thần nông
Definition
Proper noun:
- Shennong: The name of a major mythological figure in ancient Chinese culture, venerated as a deity of agriculture, medicine, and the discovery of tea. He is considered one of the legendary Three Sovereigns.
- The Divine Farmer: A direct translation emphasizing his role as a cultural hero who taught humans the practices of farming, including the use of the plow and the cultivation of grains.
Noun (historical/cultural):
- A title or epithet: Used to refer to the ancient, deified patron of agriculture.
Usage Examples
- Proper noun:
- Thần Nông được tôn là ông tổ của nghề nông. (Shennong is revered as the ancestor of agriculture.)
- Truyền thuyết kể rằng Thần Nông đã nếm trăm loại thảo mộc. (Legend says that Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs.)
Advanced Usage
- "Thời đại Thần Nông": The Age of Shennong, referring to a mythical era associated with the beginnings of civilization and agriculture.
- Thời đại Thần Nông tượng trưng cho bước phát triển đầu tiên của nông nghiệp. (The Age of Shennong symbolizes the first development of agriculture.)
Variants and Related Words
- Viêm Đế (proper noun): Yandi, another name often used interchangeably with Shennong in mythology.
- Thần Nông còn được gọi là Viêm Đế. (Shennong is also called Yandi.)
Synonyms
- The God of Agriculture: A descriptive synonym in English.
- The Emperor of the Five Grains: An alternative ceremonial title.
Cultural and Historical Context
- Shennong is a central figure in East Asian, particularly Chinese and Vietnamese, mythology. His contributions are foundational to agricultural and medicinal knowledge. He is often depicted with the head of an ox and the body of a human, symbolizing strength and connection to the earth.