Tag: NVWA

  • The Five Sacred Mountains of Guixu 归墟五神山

    人类的始祖女娲造人之后,天地间一向太平无事。忽然有一天,天地大冲撞。天上崩开一条巨大的裂口;地面也爆裂塌陷,烈焰从地心迸发,焚毁了森林;洪水从渊底喷涌,冲走了山岭。妖魔鬼怪、恶禽猛兽趁机肆虐,人类陷于水深火热之中。

    After the creation of humanity by Nuwa, there was peace in the world. Suddenly, one day, a great collision occurred between heaven and earth. The sky split open with a massive rift, and the ground cracked and sank. Flames erupted from the earth’s core, burning the forests, while floods surged from the depths of the abyss, sweeping away mountains. Monsters, demons, and wild beasts took advantage of the chaos, and humans were caught in great suffering.

    女娲听到人类的求助声,她先杀死妖魔鬼怪,再平息水患,接着进行伟大的天工程。女娲到各个地方收集芦柴,搬运到天的裂口处,不久,芦柴便堆得与天一样高了。接着,她又去地上寻找与天一样颜色的青石,放在柴堆上面。

    Upon hearing the cries of humans, Nuwa first killed the demons and monsters, then quelled the floods, and began the great task of repairing the heavens. She gathered reeds from various places and transported them to the rift in the sky. Soon, the reeds were piled high, reaching the height of the heavens. Next, she searched for stones that matched the color of the sky and placed them on top of the reed pile.

    趁从地心迸发的大火还没有完全熄灭,她用一棵大树点燃芦柴,火焰忽地蹿起,照亮了整个宇宙,五色石都被烧得通红。慢慢地,熔化的石块像糖浆一样流淌,填补了天的裂缝。当芦柴快烧完时,天上的裂口被修补好了。

    As the flames erupting from the earth’s core had not fully died down, she used a great tree to ignite the reeds. The flames suddenly shot up, illuminating the entire universe, and the five-colored stones turned bright red. Gradually, the molten stones flowed like syrup, filling the rift in the sky. When the reeds were nearly burnt out, the rift in the heavens was repaired.

    虽然天地被女娲修补好了,但天地的形态无法恢复到原来的样子。西北方向的天空略微倾斜,太阳、月亮自觉地向东南方向倾斜,东南方向的土地则陷下去了一个深坑。大量的水积聚在那里,形成了海洋。

    Although the heavens and earth were repaired by Nuwa, their original form could not be restored. The sky in the northwest tilted slightly, causing the sun and moon to naturally move towards the southeast. The land in the southeast sank into a deep pit, and a large amount of water gathered there, forming the oceans.

    归墟里面有五座神山,分别是“岱舆”“员峤”“方壶”“瀛洲”“蓬莱”。每座神山都高三万里,山与山之间相距七万里。山上有大量的宫殿,许多神仙住在这里。神山上的飞禽走兽都是白色的,山上还有许多奇特的树,这些树结的果实,味道非常好,凡人吃了可以长生不老。

    Inside the Guixu, there are five sacred mountains: “Daiyu,” “Yuankao,” “Fanghu,” “Yingzhou,” and “Penglai.” Each mountain is 30,000 miles high, and the distance between each mountain is 70,000 miles. The mountains are filled with numerous palaces, and many immortals reside there. The flying creatures and beasts on these sacred mountains are all white, and there are many peculiar trees that bear fruit. The fruits taste incredibly delicious, and any mortal who eats them will gain immortality.

    神仙们穿着洁白的衣服,背上长有小小的翅膀。平时,这些神仙在大海上、碧空下,像鸟一样自由地飞翔,往返于五座神山之间。神仙们的生活快乐而幸福。

    The immortals wear pure white garments and have small wings on their backs. Usually, these immortals fly freely in the sea and the clear sky, traveling between the five sacred mountains. Their lives are joyful and content.

