Yu the Great (Da Yu)

Also known as Si Wenming · Xia Yu · Rong Yu · Di Yu

Yu, named Wenming, of the Si clan, is a figure of tradition whose story is told most fully in the 'Basic Annals of Xia' in the *Records of the Grand Historian* (*Shiji*), which makes him the son of Gun. That account says Gun failed after nine years of flood work and was put to death, and that Shun then appointed Yu, who toiled thirteen years without once entering his own gate. The 'Tribute of Yu' in the *Book of Documents* (*Shangshu*) uses his flood work to frame the division of the land into nine provinces with the mountains, soils and tribute of each. Yu succeeded Shun and named his state Xiahou. Tradition says he died on a tour at Kuaiji; he had chosen Yi as successor, but the lords turned to his son Qi, and the throne passed from father to son thereafter. The *Zuo Commentary* (*Zuozhuan*) says the Xia cast cauldrons from metal sent by the nine regions, the source of the Nine Cauldrons story.