#jingwei

Originally Nüwa, the daughter of the Yan Emperor. In the Shanhaijing she is told as boating in the Eastern Sea when she is blown from her boat into the waters, and unable to swim back to shore she drowns. Rather than dying she is reborn into a beautiful bird called Jingwei, named after the call it makes repeatedly. She makes her perch on the West Mountain and, each day, carries twigs and rocks to throw into the Eastern Sea in a futile attempt to fill it up as revenge. From this tale comes the saying "Jingwei Tries To Fill the Sea" (Jīngwèi tián hǎi/精衛填海) meaning someone trying against impossible odds.

Pantheon: Chinese

Domain or Function: A bird who fills up the ocean with rocks and twigs, serves as a tale about impossible perseverance.

Alternate Names: Ching-wei

Character Traits: Angry or upset at the Eastern Sea and eternally determined to fill it up.

Visual Traits: Described as a bird that resembles a crow with a white beak, red feet, and patterned head.

Symbolism: Birds, rocks and twigs.