    然而,在这快乐的生活中,也有一件让他们烦恼的事情。原来这五座神山都是漂浮在大海上,下面没有生根,一遇到大风就会漂移不定。于是他们派代表向天帝诉苦,天帝于是命令海神派出十五只大乌龟,把五座神山驮起来。

    However, amidst their joyful lives, there was one issue that troubled them. The five sacred mountains were floating on the sea without any roots beneath them, causing them to drift whenever there was a strong wind. They sent a representative to complain to the Jade Emperor, who then ordered the Sea God to send fifteen great tortoises to carry the five sacred mountains.

    每座神山由一只大乌龟驮着,再由两只猴子在旁边守候,轮换六万年一次。这样一来,神山稳定了,住在山上的神仙们都欢天喜地。

    Each sacred mountain was carried by a great tortoise, with two monkeys guarding nearby. They would rotate every 60,000 years. As a result, the mountains became stable, and the immortals living on them were overjoyed.

    不料有一年,巨人国的一个巨人来到归墟。他的身子像神山一样高大,举起钓竿接二连三地从海底钓上了六只大乌龟。巨人不管三七二十一,背着乌龟便回家了。

    Unexpectedly, one year, a giant from the land of giants arrived at Guixu. His body was as tall as the sacred mountains, and he lifted a fishing rod, pulling up six great tortoises from the sea one after another. Without a second thought, the giant carried the tortoises on his back and went home.

    失去乌龟的神山被风吹走,岱舆和员峤两座神山沉到海里,住在这两座神山上的神仙们慌慌张张地搬家,带着东西在天空中飞来飞去,累得满头大汗。

    The sacred mountains, now without the tortoises, were blown away by the wind. The Daiyu and Yuankao mountains sank into the sea, and the immortals living on these two mountains hastily packed their belongings and flew frantically in the sky, exhausted and drenched in sweat.

    天帝知道了这件事情,大发雷霆,把巨人国的人身体缩短,以免他们再出去惹事。剩下的三座神山因为有大乌龟驮着,一直没有出事,至今还矗立在中国的东部沿海。

    Upon learning of this, the Jade Emperor was enraged and shortened the bodies of the giants from the land of giants to prevent them from causing any more trouble. The remaining three sacred mountains, carried by the great tortoises, have remained safe and still stand along the eastern coast of China to this day.

  • Nüwa Mends the Heavens 女娲补天

    女娲创造人类之后,许多年来平安无事,人类一直过着快乐幸福的日子。
    After Nüwa created humankind, many peaceful years passed. Humans lived happily and contentedly, enjoying a life of joy and harmony.


    不料有一年,不知道什么缘故,也许是神国出了大乱子,或者天地还不够牢固,宇宙间突然发生了一场大变动。
    Unexpectedly, one year—perhaps because turmoil broke out in the divine realm, or because heaven and earth were not yet stable—a tremendous upheaval suddenly occurred in the universe.


    半边天塌了下来,大地上也出现了横一道竖一道的黑黝黝的裂缝。
    Half the sky collapsed, and across the land appeared dark, crisscrossing裂缝 that split the earth open.


    在这场大变动中,山林燃起了熊熊大火,洪水从地底喷涌出来,波浪滔天,使大地成了海洋。
    During this catastrophe, forests burst into raging flames, floods surged up from beneath the ground, and towering waves turned the land into a vast sea.


    同时,人类还遭受到从山林大火中逃窜出来的各种恶禽猛兽的残害。
    At the same time, humans were attacked by vicious birds and ferocious beasts fleeing from the burning mountains.


    人类的处境十分艰难,他们已经无法生存下去。
    Humanity was pushed into desperate circumstances and could no longer survive on its own.


    女娲看见自己创造的人类遭遇如此可怕的大灾难,痛心极了。
    Seeing the terrible disaster that had befallen the humans she created, Nüwa was filled with deep sorrow.


    她来不及追究灾祸的起因,便亲自动手,勇敢地担负起拯救人类的重任。
    She had no time to investigate the cause of the calamity and instead took action herself, bravely shouldering the responsibility of saving humankind.


    她先在大江大河里选取许多五色石子,架起火堆,将石子熔化成胶状物。
    She first gathered many five-colored stones from great rivers, built a fire, and melted the stones into a molten, glue-like substance.


    她用这些胶状物把天上的一个个窟窿补好,远看几乎和原来的天空没有两样。
    With this molten material, she repaired the holes in the sky. From afar, the heavens looked nearly the same as before.


