Distribution Patterns of the Asian Eye and Folk Mythology

James Oinam *

In an YouTube video uploaded by one Kento Bento, he explains the distribution of people with the 'Asian eye' around the world through human migrations in prehistoric times. Perhaps his choice of word, the Asian eye, has to do with the fact that it deals with not just the epicanthic fold but also genetically related 'hooded eye' feature found in other places like Northern Europe.

The YouTuber has uploaded detailed videos on the classification of this eye feature. To put it briefly, epicanthic fold is the overhanging skin of the upper inner eyelid that gives the impression of small and slanted eyes (outer end seems above the eye line). This is most common among East Asians. In hooded eyes, an excess of skin above the eyes creates a fold which is often absent in Asian eyes. But various combinations and anomalous both features exist.

The existence of this eye feature and its frequency fits with or reinforces migration theories. Whether a coincidence or not, the distribution of folk mythology also seems to follow the distribution pattern of Asian eye. For this, I take the myth of ouroboros (a snake biting its own tail) and folk tales of the sun.

In prehistoric times, people from East Asia migrated to Polynesia via Taiwan, making a brief contact with the Micronesia. Now we find few Micronesians and comparatively more Polynesians with the Asian eyes. Also, this sea-faring group split from Taiwan and migrated to Madagascar where again we find people with epicanthic folds.

Due to close contacts with the East Asians, some East Europeans show this feature. Then some people with this trait migrated to Finland and Sweden area via Russia. Some people in Ireland and Scotland also have this trait. But it is not clear how it got there—Vikings perhaps.

Epicanthic fold trait found in mainland Africa is considered genetically very different from the Asian and is believed to have evolved independently. At some point of time, Northeast Asia was connected with the Northwest America through the Bering Strait before they separated due to tectonic activity.

Humans are believed to have migrated over this land route from Siberia into Alaska in America. Consequent to this fact, we find frequency of Asian eye trait is higher in Northern America than Southern America.

Now coming to folk mythology, the symbol of ouroboros (a snake biting its own tail) is widespread. Also, the distribution of this myth somewhat overlaps the geographic distribution of 'the Asian eyes'. Other than the well-known Pakhanga of Manipur, it is found in Norse mythology (the giant snake of the Vikings which was large enough to circle the whole earth and bite its own tail). (One can say that Asian eye trait is pretty widespread in Manipur.)

Some scholars associate ouroboros with the Yin-Yang of China. In the Celtic mythology, I have conjectured in my book New Folktales of Manipur that the 'Celtic knot(s)' is perhaps related to Pakhangba. Snakes have been associated with the Pagan religion of the Celts that existed there before the coming of Christianity.

In the article 'The Stories of Suns: Shadows from the Past' (on this website), I pointed out the similarity between Manipuri folk tale Numit Kappa, Chinese folk tale of ten suns and Polynesian Maui folk tale.

The Asian eye trait has shown how Polynesians are closely connected with the East Asians. So is the similarities in this folk tale just a co-incidence or is it more than that? Here I would like to bring in a Japanese folk tale I came across recently.

Once a goddess, of Shinto religion of Japan, called Amaterasu hid herself in 'heavenly rock cave' after a quarrel with her brother. The world plunged into darkness. And gods and goddesses have to trick her to come out of it again. This has been used as an explanation for the eclipse.

Scholars have associated this goddess with the Chinese Xihe who gave birth to ten suns in the Chinese counterpart folk tale. Also, one cannot help noticing the similarity between the actions of goddess Amaterasu and that of the younger sun brother in the Manipuri folk tale Numit Kappa.

He also had to be persuaded out of his hiding by goddess as the world had plunged into darkness. The folk tales and mythologies existed even before they were penned down. And people all over the world loved stories.

Who knows, some of the popular tales might have 'gone viral', to use social media lingo, and in the absence of documentation, evolved into seemingly separate entities.

References

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxTnVWgOGLc
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu
http://www.crystalinks.com/ouroboros.html