Myths Collection

Search by title and refine by origin, characters, tags, and sort order.

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...

Gun Stealing the Self-Expanding Soil (Xirang) from Heaven to Stop the Floods

🐉 Chinese MythologySanmenxia, Yellow River, ChinaGun (Count of Chong) • Emperor Yao • Zhurong

During the Great Flood of China, the hero Gun stole the magical self-expanding soil known as Xirang from the Heavens to dam the rising waters. Although he successfully halted the floods for a time, the Emperor of Heaven was enraged by the theft and ordered Gun's execution at Feather Mountain. From the remains of the fallen hero, his son Yu the Great was born to complete the task of taming the...

The Fire God Zhurong Executing Gun for His Heavenly Theft

🐉 Chinese MythologyMount Yushan, Jiangsu, ChinaGun • Zhurong • Jade Emperor

When the Great Flood threatened to consume the world, the hero Gun stole the magical expanding soil known as Xirang from the heavens to build dams and save humanity. This act of divine theft enraged the Jade Emperor, who dispatched the Fire God Zhurong to execute Gun on the slopes of Mount Yushan. Though Gun perished, his body remained incorruptible and eventually gave birth to his son, Yu...

Yu Transforming into a Giant Bear to Dig Through the Stubborn Mountains

🐉 Chinese MythologyMount Tu, Anhui, ChinaYu the Great

A myth detailing the efforts of Yu the Great to control the devastating floods of ancient China. In a creative retelling, he transforms into a giant bear to carve paths through the stubborn mountains of Mount Tu to allow waters to drain into the sea.

Yu Casting the Nine Tripod Cauldrons

🐉 Chinese MythologyLuoyang, Henan, ChinaYu the Great

After controlling the Great Flood, Yu the Great cast nine massive bronze tripod cauldrons to represent the nine provinces of ancient China. These vessels became sacred symbols of the Mandate of Heaven and the legitimacy of the imperial throne. They served as a physical manifestation of the unity and stability of the land under a single ruler.

Yu the Great Slaying the Venomous Nine-Headed Snake Monster Xiangliu

🐉 Chinese MythologyQilian Mountains, Gansu, ChinaYu the Great • Xiangliu

The legendary Yu the Great battles the monstrous nine-headed serpent Xiangliu, whose venom transforms fertile lands into desolate miasmas. Through strategic cunning and endurance, Yu manages to slay the beast to end the Great Flood's devastation and restore life to the earth.

Yu the Great Cleaving the Sanmenxia Gorge

🐉 Chinese MythologySanmenxia Gorge, Henan, ChinaYu the Great • The Divine Dragon • Gun

Yu the Great combats a catastrophic flood by redirecting the Yellow River. With the help of a divine dragon, he cleaves through the rocky Sanmenxia Gorge to allow the waters to flow freely to the sea.

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.