    她担心天空再次塌陷,便杀了一只大乌龟,砍下它的四条腿,当作擎天大柱。
    Fearing the sky might collapse again, she killed a giant turtle and cut off its four legs to serve as pillars holding up the heavens.


    她将这些柱子竖立在大地四方,把天空像帐篷一样牢牢撑起。
    She erected these pillars at the four corners of the earth, propping up the sky like a vast tent.


    从此,天空再也没有塌下来的危险了。
    From that moment on, the sky was no longer in danger of falling.


    那时,中原一带还有一条凶恶的黑龙,兴风作浪,危害人类。
    At that time, a vicious black dragon roamed the Central Plains, stirring storms and wreaking havoc on humanity.


    女娲杀死了黑龙,又驱逐了各种恶禽猛兽,使人类免受残害。
    Nüwa slew the black dragon and drove away the ferocious beasts, freeing humans from their suffering.


    接着,她把河边的蘧草烧成灰,将灰堆积起来,挡住了滔天的洪水。
    Next, she burned reeds by the riverbanks into ashes and piled them up to block the raging floods.


    这场大灾祸终于被女娲平息,人类死里逃生,得到了拯救。
    At last, the great catastrophe was quelled by Nüwa, and humankind escaped death and was saved.


    此后,大地重新焕发生机,春夏秋冬依序更替,井然有序。
    Afterward, the earth regained vitality, and the four seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—followed one another in perfect order.


    恶禽猛兽大多灭绝,幸存的也渐渐变得温顺。
    Most of the vicious beasts perished, and those that survived gradually became gentle.


    原野里长满天然的食物,人类只需付出少许劳动,便能衣食无忧。
    The plains were filled with natural food, and humans needed only a little effort to live free from hunger and worry.


    人类快乐地生活着,无忧无虑。
    Humankind lived happily, without fear or care.


    女娲见人类生活安稳,心中欣慰,又创造了一种名为“笙簧”的乐器。
    Seeing humans living in peace, Nüwa felt pleased and created a musical instrument called the shenghuang.


    这种乐器用葫芦制成,插有十三根管子,形如凤凰尾羽,能奏出清悦的乐声。
    Made from a gourd with thirteen pipes shaped like a phoenix’s tail feathers, the instrument produced clear and melodious sounds.


    她将它作为礼物赠予人类,从此人类的生活更加欢乐。
    She gifted it to humankind, and from then on, human life became even more joyful.


    女娲补好了天地,完成了一切能为人类做的事情,精疲力竭,不得不休息。
    After repairing heaven and earth and completing all she could for humanity, Nüwa was utterly exhausted and had to rest.


    所谓“休息”,也就是死亡,她像盘古一样化成了宇宙中的万物。
    This “rest” meant death; like Pangu, she transformed into many things within the universe.


    传说在大荒西方,有一片原野叫栗广之野,那里有十位神人,名为“女娲之肠”。
    Legend says that in the far western wilderness lies the Field of Liguang, where ten divine beings known as the “Intestines of Nüwa” dwell.


    他们是女娲肠子所化,横列成行,守护原野。
    They were formed from Nüwa’s intestines, lined up side by side to guard the land.


    另有一种说法认为女娲并未死,而是完成使命后乘雷车、驾飞龙升天。
    Another version of the legend claims that Nüwa did not die, but ascended to heaven in a thunder chariot drawn by flying dragons.


    在众神护送下,她登上九重天,朝见天帝,并汇报了自己的功绩。
    Escorted by gods and spirits, she rose to the Ninth Heaven, met the Heavenly Emperor, and reported her deeds.


    此后,她悄然居于天庭,从不夸耀自己的功劳。
    After that, she lived quietly in the heavenly court, never boasting of her achievements.


    她将一切归功于自然,只认为自己不过顺应天道,略尽绵薄之力。
    She attributed everything to nature, believing she had merely followed the natural order and offered only a small, humble effort.

