The Birth of Humankind
According to the legend, Nüwa was a goddess with the body of a serpent and the head of a human, living alone in a desolate world. Moved by the barren land and the absence of life, she decided to create humans. Using yellow clay, Nüwa shaped figures in her own likeness, breathing life into them to give them existence. These first humans, created by her hands, spread across the earth and eventually built the foundation of human civilization.
To increase the population, Nüwa dipped a rope into the mud and tossed it around. The splashes of mud formed more humans. From this, it was believed that those shaped by Nüwa’s hands were wise and noble, while those created from the mud were simpler, more humble. Despite their differences, all humans lived harmoniously under her protection.
The Great Cataclysm
The peaceful world, however, did not last. One day, two gods—Kong Gong, the god of water, and Zhu Rong, the god of fire—engaged in a fierce battle. In his rage after losing, Kong Gong struck his head against the Mount Buzhou, the pillar that held up the sky, causing the mountain to collapse. The sky shattered, the earth cracked, and a wave of disasters ensued: fires spread across the land, floods ravaged everything, and wild animals became violent, threatening the survival of humanity.
Nüwa’s Sacrifice and Heroic Act
Seeing the suffering of all living beings, Nüwa could not remain idle. She embarked on a long journey to find a solution to save the world. After traveling far and wide, she collected five sacred-colored stones from a holy river and melted them into a divine material. With these stones, Nüwa cleverly mended the sky, repairing the catastrophic cracks.
Not stopping there, she cut off the legs of a giant turtle and used its body to create four new pillars to hold up the sky. She extinguished the fires, stopped the floods, calmed the wild animals, and restored order to the world. Despite being exhausted from her arduous journey, Nüwa felt fulfilled knowing that humanity could once again live in peace.
The Legacy of a Divine Act
Nüwa’s selfless and loving act of sacrifice etched her name into the hearts of people. She became revered as a compassionate deity, the mother of humankind. The story of Nüwa Mends the Sky not only celebrates courage and resilience but also symbolizes the sacred bond between the divine and humanity.
Even today, this legend continues to inspire countless generations, serving as a testament to the power of love, creativity, and boundless kindness. The tale remains a timeless reminder of the deep connection between the divine and the world we inhabit.