Yu Rebuilds the Earth
Chinese myths originating between 2205 and 2197 BC serve as the foundation for the mythology of Yu the Great.
Yu the Great, like many demigods in antiquity, had the ability to alter his shape as needed. He had the ability to change into a person, a dragon, or a bear. Yu is credited with being the first to transmit his position as ruler to his offspring, founding the Xia dynasty, which is regarded as the first dynasty.
The Xia dynasty, however, remains a myth due to a lack of archaeological evidence. One of Yu's many legends tells of his extraordinary birth, when a man named Gun was told he could control a great flood. To dam the water, he stole a piece of magical soil from heaven.
The Shangdi, or supreme deity, was enraged with him and gave the order for his killing. Three years later, Gun's miraculously preserved body was cut open, and a son was born. He was Da Yu, and he was the one who, after many years of laborious dredging with the aid of the dragons, gave outlets to the sea, making the ground suitable for human habitation.
