Myths and Fables: 鲧禹治水 – Gun and Yu Tame the Flood

Gun and Yu Tame the Flood

Gun and Yu Tame the Flood

A long, long time ago, a great flood covered the land. The floodwaters submerged the farmland and washed away houses. The common people had nowhere to live and nothing to eat. Everyone was suffering greatly.

Emperor Yao saw this situation and decided to find someone to control the flood. His ministers said: ‘Gun can do it.’ So Emperor Yao sent Gun to control the flood.

Gun had one method. He said: ‘When water comes, I will block it.’ He led the people to build many dams to hold back the water. But the water kept increasing, and the dams collapsed one after another. Nine years passed, and the flood was still there. Gun had failed.

The new emperor, Emperor Shun, was very angry and had Gun executed. Then he gave the task of controlling the flood to Gun’s son, Yu.

Yu stood at the edge of the floodwater and thought for a very long time. He thought: ‘My father used the blocking method and failed. Perhaps I should try a different approach.’

Yu decided not to block the water, but to channel it instead. He led the people to dig channels, cut paths through mountains, and guide the floodwater bit by bit toward the sea.

Yu worked on controlling the flood for thirteen years. During these thirteen years, he traveled across the entire land and endured many hardships. Because of his constant walking, even his toenails fell off. Three times, he passed by his own home and heard the voices of his wife and child. But he did not go in. He said to himself: ‘The flood is not yet controlled. I cannot rest.’

The first time he passed by, he heard crying inside the house. His wife was giving birth. He stopped to listen for a moment, then continued on his way.

The second time he passed by, his child could already walk and ran to the door calling: ‘Daddy! Daddy!’ Yu patted the child’s head and said: ‘Be good. Daddy still has work to do.’ Then he left.

The third time he passed by, the child had grown a bit older. The child asked: ‘Daddy, when will you come home?’ Yu looked at the child, and his eyes turned red. But he said: ‘When Daddy finishes controlling the flood, I will come back.’

Finally, after thirteen years, Yu succeeded. The floodwater was channeled to the sea, the land reappeared, and the common people could farm and build houses again. Peace returned to the land.

The people were very grateful to Yu and called him ‘Da Yu’ (Great Yu). Emperor Shun also greatly admired him and later passed the throne to him. Da Yu became one of the most respected figures in Chinese history.

People say that Gun used the blocking method and failed. Yu used the channeling method and succeeded. Blocking is not as good as channeling – this is a principle of nature, and also a principle of life.