Overview of Nüwa in Chinese Mythology

In the rich tapestry of Chinese mythology, Nüwa (女媧) stands as a prominent figure known as the first entity capable of procreation and the originator of mankind. In deeply matriarchal ancient Chinese society, her importance was accentuated as the mother of all humans, establishing her as a revered deity. Nüwa’s narratives often link her to the creation myth of China and her heroic act of repairing a rift in the sky caused by severe flooding. Even in modern times, she retains her significance, with many women praying to her for assistance related to marriage and fertility. Artistic representations often depict her with a human visage combined with a serpentine body, although she is also illustrated as a woman in traditional Chinese attire known as hanfu.

Etymology

The name Nüwa, written as 女媧, comprises two components in Chinese: the character for woman, nǚ (女), and a unique character wā (媧) that does not appear elsewhere. Various romanization styles may refer to her as Nü Gua or Nü Kua. Additionally, she is sometimes respectfully addressed as wā huáng (媧皇), translating to “Empress Huang.”

Family Background

Nüwa’s lineage includes her mother, the goddess Huaxu (华胥), who conceived unexpectedly after stepping in a divine footprint left by Leigong (雷公), the god of thunder. Nüwa is linked by marriage to her brother, Fuxi (伏羲). In certain retellings of the creation myth, it is through their union that mankind is brought into existence, with Fuxi credited for various innovations such as hunting, cooking, and the writing system of China.

Family Tree

• Parents:
  • Mother: Huaxu
• Siblings:
  • Brother: Fuxi
• Consorts:
  • Husband: Fuxi

Mythological Narratives

Two main narratives of China’s creation story coexist, the most prevalent being one where Nüwa shapes humanity from river clay.

The Creation of Humanity: The People of Clay

Following the emergence of Pangu (盤古) from his cosmic egg, the earth formed into a stunning landscape filled with abundant flora, expansive rivers, towering mountains, and diverse fauna. One day, while wandering this serene environment, Nüwa felt a wave of loneliness wash over her. Despite the beauty surrounding her, she longed for companionship. This longing inspired her to visit a riverbank, where she began to sculpt figures from its clay.

Initially, she created simple shapes like chickens and sheep, which entertained her momentarily. However, her creativity sparked when she caught sight of her own reflection in the water, leading her to mold figures resembling herself. As these figures came to life, conversing and dancing at her feet, she named them humans (人). Filled with joy, Nüwa crafted tirelessly until her hands ached. Utilizing a rope, she created more figures, suggesting that noble families descended from those she crafted directly, while commoners originated from the rope-formed figures.

The Divine Union: The Marriage

An alternate tale tells of a cataclysmic deluge that left only Nüwa and Fuxi alive. They narrowly escaped aboard a boat, only to awaken amid the ruins of humanity. Faced with the pressing need to reproduce, the siblings grappled with the moral complexities of their union. Seeking divine insight, they prayed and devised a divination test.

Fuxi and Nüwa separated on two mountains, lighting fires to divine their fates. They agreed to interpret the movements of smoke: if it rose straight, they would not marry; if it twisted together, it signified they were meant to procreate. When the smoke intertwined, they took it as a sign from above, leading them to marry and revive humankind together.

Restoring Order: Mending the Pillars of Heaven

In the era of these primordial beings, the earth was young, with four massive pillars separating it from the heavens. A fierce conflict occurred between Gonggong (龔工), the water deity, and Zhurong (祝融), the god of fire, resulting in catastrophic floods and wildfires. Defeated, Gonggong retaliated by damaging Buzhou mountain, one of the celestial supports, which resulted in a crack in the sky, unleashing torrents of rain upon the earth.

Seeing her creation suffer, Nüwa acted swiftly. She approached the sky turtle, Ao, imploring him to help. In an act of great sacrifice, Ao severed his own legs, providing Nüwa with the materials she needed. Nüwa then creatively combined five colored stones to seal the sky’s rift. While supporting the heavens with her back amid relentless rainfall, she repaired the pillars of the earth, as chronicled by ancient historian Sima Qian (司馬遷).

Different versions of the myth narrate contrasting endings: in one, she exhaustively laid down to rest and perished, while another recounts her ultimate sacrifice to complete the repair. Despite her efforts, the sky and earth never realigned perfectly, resulting in the rivers of China flowing southeast ever since.

Cultural Reverberations

In spite of drastic shifts in public sentiment toward traditional religion during the Cultural Revolution, Nüwa remains an impactful figure in contemporary culture and is viewed with considerable respect. Numerous temples dedicated to her and Fuxi are found across regions where Chinese is spoken, with her principal temple located in Hebei Province, consigned as the ancestral shrine of humanity. Nüwa’s presence extends into modern media, featuring in video games like Arcane Legions, Smite, and Koei’s Warriors Orochi 2, where she is depicted as a warrior wielding a sword and shield.