The Hero with a Thousand Faces

Campbell reiterates the content of the previous chapters, outlining how the appearance of the gods in the myth have given way to the age of man. The primary characters become human heroes, and the story structure changes to reflect this. Campbell returns to the story of Mwuetsi, the moon god, to describe how many foundational heroes have divine origins.

In Chinese legend, Fu Hsi, the “Heavenly Emperor,” created the foundation of culture, instructing people in fishing, matrimony, and the teaching of the Eight Diagrams. Following Fu Hsi was the “Earthly Emperor” Shen Nung. Like Fu Hsi, the circumstances of his conception were magical, and his appearance contained animal elements. Shen Nung found antidotes for poisons and invented the plough for his people. This story illustrates how superhuman heroes are needed for superhuman tasks, whereas human heroes are required for less extraordinary tasks.

After Fu Hsi and Shen Nung comes Huang Ti, the “Yellow Emperor” who is also conceived by a miracle and possesses extraordinary abilities as a child. He dreams incredible dreams in which he converses with deities. His long reign gives China mathematics, a calendar, the invention of eating implements, money, temples, fields of harvest, and much more.