In the Qixi legend, which star represents the weaver girl Zhinü? The answer is Vega.
In the Qixi story, Zhinü, the Weaver Girl, is represented by Vega, one of the brightest stars visible in the northern sky. Her husband, Niulang the Cowherd, is represented by Altair. The Milky Way appears between them and symbolizes the celestial river separating the lovers.
The legend says that magpies form a bridge across the Milky Way so the couple can meet once a year on Qixi. Deneb, another bright star in the same region of the sky, is sometimes associated with the symbolic bridge or nearby celestial imagery, but it does not represent Zhinü in the standard identification.
Vega is part of the constellation Lyra and forms one corner of the Summer Triangle, along with Altair in Aquila and Deneb in Cygnus. This astronomical pattern helps explain why the myth became connected to seasonal sky-watching, while the festival itself developed into a celebration of love, marriage, and feminine skill.