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.

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 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.