Nuwa is a creator deity. It is said that Nuwa existed in the beginning of the world. She felt lonely as there were no animals so she began the creation of animals and humans. On the first day she created chickens. On the second day she created dogs. On the third day she created sheep. On the fourth day she created pigs. On the fifth day she created cows. On the sixth day she created horses. On the seventh day she began creating men from yellow clay. By the Han Dynasty, she is described in literature with her husband Fuxi as the 'parents of humankind'. Paintings depicting them joined as half people - half serpent or dragon date to the Warring States period. Nuwa is also the traditional divine goddess of the Miao (Hmong) people.