Fuxi and Nuwa

Ohoe Tomb #4 (top) and #5 (bottom), 6th - 7th century, Ji'an, China

Fuxi and Nuwa are Chinese demigods and culture heroes who are associated with origin legends and the gifting of knowledge and the arts to mankind. The pair have snake-like (anguipede) lower extremities, human upper bodies, and wings. They are thought of as brother and sister, husband and wife, and Sage Kings of the first human (Chinese) society. They are associated with the moon (Nuwa) and sun (Fuxi), as seen here, and are given a Daoist philosophical interpretation as inventors of the trigram and as symbols of intertwining yin and yang.