The Image of Nuwa and the Evolution of Nuwa Belief
The earliest records of the story of Nuwa can be traced back to the Warring States period when Nuwa was depicted as either a human or a deity who created humans. The concept of Nuwa and her creation of humans existed in the Jizhou region,the"Great Wilderness"in the western region in the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing),as well as in the Chu region. During the Han Dynasty,the method of Nuwa's creation of humans and his identity of the female sage emperor were clarified,and Nuwa's merits evolved from being the creator of humans to the"nurturer of all things",with the story of her creating humans becoming more specific. The earliest record of Nuwa's tomb can be found in the Book of Wei (Wei Shu). During the Tang and Song dynasties,the area containing Nuwa's tomb and its related relics expanded. The worship of Nuwa originated during the Western Han Dynasty and was included in sacrificial ceremonies during the Tang and Song dynasties. In the Song Dynasty,the official sacrificial site was established in Houcun Village,Zhaocheng Town,Shanxi Province,and during the Ming and Qing dynasties,imperial sacrifices and official missions to offer sacrifices became regular. The focus of official worship is different from that of folk worship;the former is to worship virtue and repay merit,focusing on commemoration,while the latter to pray for offspring,with emphasis on function. Over time,there was a divergence between official and folk worship of Nuwa,and the social atmosphere of worship became increasingly prevalent.
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