According to legend, Yan Di's youngest daughter, Nu Wa, drowned while sailing in the East China Sea. Her soul turned into a bluebird and vowed to fill the East China Sea with stones. Jingwei's perseverance, good wishes and grand ambitions are all respected by people.
Later generations often use "jingwei reclamation" as a metaphor for the arduous cause of people with lofty ideals and benevolence. People sympathize with and admire Jingwei, calling it "the bird of injustice", "the bird of oath", "the bird of ambition" and "the bird of emperor", and erecting a monument on the East China Sea, which is called "the land where Jingwei swears water".
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Important Ancient Books of China in Pre-Qin Period
Shan Hai Jing: 200 miles to the north, called Pigeon Mountain. There are many trees and birds on it. It is shaped like black, with a white beak and bare feet. It is called "Jingwei" and its name is self-styled. It's Yan Di's girl, named Girl. The girl drowned while swimming in the East China Sea, so she was Jingwei. She often holds the title of Xishan Wood and Stone, so that she is trapped in the East China Sea. Out of the water, it flows eastward into the river.
200 miles further north, there is a mountain called Faduo Foshan, on which many Zheshu trees grow. There is a bird, shaped like a crow, with a pattern on its head, a white mouth and red feet. It's called Jingwei, and its cry seems to be calling its name. Legend has it that this bird is the incarnation of Yan Di's youngest daughter, named Nuwa. Once, the girl went swimming in the East China Sea, was drowned and never came back, so she became a bird. Often bite the branches and stones on the western hills to fill the East China Sea. The turbid Zhanghe River originates from Lushan Mountain and flows eastward to join the Yellow River.
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Baidu Encyclopedia-Jingwei Reclamation
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