Explanation and Answer:
Yu the Great, also known as Da Yu, was a legendary king in ancient China. He is renowned for his introduction of flood control and his establishment of the Xia dynasty, which marked the beginning of dynastic rule in China. His upright moral character is also highly praised.
One of the most famous legends about Yu the Great is his extraordinary birth. His father, Gun, was given the task of controlling a great flood. After stealing a piece of magic soil from heaven to dam the water, Gun was executed by the Lord on High (Shangdi). Three years later, Gun’s body was miraculously preserved and a son, Da Yu, was born.
Yu the Great is also known for his successful efforts at flood control. After years of strenuous labor, he managed to provide outlets to the sea through dredging, with the help of dragons, thus making the world suitable for human habitation.
Despite the significant role Yu the Great plays in Chinese history and mythology, the time period during which Yu is said to have ruled predates the oldest-known written records in China by nearly a millennium. Therefore, the historicity of Yu the Great has been a subject of debate among scholars.