Legend has it that Fu Xi was succeeded by his sister, Nuwa, who mended the heaven. After Fu's death, the evil spirit of Fu's minister, Gong Gong, tried to overthrow Nuwa but was defeated. During his flight, Gong smashed the vault of the heaven causing the four corners of the sky to collapse and the world, with its nine regions, to split open. As a result, the sky could not stretch over everything beneath it and the earth could not carry everything on it. A great fire that could not be extinguished and an unyielding flood raged; savage beasts devoured innocent people and vicious birds preyed on the weak and elderly.

At this critical moment, Nuwa melted the rocks of five colors and used them to mend the cracks in the sky. She supported the four corners of the sky with the legs she had severed from a giant turtle. Nuwa saved the people of Jizhou by killing the black dragon and blocked the floods with the ashes of reeds. Thus, the sky was mended, its four corners lifted, the flood tamed, Jizhou pacified and harmful birds and beasts killed so the innocent people could live on the square earth under the dome of the sky. During this peaceful period, birds, beasts, insects and snakes no longer relied on their claws, teeth or poison to catch or pursue its prey.

Nuwa's deeds benefited the heaven above and the earth below. Her name was remembered by later generations.