Myths Collection

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Yu the Great Miraculously Born from the Belly of His Dead Father Gun

🐉 Chinese MythologyMount Yushan, Jiangsu, ChinaYu the Great • Gun • Emperor Yao

Following Gun's failure and execution for his inability to stop the Great Flood, his body remained miraculously preserved on Feather Mountain for three years. When his belly was finally cut open with a magical sword, his son Yu emerged as a hero destined to succeed where his father failed. Yu's birth marked the beginning of a new era of engineering and the eventual founding of the Xia Dynasty.

Emperor Shun Passing the Throne to Yu Based on Merit Rather than Blood

🐉 Chinese MythologyPuyang, Henan, ChinaEmperor Shun • Yu the Great • Gun

This legend chronicles the transition of power from the sage-king Emperor Shun to his successor Yu the Great. Recognizing that his own son lacked the character to lead, Shun chose Yu because of his tireless work in taming the Great Flood and his unmatched dedication to the people's welfare. This act established the 'shanrang' system of meritocratic succession, prioritizing virtue and skill...

Ehuang and Nüying: The Tears of the Xiang River

🐉 Chinese MythologyJunshan Island, Hunan, ChinaEhuang • Nüying • Emperor Shun

Ehuang and Nüying were the devoted wives of the legendary Emperor Shun and daughters of Emperor Yao. Following the death of their husband during a southern inspection tour, their profound grief transformed them into the goddesses of the Xiang River. Their tears fell upon the local bamboo, creating permanent purple and brown spots that characterize the 'Spotted Bamboo' found on Junshan Island...

The Grieving Sister Goddesses of the Xiang River

🐉 Chinese MythologyXiang River, Hunan, ChinaEhuang • Nüying • Emperor Shun

Ehuang and Nüying, the daughters of Emperor Yao and wives of Emperor Shun, were archetypes of devotion whose grief transformed them into the guardian spirits of the Xiang River. After the death of their husband during a southern expedition, their tears permanently stained the local bamboo, creating the famous 'spotted bamboo' of Hunan. Their story serves as a foundational myth for the Chu...

Yu the Great Passing His Own House Three Times Without Stopping to Rest

🐉 Chinese MythologyMausoleum of Yu the Great, ShaoxingYu the Great • Gun • Emperor Shun

The legend of Yu the Great depicts a heroic leader who spent thirteen years taming the catastrophic Great Flood of China. This specific story highlights his extreme dedication, as he passed his own home three times during his labors, hearing his family inside but refusing to enter until the waters were controlled.