“The sky tilted to the northwest, and the earth sank to the southeast.” These eight characters, with just a few strokes, depict a cataclysmic event in the ancient wilderness. Gonggong, in a fit of rage, struck Mount Buzhou, causing the pillars of heaven to break, the earth to crack, floods to rage, and life to suffer. At that time, a compassionate and great goddess, Nüwa, stepped forward. She refined five-colored stones to mend the sky, cut off the feet of a giant turtle to establish the four cardinal points, and finally quelled the disaster, saving all living things. The “five-colored stones” she refined, in many legends and cultural interpretations, have been endowed with the highest symbolic meaning of jade, becoming the original source of the Chinese nation's reverence for jade.
The myth of Nüwa mending the sky is not merely a creation story; it more profoundly reflects the fear and struggle of ancient people against natural disasters, as well as their persistent pursuit of order, harmony, and vitality. In the “Lanming Xun” chapter of Huainanzi, the description of Nüwa mending the sky reads: “Thereupon, Nüwa refined five-colored stones to mend the gaps, cut off the feet of a giant turtle to establish the four cardinal points, slew the black dragon to save Jizhou, and accumulated reed ash to stop the overflowing waters.” Although the “five-colored stones” here are not explicitly stated to be jade, their function of “mending the sky” and the “five colors” symbolizing the essence of all things in the universe perfectly align with jade's status as the “essence of heaven and earth” and “the most beautiful of stones” in traditional Chinese culture. Archaeological discoveries also provide evidence for this connection. In the Neolithic Age, a large number of exquisite jade artifacts, such as jade dragons, jade cong, and jade bi, were unearthed from sites like the Hongshan and Liangzhu cultures. These jade artifacts were not only ornaments but also important ritual objects for communicating with heaven and earth and worshipping deities. The emergence of these early jade artifacts, long before written records, is highly consistent with the spiritual core of the Nüwa mending the sky myth, suggesting that jade was endowed with extraordinary divinity in ancient times, serving as a medium to connect humans with gods and communicate with heaven and earth.
The metaphor of jade in the story of Nüwa mending the sky elevates it beyond a mere material, transforming it into a cultural symbol that carries the Chinese nation's understanding of life, order, and beauty. Firstly, it symbolizes the great power and spirit of sacrifice in “mending the sky.” Nüwa, without regard for herself, refined stones to mend the sky. This spirit of selfless dedication complements the gentle, restrained, and resilient character of jade. The coexistence of jade's hardness and warmth is like Nüwa's fortitude and compassion. Secondly, the “five colors” of the five-colored stones symbolize the harmonious unity of all things in heaven and earth. The five colors—green, red, yellow, white, and black—correspond to the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water in the Five Elements theory, symbolizing the balance and cycle of the universe. The vibrant colors of jade are also often endowed with auspicious and beautiful meanings, such as the imperial yellow jade symbolizing nobility, and the protective green jade symbolizing vitality. Finally, the “immortal” characteristic of jade also echoes the eternal continuation of cosmic order after Nüwa mended the sky. Jade is hard and not easily corrupted, regarded as a symbol of longevity and eternity, embodying the ancients' yearning for immortal life.
The myth of Nüwa mending the sky, through the medium of jade, intricately weaves together the Chinese nation's creation memory, aesthetic taste, and moral concepts. To this day, jade culture still permeates every aspect of our lives. From the moral principle of “a gentleman compares his virtue to jade” to the wearing of jade pendants and ornaments, and the inheritance of jade carving art, all demonstrate the unique position of jade in Chinese culture. Jade is not just a precious mineral; it is also the carrier of the Chinese national spirit. It carries the grand narrative of Nüwa mending the sky, telling the story of the continuous vitality of Chinese civilization. When we touch a warm piece of jade, we seem to feel the call of the ancient wilderness and see the five-colored glow that pierced the chaos when Nüwa mended the sky. That light, traversing time and space, illuminated the long road of Chinese civilization, becoming the eternal backdrop and source of strength in our national spirit. Jade, as the legacy of Nüwa mending the sky, will continue to nourish the cultural bloodline of the Chinese nation with its unique charm, passing down ancient and profound wisdom.