Haven’t you wondered about the silent guardian, watching over Beijing? It is the \u5973\u5a32\u50cf Statue. This statue represents more than just art. It embodies a powerful legend.
Let’s delve into the story of N\u00fcwa, the goddess the \u5973\u5a32\u50cf Statue depicts. N\u00fcwa isn’t just any deity. She is a mother goddess in Chinese mythology. Some even consider her one of the Three Sovereigns. She is a prominent figure in Chinese folk religion, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.
Her most famous feat is creating humanity. Legend says she molded humans from yellow clay. Some versions say she crafted nobles and the rich from yellow soil. Commoners, in contrast, were made from brown mud. One story tells of N\u00fcwa growing weary. Tired, she dragged a string through the mud. This created the “cord-made people”.
But N\u00fcwa’s role extends beyond creation. The Huainanzi tells of a cosmic battle. This battle broke the pillars of Heaven. Devastation followed with great flooding. Heaven itself collapsed. N\u00fcwa stepped in. She patched the holes in Heaven using five colored stones. She then used the legs of a tortoise to mend the pillars.
Across China’s literature, N\u00fcwa appears in countless creation stories. She remains vital to Chinese culture. Along with Guanyin and Mazu, she is one of the most venerated goddesses. The goddess is also a legendary progenitor of all human beings.
The character “n\u00fc” means “female”. It prefixes the names of many goddesses. “Wa” is unique to her name. One translation calls it “lovely”. Intriguingly, it could also mean “frog”. This aligns with her aquatic myths.
The Huainanzi vividly describes N\u00fcwa’s intervention. It speaks of broken pillars and a sky that didn’t fully cover the earth. Fires raged. Floods surged. Ferocious animals preyed on people. N\u00fcwa smelted five-colored stones to mend the sky. She cut off the legs of a great turtle for pillars. She killed a black dragon to relieve Ji Province. She used reeds and cinders to stop the waters.
The Classic of Mountains and Seas adds another layer. It describes N\u00fcwa’s intestines scattering into ten spirits. Liezi recounts her repairing the imperfect heaven. He used five-colored stones. He cut tortoise legs for struts. Qu Yuan writes of N\u00fcwa molding figures from yellow earth. She gave them life. She mended the heavens with melted five-colored stones.
Xu Shen’s dictionary describes her as Fuxi’s sister and wife. They are often depicted with interlocked snake-like tails. Li Rong’s tale recounts N\u00fcwa and her brother praying on Mount K\\’un-lun. They sought Heaven’s blessing to marry. Misty vapor gathered, signifying approval.
Some stories portray her as Fuxi’s consort. Sima Zhen identifies N\u00fcwa, Fuxi, and Shennong as the Three August Ones. They share the same last name, Feng. Li Fang’s collection states that N\u00fcwa used yellow clay to create people. She used ropes to make the bodies erect.
Ming dynasty myths paint a complex picture. N\u00fcwa made decisions that ultimately benefited China. She sent a fox spirit to corrupt King Zhou. Other tales depict her and Fuxi as protectors of humanity. N\u00fcwa and Fuxi were also thought to be gods of silk.
Iconography shows varied appearances. They often have snake-like bodies and human faces. N\u00fcwa often holds compasses. These are a traditional symbol of the sky. She embodies the stars and the sky. They can be depicted as symmetrical pairs. Their snake-like tails can intertwine. They may hold the sun or moon discs.
In Fengshen Yanyi, N\u00fcwa is angered by King Zhou’s poem. She vows to end the Shang dynasty. She summons three subordinates to bewitch the king.
The \u5973\u5a32\u50cf Statue stands as a testament to N\u00fcwa’s enduring legacy. It represents creation, repair, and the power of a goddess who shaped the world. As you gaze upon the \u5973\u5a32\u50cf Statue, remember the story. Remember the goddess. Remember N\u00fcwa.