Nüwa Mends the Sky

The tale of Nüwa mending the sky is a renowned story in ancient Chinese mythology, recounting how Nüwa repaired the heavens to save humanity. Set in a primordial era when the heavens had collapsed and the earth was in turmoil, Nüwa, moved by the suffering of living beings, melted five-colored stones to restore the sky. She severed the foot of the divine tortoise to prop up the four corners and quelled floods and ferocious beasts, ultimately ensuring a peaceful existence for all.

The legend of Nüwa mending the sky is first recorded in “Huainanzi,” compiled by Liu An during the Western Han Dynasty. The narrative vividly depicts the catastrophic scenes of a world where the four corners were in disarray, the nine regions were fractured, and neither heaven nor earth could sustain life. To rescue humanity, Nüwa melted the five-colored stones to mend the sky, severed the foot of the divine tortoise to support the corners, and vanquished the black dragon to aid the Jiuzhou region, using ash to halt the raging waters. Through these endeavors, the sky was restored, the floods receded, and the beasts were eliminated, allowing humanity to thrive once more.

The story of Nüwa mending the sky holds significant importance in Chinese culture, reflecting the ancient people’s reverence for natural forces and their admiration for heroic figures. As the mother of the Chinese nation and a cultural progenitor, Nüwa’s image and deeds have profoundly influenced subsequent literature, art, and folklore. This story not only showcases the grandeur of transforming the cosmos but also conveys a spirit of fearless struggle.