Nüwa, also known as Nü Gua and Nü Kua, is an ancient and versatile deity primarily known for her creation of humans and repairing of the pillars of heaven. One connection between this primordial goddess and religion in China in general exists with the spelling of her name. When looking at other Chinese goddesses, there are many other instances where the deity’s name is prefixed with Nü. Exempli Gratia, Nü Ch’ou, Nü Pa (Drought Fury), Nü Chiao, [and] Nü-ying” are all examples, despite their differences in their role and function, where the prefix Nü is utilized. Furthermore, delving deeper into the meaning of Nü Gua, cognates infer a connection to the element of water. For instance, “the cognate forms of wa or gua indicate a probable linkage
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Writings ranging from the fourth century to the latter parts of the Han era show that the primeval goddess Nüwa predates the myths associated with other creation deities of China, such as how humans transformed from the body mites of P’an Ku upon his death. There are, however, older deities whose narrative is tied to the creation of humankind. For example, the legend of Huan-nan Tzu creating humans from vapor postdates the myths of Nüwa. The story of Nü Gua molding the first humans from yellow clay and mud is not the only telling of human creation involving her. For example, texts from the T’ang dynasty, written by Li Jung, present a far different tradition where Nüwa, along with her brother-husband, were the first mortals and progenerated humankind. From the myths from the T’ang dynasty where Nü Kua was a mortal, she was reduced, however, from her godly status and made “subservient to God in Heaven (T’ien).” While she was an important deity to the people of pre-modern China, her popularity waned as time went on. With the fall of the Han, “the cult of Nüwa became virtually obsolete” in state religion and aristocratic
Writings ranging from the fourth century to the latter parts of the Han era show that the primeval goddess Nüwa predates the myths associated with other creation deities of China, such as how humans transformed from the body mites of P’an Ku upon his death. There are, however, older deities whose narrative is tied to the creation of humankind. For example, the legend of Huan-nan Tzu creating humans from vapor postdates the myths of Nüwa. The story of Nü Gua molding the first humans from yellow clay and mud is not the only telling of human creation involving her. For example, texts from the T’ang dynasty, written by Li Jung, present a far different tradition where Nüwa, along with her brother-husband, were the first mortals and progenerated humankind. From the myths from the T’ang dynasty where Nü Kua was a mortal, she was reduced, however, from her godly status and made “subservient to God in Heaven (T’ien).” While she was an important deity to the people of pre-modern China, her popularity waned as time went on. With the fall of the Han, “the cult of Nüwa became virtually obsolete” in state religion and aristocratic