A Study On The Archetypes Of Dayu Flood Control

The story of the Great Yu controls waters involves two opposing parts, one is "Yu", and the otheris "water." Yu is evolved from Xi, the God of Sun. The water in this story means flood and someother entities that have relationship with flood in nature, like water, rain, and river. In mythicalnarrative they are the God of Water, the God of Rain, and the God of River. The God of Water isGonggong (Gun) whose divinity is mainly related to water, sometimes also functions as theofficial of governing flood fairs. The God of Rain, Clouds and Thor have a common name–Pingyi or Fenglong. From the perspective of Phonetics, it is just consistent with the God of RiverFengyi. The father of the Great Yu is Gun. Fangfengshi is also the God of Controlling Waters. Itproves that the God of Water, the God of Rain, and the God of River are originally connected.Their names Gonggong, Fangfeng, Pingyi and Fengyi are all the results of phonetics change fromthe lodge of Kui. The image of Pingpeng and Bingfeng are pig. Kui is called Tianzhi (Pig ofHeaven). Because in ancient China, there are some old sayings like it will rain if the black pigcross the Milk way. Ancient people usually predict the rainfall by observing clouds and stars in theMilky Way. The black pig will also be attached to the God of Rain. The reason of the lodge of Kuiis named Kui probably because it is composed of sixteen stars which look like a pig. Since theGreat Yu is the Sun, the flood which caused by excessive rain is absolutely solved by sunshine.Sun and rain form two opposing sides. Such kind of concept evolved, there comes the myth theGreat Yu controls the waters, and the struggle between the Great Yu and the other Gods.In addition, the debate on where is exactly the hometown of Yu is hot in recent years. The mostpopular view is that Yu was born in Xiqiang. Qiang people today live in Wenchuan, Beichuan ofNorthern Sichuan, people consider that Yu was born in a local place called Shiniu. However, thesejudgments made by local people cannot be proved. Yu’sbirth in Xiqiang may be caused by thediffusion of culture. Yu’s birth in Shiniu is the representation of induced myth of Yu’s mother whotouched the falling stone. But why the Great Yu has some relationship with Sichuan since he wasthe central hero of the Chinese civilization which is centered in Henan and Shanxi. Maybe it isrelated to the Huangdi’s son Changyi who has a wife Shushan Shi who comes from Sichuan.