When Nüwa woke up from her sleep, many years had passed on earth. The six animals she had created, along with many other creatures, had mixed and spread throughout the forests and grasslands, giving rise to a wildness in nature. However, despite the abundance of life around her, Nüwa still felt lonely. There was no one on earth like her—someone who could stand upright, speak, think, feel, and communicate. She felt that the world would be even more vibrant if there were more beings like herself.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea came to her mind. She decided to act on it immediately.
Nüwa went to a long and wide river and squatted down. The clear river water reflected her face. She dug some yellow clay from the riverbank and mixed it with water from the river. Then, she shaped the clay into a figure that resembled herself. However, when she looked at the clay figure, something didn’t seem quite right. It had no legs like hers but instead had a single long tail, much like a serpent’s. So, Nüwa dipped her hands in water again and shaped the tail into two legs.
Holding the clay figure in her hands, Nüwa played with it for a while before blowing a breath of life into it. To her amazement, when she placed the figure on the ground, it came to life, hopping and running around her.
Seeing this little creature, which resembled her but was much smaller, Nüwa was filled with joy. She spoke to the little being, saying: “Child, you were made from the yellow earth, so you have yellow skin, black eyes, and black hair. Though you are small in stature, you can think, speak, and feel. You can absorb the essence of the heavens and the earth. Unlike the birds and beasts, you can stand and walk upright. Your name shall be ‘Ren’ (Human).”
The little one bounced around and asked, “Mother, mother, can you create more people like me?”
“Of course, that is exactly what I want to do!” Nüwa replied.
Having learned from her first creation, Nüwa found it much easier to continue her work. With her left hand, she dug up more clay from the riverbank, and with her right hand, she scooped up water from the river. She skillfully mixed and shaped the clay, quickly creating another person. Over time, Nüwa continued to mold and shape, and gradually, the area around her was filled with these new creatures—both men and women.
Seeing these intelligent beings laughing and playing on the earth, Nüwa felt confident. She wanted the footsteps of humanity to spread across the entire world. However, she had been working for so long that she was exhausted, and her hands had become numb. What could she do?
Suddenly, an idea struck her. She went to find a rope, threw some yellow clay into the river to muddy the waters, and then dipped the rope into the water, allowing it to soak up the muddy water. Nüwa then pulled the rope out and swung it in the air. The mud spots on the rope fell to the ground, and each spot transformed into a new person. Nüwa realized this method was much less tiring than molding each individual by hand, so she asked the children to help her by dipping ropes in the mud to create more humans.
It is said that the Yellow River in China is the very river where Nüwa once drew water to create humans, which is why the Chinese call the Yellow River “Mother River.”
Finally, the task was completed. The number of humans was sufficient to populate every corner of the earth. But Nüwa had another thought: “Since humans are my creation, they are different from other animals. Humans should be the rulers of the earth, and all creatures should follow their commands.” So, Nüwa blessed humanity with her divine power.
Looking at the humans scattered across the earth, Nüwa felt her task was complete. She felt a sense of fulfillment but was also very tired, so she decided to rest. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
In her dream, Nüwa saw that all the humans she had created had disappeared, and the earth was empty. Upon waking, Nüwa was filled with worry. She realized a terrifying problem—though humans were the rulers of all living things, like other animals, they too would eventually die. If she were to create new humans every time a batch died, it would be too much work. Looking at the men and women she had created, she was troubled.
Then, an idea came to her. “Men are strong, and women are gentle. If men and women come together to bear and raise children, humans can continue to multiply.” So, Nüwa established the system of marriage, allowing men and women to unite, giving birth to children, and ensuring the survival and growth of humanity.