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Nü-gua

by Micha F. Lindemans

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The Chinese creator goddess who created the first humans from yellow
earth, after Heaven and Earth had separated. Since this process was
too tedious and time-consuming she dipped a rope into mud and then
swung it about her. Soon the earth around her was covered with lumps
of mud. The handmade figurines became the wealthy and the noble; those
that arose from the splashes of mud were the poor and the common.

Nü-gua is one of the most popular goddesses and is worshipped both as
the intermediary between men and women, and as the goddess who grants
children. She invented the whistle, instituted marriage and instructed
mankind in the art of building dams and channels for irrigation.
Nü-gua is also credited with the restoration of the universe after it
had been devastated by the monster Gong Gong.

A particular myth tells that at a certain time the cardinal points
where no longer in the proper place, exposing the nine realms. Nü-gua
melted colored stones to mend the azure skies, cut off the lags of a
turtle to support the cardinal points, and slayed a black dragon to
save the land of Qi. Another myths states that beyond the northwesters
ocean there live ten ghosts who were fashioned from her bowels.

Her alleged husband (and brother) is the god Fu Xi. Like her brother,
the lower part of her body is portrayed as that of a dragon. When they
are represented together, their tails are intertwined. She holds a
compass, the symbol of Earth, and her husband holds a set square, the
symbol of Heaven.

The name of Nü-gua in traditional Chinese format.
The name of Nü-gua in traditional Chinese format.

Article details
Other names:
Nü-kua
Nu Kwa
Nü-wa

Article created on 03 March 1997; last modified on 06 March 2004.
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