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女媧補天的石頭究竟是什麼
What Did Nüwa Use to Mend the Heavens?
考究《淮南子》、《列子》等古文獻，雖然都寫到女媧製煉五色石來補天，但是五色石究竟是什麼石頭？它又由那些顏色組成呢？這些問題曾被史學家與文學家認真討論一番。
有人認為石頭的五色應該跟中國五行的概念有關。再來，有人認為女媧神話源自靈石信仰，而靈石可能指的就是玉。還有一套說法認為，女媧補天的故事可能與人類開始用火有關，所以打火石、或燧石，可能就是五色石的原型。
Ancient literature including Huainanzi and Liezi mention Nüwa refining “five-colored stones” to mend the heavens. But what are these stones exactly? What are their colors? These questions have been explored by historians and literary scholars alike.
Some believe that the five colors of the stone correspond to the Chinese concept of Wuxing, or “Five Elements”. Others say the myth of Nüwa came from spiritual stone worship, and such stones were likely jade. Still others think the Nüwa story is related to humanity’s use of fire, and therefore flint may have been the predecessor to the five-colored stones.