Topic: In section 2, Part 1 of his essay (reading # 1) Derk Bodde discusses the process of "euhemerization" and on pp. 49 and 50 uses the example of the Yellow Emperor. What is the process, and why is the Yellow Emperor a good example? In his essay Derk Bodde discusses both the process of euhemerization and its reverse. He relates the theory of Euhemerus, which states that, "the origin of myth is to be found in actual history, and that …
showed first 75 words of 544 total

showed last 75 words of 544 total
…time, is transformed (figuratively) into a god. Conversely, reverse euhemerization, euhemerization for Chinese scholars, is the procedure by which a god or other mythological creature becomes a historical figure, believed to have actually existed. Bodde also shows how reverse euhemerization occurs through the revision of documents by those more occupied by history than mythology; and he also exemplifies the lengths that are gone to, such as forging Confucian writings, to have these reverse euhemerizations believed.