Introduction
Nüwa is the most revered creator deity in Chinese mythology, celebrated for her twin feats of “melting stones to mend the sky” and “sculpting humans from clay”. Symbolizing maternal power and ecological wisdom, she is often depicted as a human-serpent hybrid holding five-colored stones. As both an ancient zuwu (祖巫) deity from the Shan Hai Jing (《山海经》) and a cultural ancestor of the Chinese people, her legend spans millennia.
Origin
Nüwa’s prototype first appeared in the Shan Hai Jing·Great Wilderness Western Classic (《山海经·大荒西经》), solidified in the Huainanzi (《淮南子》). Legend states she and Fuxi (伏羲) co-created humanity during the primordial era. Tang Dynasty Lu Shi (《路史》) added her role in establishing marriage rituals, while Song Dynasty Taiping Yulan (《太平御览》) integrated her into Taoist pantheon. Modern archaeology traces her cult back to 8000-year-old Hongshan culture (红山文化) sites.
Plot Overview
- Celestial Collapse: Water god Gonggong (共工) broke the Buzhou Mountain (不周山)天柱 in battle with fire god Zhurong (祝融), tilting the sky
- Flood Catastrophe: Heavenly waters poured down, submerging the land as beasts ran rampant
- Stone Forging: Nüwa smelted five-colored stones (五色石, 赤、青、黄、白、黑) to patch the celestial cracks
- Turtle Pillars: Slaughtered a giant turtle, using its legs to stabilize the heavens
- Soil Regulation: Sealed floods with magic soil (息壤), delegated Yu the Great (大禹) to channel rivers
Relationships
- Fuxi (伏羲): Brother-consort who co-invented the Bagua (八卦) and marriage system
- Zhurong (祝融): Fire god whose conflict with Gonggong triggered disaster
- Gonggong (共工): Water god who caused the celestial collapse
- Yu the Great (大禹): Flood-control hero continuing her ecological work
Literary Sources
- Huainanzi·Lanningxun (《淮南子·览冥训》, Western Han): Earliest detailed account of sky-mending
- Liezi·Tangwen (《列子·汤问》, Warring States): Adds philosophical metaphors to “stone melting”
- Taiping Yulan (《太平御览》, Song Dynasty): Records clay recipe for human creation
Folk Festivals & Customs
- Spring Festival (农历正月初一)
- Northern regions hang “Nüwa talismans” (娲皇符) for protection
- Make “Sky-Mending Cakes” (补天饼) with five-colored dough
- Lantern Festival (正月十五)
- Henan Xihua County hosts “Nüwa Memorial Ceremony” (女娲公祭大典) with “Sky-Mending Dance” (补天舞)
Spiritual Significance
Nüwa embodies creative redemption in crisis:
- Uses soft power (柔性力量) (stone-crafting, human creation) to resolve rigid conflicts (刚性冲突) (Gonggong-Zhurong feud)
- Transforms disasters into civilizational progress (marriage system, water conservancy)
- Perfect blend of maternal care and ecological wisdom
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