Editing Nüwa (section)

== Iconography of Fuxi and Nüwa ==
[[File:NuwaFuxi1.JPG|thumb|Nüwa and [[Fuxi]] on the murals (rubbing depicted) of the [[Wu Liang shrines]], [[Han dynasty]] (206 BC – 220 AD)|left|upright=1.1]]The iconography of Fuxi and Nüwa vary in physical appearance depending on the time period and also shows regional differences.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Vampelj Suhadolnik| first=Nataša|date=2019-06-28|title=Transmission of Han Pictorial Motifs into the Western Periphery|url=https://revije.ff.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/8458| journal=Asian Studies|volume=7|issue=2|pages=47–86| doi=10.4312/as.2019.7.2.47-86| s2cid=198704018 |issn=2350-4226|doi-access=free}}</ref> In Chinese tomb murals and iconography, Fuxi and Nüwa generally have snake-like bodies and human face or head.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Zhang| first=Fan|date=2019-06-28| title=Chinese-Buddhist Encounter: Synthesis of Fuxi-Nüwa and the Cintamani in Early Medieval Chinese Art| url=https://revije.ff.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/8318| journal=Asian Studies| language=en|volume=7| issue=2|pages=87–111| doi=10.4312/as.2019.7.2.87-111|s2cid=198651581 |issn=2350-4226|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Nelson|first=Sarah M.| title=Shamanism and the origin of states: spirit, power, and gender in East Asia|date=2019|isbn=978-1-315-42029-5 | location=London |publisher=Routledge |oclc=1111577750}}</ref>

Nüwa is often depicted holding a [[compass]] or multiple compasses, which were a traditional Chinese symbol of a dome-like sky.<ref name=":4" /> She was also thought to be an embodiment of the stars and the sky<ref name=":4" /> or a star god.

Fuxi and Nüwa can be depicted as individual figures arranged as a symmetrical pair or they can be depicted in double figures with intertwined snake-like bodies.<ref name=":2" /> Their snake-like tails can also be depicted stretching out towards each other.<ref name=":2" />

Fuxi and Nüwa can also appear individually on separate tomb bricks.<ref name=":2" /> They generally hold or embrace the sun or moon discs containing the images of a [[Three-legged crow|bird]] (or a three-legged crow) or a toad (sometimes a hare) which are the sun and moon symbolism respectively, and/or each holding a [[try square]] or a pair of [[Compass (drawing tool)|compasses]], or holding a longevity mushroom ({{zhi|c=靈芝|p=lingzhi}}) plant.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> Fuxi and Nüwa holding the sun and the moon appears as early as the late Western Han dynasty.<ref name=":2" /> Other physical appearance variation, such as lower snake-like body shape (e.g. thick vs thin tails), depictions of legs (i.e. legs found along the snake-like body) and wings (e.g. wings with feathers which protrude from their backs as found in late Western Han Xinan ({{lang|zh|新安}}) Tomb or smaller quills found on their shoulders), and in hats and hairstyles, also exist.<ref name=":2" />

In the Luoyang regions murals dating to the late [[Han dynasty|Western Han dynasty]], Fuxi and Nüwa are generally depicted as individual figures, each one found at each side of the central ridge of tomb chambers as found in the Bu Qianqiu Tomb.<ref name=":2" /> They can also be found without intertwining tails from the stone murals of the same period.<ref name=":2" /> Since the middle of the [[Han dynasty|Eastern Han dynasty]], their tails started to intertwine.<ref name=":2" />

In the Gansu murals dating to the [[Cao Wei|Wei]] and [[Jin dynasty (266–420)|Western Jin]] period, one of the most typical features of Fuxi is the "mountain-hat" ({{zhi|c=山字形|p=Shanzixing}}) which looks like a three-peaked cap while Nüwa is depicted wearing various hairstyles characteristic of Han women.<ref name=":2" /> Both deities dressed in wide-sleeved clothing, which reflects typical [[Hanfu|Han clothing style]] also commonly depicted in Han dynasty art.<ref name=":2" /><gallery mode="nolines">
File:NuwaFuxi2.JPG|Fuxi and Nüwa
File:Nuwafuxi3.jpg
File:Fuxi and Nvwa with tower and twin dragons, China, unearthed from a cliff tomb, Alkali factory, Pengshan, Eastern Han dynasty, 25-220 AD, tomb tile - Sichuan Provincial Museum - Chengdu, China - DSC04841.jpg|Fuxi and Nüwa with tower and twin dragons, China, unearthed from a cliff tomb, Alkali factory, Pengshan, Eastern Han dynasty, 25–220 AD
File:Fuxi and Nvwa, China, collected from Chongzhou City, Sichuan, Eastern Han dynasty, 25-220 AD, tomb tile - Sichuan Provincial Museum - Chengdu, China - DSC04803.jpg|Fuxi and Nüwa holding the sun disc and moon disc respectively, Eastern Han dynasty, 25–220 AD
File:Fuxi and Nüwa. National Museum of Korea.jpg|The two conjoined figures are Fuxi and Nüwa holding a compass and a ruler respectively; a painting discovered at the Astana Graves. Burial objects in the Turpan region often display a strong Chinese influence as Chinese Han culture was introduced early in its history.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Painting of Fuxi and Nüwa {{!}} Highlights|url=https://www.museum.go.kr/site/eng/relic/represent/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.museum.go.kr%2Fsite%2Feng%2Frelic%2Frepresent%2Fview%3FrelicId%3D435|access-date=2021-12-04|website=NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KOREA}}</ref>
File:Fuxi and Nüwa. 1967 Astana Cemetery.png|Fuxi and Nüwa, 1967 Astana Cemetery
File:Fuxi and Nüwa. 1976 Astana Cemetery.jpg
</gallery>