From Fuxi to Izanagi: A Cross-Cultural Genealogy of Creation Deity Gestures

Abstract

The "gestural turn" in contemporary art has introduced a more immediate perspective for studying ancient iconography, transcending textual discourse. As quintessential figures in Chinese and Japanese cosmogonic myths, the four deities Fuxi, Nüwa, Izanagi, and Izanami are depicted with distinct postures across murals unearthed from various dynastic periods. The longstanding hypothesis regarding Chinese influence on Japanese mythology gains further support from the iconographic similarities and their alignment with historical records, forming the foundation for this comparative study. However, as the myth of Fuxi and Nüwa was assimilated into Japanese culture, both their visual representations and narrative texts underwent symbolic transformations. Framed within Giorgio Agamben’s genealogical framework of gestural aesthetics, this paper analyzes the poses of these creation deities to uncover the aesthetic philosophies embedded in their iconography. By tracing the Chinese intellectual origins of Japanese creation myths, decoding the symbolic significance of divine gestures, and investigating cultural and ethical factors driving their evolution, this study seeks to elucidate the intrinsic motivations behind the "transfiguration" of these sacred postures.