Long ago, the world was at peace until the fire god Zhurong and the water god Gonggong fought a fierce celestial battle. Gonggong, defeated and humiliated, struck his head against Mount Buzhou, the pillar holding up the heavens. The mountain shattered, causing the sky to tilt and the earth to crack. Fire surged from the depths and floods drowned the plains. Nuwa, the mother goddess who had created humanity, could not bear her children's suffering. She gathered stones of five different colors—red, yellow, blue, white, and black—from the riverbeds and melted them into a glowing paste. With divine precision, she patched the gaping holes in the sky. To ensure the heavens remained stable, she sacrificed the legs of a giant tortoise to serve as four new pillars. Though the sky remained slightly tilted, explains why China's rivers flow east, Nuwa had successfully saved the world from total destruction.
True leaders act with selflessness and ingenuity to protect the world and restore harmony after a disaster.
Questions about this story
What is the moral of Nuwa Repairs the Sky?
The story highlights the power of perseverance and the importance of selfless restoration. It teaches that through wisdom and hard work, one can overcome even the greatest disasters to protect others.
Why did the sky break in Chinese mythology?
The sky collapsed because the water god Gonggong, in a fit of rage after losing a battle, struck Mount Buzhou. Since the mountain served as a pillar holding up the heavens, its destruction caused the sky to tear open.
What are the five-colored stones Nuwa used?
Nuwa used stones of five distinct colors—red, yellow, blue, white, and black—to represent the five elements. She melted them together to create a divine substance capable of patching the celestial void.
How did Nuwa support the heavens after repairing them?
To ensure the sky never fell again, Nuwa took the four legs of a giant tortoise and placed them at the corners of the earth. These served as sturdy new pillars to keep the heavens and earth separated.
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Good night.
