Description

For four millennia, Nüwa has captivated Chinese imagination—the powerful goddess who shaped humanity from yellow clay and heroically mended the broken sky to save creation. This groundbreaking study reveals her extraordinary journey from ancient deity to modern cultural icon, showing how she has evolved while maintaining her essential identity through China's tumultuous history.

From breathtaking Han dynasty stone carvings to vibrant digital games, Nüwa's story unfolds across classical texts, temple rituals, imperial art, and contemporary media. The book illuminates her many faces: maternal creator, cosmic savior, divine partner to Fuxi, and enduring symbol of female creative power—even during periods when women's actual authority was severely limited.

Rich in insight yet engagingly written, this first comprehensive English-language exploration of China's most enduring goddess will fascinate scholars and mythology enthusiasts alike. More than just an ancient story, Nüwa's mythology reveals how cultures preserve their deepest traditions while continuously reimagining them for changing times—a lesson as relevant today as it was four thousand years ago.