Saoqing Niang

Saoqing Niang (Chinese: 驪扫晴娘; lit. 'Cloud-Sweeping Lady' or 'Clear-Sky Maiden') a weather deity in Chinese folk religion, often invoked to sweep away clouds and bring fair weather, especially during important festivals, weddings, or farming periods. The practice of invoking Saoqing Niang is historically documented across regions of northern China, and she is often represented as a paper effigy, usually in the form of a colorfully dressed woman holding a broom.^[1] The custom is considered a form of folk weather magic and is believed to be the origin of Japan's teru teru bōzu tradition.^[2]

Origin and legend

The earliest known reference to the tradition appears in a Yuan dynasty poem by Li Junmin, which describes an image of a woman hung from the eaves of a home in hopes of clearing rain. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the practice became widespread in northern Chinese cities such as Beijing and provinces including Hebei, Shanxi, Henan, and Shandong.^[3]

Further documentation appears in Qing dynasty scholar Fucha Duncong's Seasonal Records of Yanjing (燕京歲時記, Yanjing Suishiji), which states:

"六月乃大雨時行之際。凡遇連陰不止者，則閨中兒女剪紙為人，懸於門左，謂之掃晴娘。"

(Translation): "The sixth lunar month is the season of heavy rains. Whenever prolonged cloudy weather does not cease, young girls in the inner chambers cut paper figures shaped like people and hang them to the left of the doorway, calling her 'Saoqing Niang'."

The most well-known legend associated with Saoqing Niang is centered in ancient Beijing. According to the story, one summer the city was plagued by relentless torrential rains. The flooding became severe, threatening to engulf the entire capital. As the people prayed desperately for relief, a divine voice echoed from the heavens, revealing that the disaster had been caused by the wrath of the Dragon King of the East Sea. The voice proclaimed that the rains would only cease if a beautiful maiden were sacrificed to appease him.^[4]

A young woman from the city, named Qingniang, was renowned for both her beauty and her talent in paper-cutting. Hearing the divine message, she resolved to sacrifice herself to save her people. She walked out into the storm and either disappeared into the floodwaters or was taken away by the dragon.^[4]

Immediately after her act of sacrifice, the rain stopped, and sunlight broke through the clouds. The city was saved. In recognition of her selflessness, the Jade Emperor deified her with the title Saoqing Niang, assigning her the divine duty of sweeping away rain clouds to protect the human world. To commemorate her, the people of the region began creating paper dolls in her image and would hang them up to pray for clear skies.^[4]

In certain regions, the figure equivalent to Saoqing Niang is referred to as Saotian Niangniang (掃天娘娘, "Sky-Sweeping Goddess"). The use of the honorific title Niangniang, typically reserved for goddesses, along with her depiction wearing yellow robes.^[5]

Customs

The tradition of hanging Saoqing Niang dolls is a folk custom rooted in agrarian Chinese society, where weather conditions were vital to survival and prosperity. The dolls were typically displayed under the eaves of homes during extended periods of rainfall or in anticipation of important outdoor events such as weddings, festivals, or harvests. It is hung from rooftops, eaves, or poles, usually after several days of rain, in the hope of invoking sunshine.^[6] Children and villagers may chant rhymes to accompany the ritual, such as^[7]

"扫晴娘, 扫晴娘, 三天扫晴啦, 给你穿花衣裳。三天扫不晴, 扎你的光脊梁。"

(Translation): "Saoqing Niang, Saoqing Niang, if in three days you sweep the skies clear, we'll dress you in flowered clothes; if in three days you fail, we'll pierce your bare back."

The Japanese Teru teru bōzu (てるてる坊主; 'shiny-shiny monk') is widely believed to be a tradition that originated from the Saoqing Niang custom. The practice was likely introduced to Japan from China during the Heian period (794–1185).^[4]