Yu the Great

Yǔ (Chinese禹), surname Sì (Chinese姒), first name Wenming (Chinese文 命), or Yǔ the Great ( Chinese大禹), Xia Yǔ (Chinese夏禹), Rong Yǔ (Chinese戎 禹) was, according to legend the first emperor of the mythical Xia Dynasty. He is the sixth of the mythical Urkaiser China, which are regarded as cultural heroes and the founder of Chinese civilization and is also known as the Jade Emperor. According to tradition, Yu should have for 15 years served as chief minister of his predecessor Shun and have taken over the government as sovereign. He plays in Chinese mythology an important role, as there are numerous legends about him, of which the best known of the Flood myth, rescues in Yu the land from flooding. In this myth Yu possesses superhuman bravery and virtue, divides the country after his victory over the floods in nine regions, and is the founder of the Xia.