Jinsi Jade: The Mysterious Stone Used by Nuwa to Mend the Sky

In Chinese ancient mythology, Nuwa is a primordial goddess, also known as Wa Huang, Nü Yin, and recorded as Nuwa Shi in the Records of the Grand Historian. She is considered the cultural originator of the Han Chinese people, a divine figure blessing the growth of society and the guardian deity of the state.

Legend has it that Nuwa created humans by shaping seventy variations of herself out of yellow mud. She established human society and introduced the institution of marriage. When calamities struck the world, causing the sky to collapse and the earth to sink, Nuwa took action. She melted colorful stones to mend the celestial realm and even cut off the legs of a giant turtle, using them as pillars to support the sky. This myth of Nuwa mending the sky has become a prominent legend in Chinese mythology.

In the tale of Nuwa mending the sky, the mysterious stone she used is referred to as Jinsi Jade/Five-color Jade, a radiant gem in the mythological narrative.

Formation of the Primordial Stone

In ancient times, after Nuwa created humans, the land was filled with joy and laughter. However, one night, she was awakened by a thunderous roar. Alarmed, she rushed outside to witness a catastrophic scene. The sky had collapsed, revealing a dark celestial abyss, and the earth had cracked open, forming deep ravines. Wildfires raged on the hills, trapping many people at the mountain's summit, while floods inundated the fields, leaving others struggling for their lives.

Witnessing this devastation, Nuwa felt immense sorrow. She immediately sought the Rain God, imploring him to bring rain to extinguish the celestial fires. Nuwa also crafted numerous small boats to rescue those stranded in the floodwaters.

After the celestial fires were extinguished and the flood victims rescued, the celestial abyss in the sky remained ablaze. Nuwa, risking her life, decided to mend the sky. She ventured into the wilderness and carefully selected five colors, symbolizing the five elements—red for fire, blue for water, yellow for earth, white for metal, and black for wood. Nuwa, atop Tian Tai Mountain, piled massive stones for the furnace and used five-colored soil as the materials. Borrowing the divine fire from the Sun God, she spent nine days and nights refining Jinsi Jade, creating a perfectly harmonious gem between heaven and earth. Subsequently, she spent another nine days and nights using Jinsi Jade to repair the sky.

After successfully mending the sky, Nuwa even beheaded a millennium-old giant turtle and used its legs as pillars to support the collapsed half of the sky. To prevent the floodwaters from spreading, Nuwa collected vast amounts of reeds, burned them into ash, and used it to dam the rampant floodwaters. The completion of Nuwa's sky-mending feat brought tranquility to the whole world and celebrations echoed through the land. In honor of her accomplishment, a temple was erected at the foot of the mountain, where people worshipped Nuwa for generations.

Symbolic Significance of Jinsi Jade/Five-color Jade

Jinsi Jade, with its vibrant colors, carries profound symbolic meaning in Chinese mythology. Red symbolizes the vitality of fire, blue signifies the clarity of water, yellow represents fertile earth, white embodies steadfast metal, and black signifies the vigor of wood. Together, these five colors delineate the essence of creation and restoration, symbolizing the perfect harmony of the universe.

Legacy and Reverence for Jinsi Jade

The miraculous deeds of Nuwa mending the sky elevated Jinsi Jade to the status of an enduring treasure, revered by many. This mystical stone not only resonates in ancient literature and poetry but also finds expression in various art forms. It stands as an eternal symbol of Nuwa's compassion and the restoration of clarity to the celestial realm.

Conclusion

The myth of Jinsi Jade weaves a tale filled with enchantment and marvel. As the mystical stone employed by Nuwa in mending the sky, Jinsi Jade stands not only as a witness to the harmonious balance of the universe but also as a dazzling gem in the tapestry of Chinese mythology. Its enduring beauty and profound symbolism ensure that the myth of Jinsi Jade continues to flourish through the river of time, becoming an eternal part of Chinese culture.

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