Cang Jie is a legendary figure in Chinese history, often credited as the inventor of Chinese characters. According to tradition, he was a minister during the reign of the Yellow Emperor, a mythical ruler of ancient China. Cang Jie is said to have created the first written symbols by observing the patterns of nature and the footprints of animals. His invention of writing is considered a significant milestone in Chinese culture, as it laid the foundation for communication and record-keeping. Cang Jie is often depicted with a bird on his head, symbolizing his connection to the heavens and his role in bringing knowledge to humanity.