After Pangu separated heaven and earth, the world was filled with the sun, moon, stars, wind, rain, thunder, lightning, mountains, rivers, flowers, trees, and all manner of natural beauty. One day, Nüwa, the wife of Fuxi, descended from the heavenly realm to the earthly world. Nüwa was a goddess with the head of a human and the body of a serpent, endowed with the divine power to create and nurture all living things.
Upon her arrival, Nüwa was overjoyed to witness the splendid beauty of the land. She roamed the mountains and waters, basked in the sunlight, admired the moon, watched the rain fall and the snow drift, and observed the blooming and withering of flowers and the growth and decay of grass and trees. However, as time passed, she began to feel lonely, sensing that something was missing from the earth.
One day, while resting by the riverbank, Nüwa wondered: “What is it that is lacking?” Without thinking much about it, she picked up some damp earth from the riverbank and began to shape it. First, she molded a domestic animal. The creature had a long head, a broad face, and horns that curved outward and upward with slightly pointed tips. Its neck was of medium length, and its body was long and cylindrical with full muscles. Its front limbs were more developed than its hind limbs, and it had a deep chest and sturdy legs. Its hooves were divided in two, and it had a long tail. Its nostrils were large, and its eyes were also large, radiating an aura of loyalty and kindness. Nüwa was very pleased with it. After finishing, she gently blew a divine breath upon the creature. To her surprise, it walked from her palm to the ground.
Perhaps to thank Nüwa for creating it, the creature lowed with a “moo, moo” sound and nudged Nüwa’s arm with its head. The kind-hearted Nüwa was filled with joy and, stroking its head, said: “You are the first creature I have created. You are strong, honest, and simple, so you shall be called ‘Niu’ (ox). With your sturdy legs, you will work in the fields. I will create others to accompany you.” With that, Nüwa sent the ox to the fields.
As she watched the ox head towards the fields, Nüwa thought, “Why not create more animals so they can coexist, and none will feel lonely?” She then shaped a horse, a sheep, a chicken, a dog, and a pig.
Thus, the six domestic animals were born. Nüwa assigned each of them a specific role: the ox would pull carts and plow the fields, the horse would carry loads and travel long distances, the sheep would provide materials for sacrificial vessels, the chicken would announce the dawn, the dog would guard the night and prevent harm, and the pig would provide food for guests. Each animal had its own characteristics and purpose.
Seeing the animals spread across the world, Nüwa felt very satisfied. After a period of hard work, she felt a great sense of accomplishment. However, she also grew tired and, with the sweet scent of the grass by the river, she peacefully fell asleep.