating man from clay" is the most common and the most popular. For example, New Zealand mythology says that man is made of red clay and his own blood by the god Tiki; Mera The Nicene people also said this; Greek mythology said that God took out earth and fire from the inside of the earth, sent the two brothers Prometheus and Epimetheus to create animals and humans respectively, and endowed humans with various personalities and wisdom.
The Maidu Indians in western North America believe that after the "founder of the earth" created trees, birds and beasts, he said, "I am going to create humans."
"He took some dark red soil and mixed it with water to make a man and a woman.
Among all myths, the most fascinating stories about the creation of humans from clay are those of our country’s Nuwa and the God of Jewish mythology (the Bible).
It is said that after Pangu opened up the world, I don’t know how many years passed, and Nuwa suddenly appeared between the heaven and the earth.
Nuwa felt lonely in this desolate world. One day, she looked at the water and saw herself. She thought it would be great if there were a few people like herself in the world and could talk to each other. , he unconsciously grabbed the soil, mixed it with water, made a clay doll according to his own shape, placed it on the ground, and when the wind blew it, it became a living thing, so he named it "human".
It turns out that Nuwa continued to create humans one after another, but the progress was slow, and she finally felt that it was difficult. When she wanted to create humans quickly to fill the vast earth, he leaned against the cliff and easily He took off the cane and stirred it lazily in the mud mixed with water. Then he shook the cane and scattered many mud dots. These mud dots fell on the ground. When the wind blew, they all turned into people, so he kept going. The ground waved the cane, and the number of people on the ground continued to increase.
The story of God’s creation of man in the Bible is recorded in the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament.
It is said that God spent five days creating all things on earth. On the sixth day, he said: "Let us create man in our image, according to our likeness..." So he used the dust of the ground. After creating man, he breathed life into his nostrils and became a living man, named Adam.
Soon one of Adam's ribs was taken out and made into a woman. Adam said, "This is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. Let me call her woman."
』 In the myths about Nuwa and God creating humans, we can find that the only difference is that they both created humans in their images. This shows that Nuwa and God look similar to humans. .
The difference is that the Bible describes woman as being made from man’s rib, not clay.