Jingwei's Attempt to Fill the Sea

Jingwei's Attempt to Fill the Sea

"Jingwei's Attempt to Fill the Sea" is an ancient Chinese myth from the Shan Hai Jing. In ancient times, the Yan Emperor taught people to use fire to clear wasteland and cultivate farmland, and he became the leader respected by all tribes. One day, his youngest daughter drowned while boating on the East Sea. After her death, her spirit was transformed into a small bird that carried pebbles, grass, and twigs from the western mountains and threw them into the East Sea every day, determined to fill it up. The bird worked tirelessly while making mournful cries of "Jingwei, Jingwei", as if calling out to her former self. People named this bird "Jingwei".

The story of Jingwei bird, who was determined to fill the vast ocean with her own meager strength, reflects the spirit of perseverance of the ancient Chinese and their courage to overcome adversity.

精衛填海

精衛填海是出自《山海經》的古代神話。上古時期，炎帝教人用火燒荒，耕種田地，成為各部落共同尊奉的首領。有一天，炎帝最小的女兒女娃在東海游玩時，不幸被波濤吞沒。女娃死后，她的精魂化作了一只小鳥，每天從西山上銜來石頭和草木，投入東海，決心要把大海填平。她成年累月，往復飛翔，從不停息；一邊填海，還一邊發出“精衛、精衛”的悲鳴，好像在呼喚著從前的自己。人們便給這只鳥取名為“精衛”。

精衛鳥志在以自身微弱的力量填平大海，反映了中國古代人民鍥而不舍的精神和與命運抗爭到底的勇氣。