Zhi Nu

Zhi Nu is the Chinese goddess of weaving and knitting. She is known from the Chinese legend and folk-tale Cow Herder and Weaver Girl. Her parents are the Jade Emperor and The Heavenly Mother.

Story
Zhi Nu lived with her seven sisters and parents in the heavens. She was resonsible for weaving and knitting the clouds of Heaven. One day, Zhi Nu and her sisters asked their mother, The Heavenly Mother, (Chinese goddess of Heaven), if they could go down to Earth to bathe in a river, their mother had agreed. While Zhi Nu and her sisters were taking a bath, a cow herder, Niu Lang, had fallen in love with Zhi Nu, when he had encountered her in the river. The two started to become closer and closer as years passed. Sometime, they both had two children, a son and a daughter. When The Heavenly Mother had found out that Zhi Nu had became engaged with Niu Lang, enraged with fury, she had sent Zhi Nu back to the Heavens and punished her to weave colorful clouds while she had wept for her beloved husband every day. Niu Lang also overcome with grief and sorrow. wept everyday as he worked on the farm and cared for his two children.

However, one day, Niu Lang, had managed to meet with Zhi Nu again secretly, when Niu Lang's cow had died, the cow had told Niu Lang that his hide will help Niu Lang fly to the heavens to meet with Zhi Nu again. The cow had also revealed that he was an old god from Heaven that had been turned into a cow, when he had annoyed The Heavenly Mother. On their way back to Earth, Zhi Nu and Niu Lang's happy reunion had fallen when the guards of Heaven had caught Zhi Nu escaping. The Heavenly Mother removed her hairpin and created The Milky Way, as a river, to separate Zhi Nu and Niu Lang forever. Zhi Nu once again seperated from her husband, wept and wept, hoping Niu Lang will come back someday.

Zhi Nu's and Niu Lang's love bond was so strong, that it attracted a flock of magpies. The magpies carried Niu Lang and his two children in a basket to Heaven where he could meet with Zhi Nu again. The Heavenly Mother tried everything she could do of to dispose Niu Lang, but to her avail, she had failed. Unfortunately, their reunion lasted short, as the magpies began to feel tired from carrying Niu Lang, so he had returned back to Earth with his two children. On every 7 July, a flock of magpies will carry Niu Lang to Heaven to meet with Zhi Nu.

In popular Culture
Chinese Valentine's Day is always celebrated on every July 7 to honor the legend of Niu Lang and Zhi Nu. The video game, Zhi Nu One Last Chance, is based on the legend of Zhi Nu and Niu Lang.

Trivia

 * The myth of Zhi Nu and Niu Lang's is one of China's most popular legends.
 * It is also one of the most well-known love stories besides Chang'e and Hou Yi. and the Butterfly Lovers.