  • Nvwa Creates Humans from Clay 女娲捏土造人

    天地开辟以后,天上有了太阳、月亮和星星,地上有了山川、草木,也有了鸟兽虫鱼,可是单单没有人类。

    After the world was formed, the sky had the sun, the moon, and the stars. The earth had mountains, rivers, plants, birds, beasts, insects, and fish—but there were no humans.


    这世间不免显得有些荒凉寂寞。不知什么时候,出现了一个神通广大的天神,叫作女娲。

    The world therefore felt desolate and lonely. At some unknown time, a powerful goddess appeared—her name was Nüwa.


    据说,她一天之中能够变化七十次。一天,女娲行走在草木丛生的原野上,看着周围的景象,感到非常孤独。

    It was said that she could transform herself seventy times in a single day. One day, while walking across a field full of plants, Nüwa looked around and felt deeply lonely.


    她觉得在天地之间,应该添一点什么东西,让世界变得生机勃勃起来。

    She thought that something should be added between heaven and earth to bring vitality and life to the world.


    走着走着,女娲有些疲倦了,便在一个池塘边蹲了下来。清澈的池水映出了她的面容和身影。

    As she walked on, Nüwa grew tired and squatted beside a pond. The clear water reflected her face and figure.


    她笑,水中的影子也笑;她假装生气,影子也随之生气。

    When she smiled, her reflection smiled back. When she pretended to be angry, the reflection also looked angry.


    女娲灵机一动:世间万物都有了,唯独没有像自己一样的生物,为什么不创造一种像自己的生命呢?

    Suddenly, an idea struck her: all kinds of creatures already existed, but none looked like herself. Why not create a being in her own image?


    想到这里,女娲从池塘边抓起一把黄泥,掺了水,照着自己的模样捏出了一个小泥娃娃。

    With this thought, Nüwa grabbed some yellow clay from the pond, mixed it with water, and shaped a small clay figure in her own likeness.


    奇怪的是,这个小泥娃娃一放到地上就活了,能四处走动。女娲非常满意,称它为“人”。

    Strangely, once the clay figure was placed on the ground, it came to life and began to walk. Nüwa was delighted and called it “human.”


    为了不让人类孤独,女娲继续用黄泥捏出了许多能说会走的小人儿。

    So that humans would not be lonely, Nüwa continued shaping many more small clay figures that could speak and walk.


    这些小人儿在她周围跳跃欢呼,使女娲感到高兴和安慰。从此,她不再感到孤独了。

    These little people danced and cheered around her, bringing her joy and comfort. From then on, she no longer felt lonely.


    女娲不停地工作,一直做到夜幕降临,星星和月亮在天空中闪烁。她靠在山崖上,稍作休息。

    Nüwa worked continuously until night fell and the stars and moon shone in the sky. She rested briefly against a cliff.


    第二天天刚亮,她又立刻起来继续创造。

    At dawn the next day, she rose at once and resumed her work.


    女娲想让这些有生命的小生物遍布大地,但大地太广阔了,她渐渐感到疲惫。

    She wished to fill the entire earth with living beings, but the land was vast, and she soon became exhausted.


    最后,她想出了一个更省力的方法。她拉下一根藤条,伸进泥潭里搅动泥浆,再向地面一挥。

    At last, she came up with a more efficient method. She pulled down a vine, dipped it into the mud, stirred it, and swung it toward the ground.


    泥点落下的地方,立刻出现了许多小人儿,和她之前捏出的泥人一模一样。

    Wherever the mud droplets fell, many small humans appeared, identical to the ones she had molded by hand.


    用这种方法造人,既简单又省力。不久,大地上布满了人类的身影。

    This method was quick and effortless. Before long, humans spread across the earth.


    虽然人类已经诞生,但女娲的工作还没有结束。

    Although humans now existed, Nüwa’s work was not yet complete.


    她想到,人终究会死亡,若每次都重新创造,未免太过麻烦。

    She realized that humans would eventually die, and recreating them each time would be too troublesome.


    于是,她把人分为男女,让他们彼此结合,繁衍后代,并自己承担养育子女的责任。

    So she divided humans into men and women, allowing them to unite, bear children, and take responsibility for raising future generations.


    从此,人类便世世代代繁衍生息,延续至今。

    From that time on, humanity multiplied generation after generation and has continued to this day.