A New Study On The Emerging Place Of The Legend Of Dayu’s Flood Control

Dayu legend not only contains historical factors, but also has mythical factors and legend colors. Most records about it were people’s memories in the Warring States period, and many didn’t meet the truth. With the development of archeology, scholars studied it by combining archaeological findings and documentaries, getting to the conclusions that the region of Dayu’s flood control have some different places, such as Yanzhou、Jizhou、Yuzhou、Jingzhou、Yongzhou, and so on.This article analyses the region of Dayu’s flood control, by the methods of historical geography, history, archeology, geology, toponymy, folklore, and Ruhai Lake is entry point. The pluged Lone Men lead Yi River siltation, resulting in the formation of Ruhai Lake. The flood of Dayu control came from Ruhai Lake. The flood of Ruhai Lake affected the center area of Yuzhou in summer and fall. The key of controlling flood was that people should dredge Yique and let Yi River return to the previous river. The following points can prove the existence of Ruhai Lake and Dayu’s flood control there, the reasons are as following:Literature documents on Dayu to dredge Yique and Ruhai Lake. Yi River can be turned into a tributary of the Ru River by the terrain of Yi River and Ru River. Ancient Yi River had enough water and conditions to turn into the lake. Western Henan province is the birthplace and center area of the Xia family. There are lots of rivers and lakes sedimentary facieses in Yi River and the Ru River Basin. There are widespread Dayu legend in Yi River and the Ru River Basin.In short, Literature, archeology, geology, folklore, proverbs, place names and other data can confirm each other; Dayu control flood in Western Henan province can be proved.Based on the above analysis, this article thinks that the region of Dayu’s flood control not Yumen but Yique, the cause of the incident is as follows:The Yellow River can not block at Yumenkou. Xia family originated in western Henan, rather than in southern Shanxi. The engineering of duging the Yumenkou is difficult in the Xia Dynasty. Geological movement created Yumenkou. In a word, the Dayu’s original deeds occurred in western Henan province, then spread in most areas through various forms.