When chaos first emerged, Pangu held up the heavens and stood upon the earth. His body became the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers; his vital essence formed the Five Elements, and his soul became the spirits of all living things, bringing the Pangu Continent into being. The Wu people inherited the spiritual essence of heaven and earth and forged pacts with the elements of nature. Youchao built nests from wood and made a pact with the Wood Spirit. His son, Suiren, drilled wood to make fire, awakening the Fire Spirit and opening the first chapter of civilization. Fuxi, son of the Dragon God of Leize and Huaxu, commanded the powers of wind and thunder, devised the Eight Trigrams, and taught people to fish and hunt. His younger sister, Nuwa, molded humans from clay, making a pact with the Earth Spirit and establishing the foundations of human society. Their son, Shaodian, joined the beast tribe known as the Bear Clan, ushering in an age of coexistence between humans and beasts.
The Yan Emperor tasted a hundred herbs and sowed the Five Grains. His daughter Tingyao bore Nüwa, who became Jingwei and tried to fill the sea; his daughter Ya ji transformed into the clouds and rain of Mount Wu. The Yellow Emperor married Leizu, who domesticated silkworms, and Mumu, who fashioned clothes and headdresses. His sons Shaohao and Changyi were entrusted with the Eastern Yi and Northern Di peoples. When Changyi’s son Zhuanxu took power, Gonggong of the beast tribe refused to submit. In his fury, he struck Mount Buzhou, breaking the pillar of heaven and severing the supports of the earth. Nuwa smelted five-colored stones to mend the sky, and one of the stones she left behind gave rise to legends in later generations.
