Chapter 2 Chapter 01 Looking Back at Dayu's Flood Control
Time passed slowly, and many things entered the ancient memory in the fading years.
Human cognition of the world in the early years did not find an effective way like modern times. Therefore, all things do not enter knowledge on the track of science, but are covered with strong mystery. People's interpretation of everything in the world is subjective. Imaginatively, an image of ancient human psychology is projected.Mythology has become a record of history, the subjective replaces the objective, the spirit is highlighted, and it becomes a kind of ancient history.
The Xia Dynasty, China's first dynasty from a primitive tribe to a slave society, because of the appearance of a legendary figure, Yu, and because of a great feat—controlling floods, a country appeared in the land of the East.The splendid ancient culture, because of the establishment of the country, has entered a new era of civilization history, the ancient civilization of the East, from this moment, really began.
Among the legends about Xia, the legend about Yu's flood control almost concealed a dynasty that lasted for 400 years.
The Xia Dynasty is so far away that we know very little about the history of Xia. From the perspective of archaeology, we have not found any written materials left by the Xia people.Confucius had already found it difficult to systematically sort out Xia history materials.From Qu Yuan's "Songs of Chu·Heavenly Questions", we can know that there were still serial murals about Xia Shi in the palaces of the Chu people at that time.The first half of these murals contain strong myths and legends, and some of them still retain many prehistoric legends.Until Sima Qian wrote "Historical Records" in the Western Han Dynasty, he described Xia in Volume 2 of Historical Records. Xia seemed to break away from myths and legends and was established as a letter history of the earliest dynasty in China.
The long history of human civilization is always synchronized with the long history of water conservancy.The legends of early human beings are always inseparable from the flood.In that ancient world, there were always floods, and the flood became the force to destroy the world.Water control heroes become magical figures.Yu of the Xia Dynasty appeared because of the torrential flood and the loss of life, but is he a real person?Regardless of history, mythology or folklore, he is a person who was born and lived on the earth, but his deeds cannot be done by one person. Are his deeds historical facts or legends?He has the face of a god again, is he a man or a god, or is it nothing, or something else?
There are various theories about his birthplace.As the origin of the Xia tribe, most scholars believe that the origin of the Xia tribe should be in the Yi, Luo, Ying, and Ru valley plains around Songshan Mountain in Henan, based on literature records and the analysis of archaeological data from the Longshan Culture and the Erlitou Culture in Henan; It is believed that the southern part of Shanxi was called "Xiaxu" in ancient times, and the characteristic Taosi type culture and Dongxiafeng type culture were also found here, which should be the origin of the Xia people; According to the textual research on the Bronze Ware, Yi and Xia had frequent contacts in the early Xia Dynasty, and there was a kingdom of Xia in the east, so the early Xia people should have been mainly active in the eastern Henan plain and Shandong area; ", "born in Shiniu", so it has become a theory that the ancient Xia people originated in western Sichuan.
Now the most vigorously publicized Yu's birthplace is Sichuan, and Shiniu Village in Wenchuan County, Sichuan is considered to be the hometown of Dayu.
There is an inscription on the inscription in Wenchuan County Chronicle: "Ten miles south of the county, it is named Feishaguan. On the top of the mountain is Shiniugeerping, which is said to be the birthplace of Yu." He went to Wenchuan without hesitation to find the traces of Yu, and wrote a poem: "The sand is still flying on Shiniu Mountain, and the millet is fattening on the Chierping. Where do you get the traces of Yu, and the sweaty clothes on the barren mountains."
In the 1980s, Beichuan's research on Dayu became popular.The research has developed from individual and scattered research by cultural and historical workers to organized research by the county party committee and county government; from the research on Dayu's birthplace to the research on Dayu's national spirit of hard work, selfless dedication, and benefiting the people; The study of Yu, a historical figure, developed into the study of the entire Xia culture; from the study of Dayu and the historiography of the Xia Dynasty, it developed into the study of ancient ethnology, hydraulics, geology and other disciplines.This research has expanded from Beichuan to Mianyang, Sichuan Province, and many experts and scholars from all over the country participated.The purpose of the research is very clear: to carry forward the spirit of Dayu and promote the economic and social development of Beichuan.
After several years of research, Beichuan County compiled and printed the book "Yusheng Beichuan".
On May 5, 1990, a symposium on the inspection of "Yu Sheng Shi Niu" was held in Beichuan.Experts from Sichuan expounded the basis for Yusheng Beichuan. The experts believed that Dayu was a real historical figure, the Xia Dynasty existed, and the basis for Yusheng Beichuan was sufficient; Carry out research and exchanges in a timely manner, protect the relics of Dayu, and accelerate the development and construction of Dayu's hometown.
From October 16 to 19, 1990, Mianyang and Beichuan successively held preparatory meetings for the Sichuan Provincial Dayu Research Association.More than 50 people attended the meeting, including Si Yuanyi, a professor of Harbin Medical University who is the 142nd generation grandson of Dayu, Huang Dengpei, an associate researcher at the Department of Foreign Acquisition of Beijing Library, and Chen Guanrong, director of the Cultural Management Institute of Dayu Mausoleum in Shaoxing, Zhejiang.Experts and scholars from inside and outside the province who attended the meeting used a large number of historical facts to demonstrate three issues from different angles: 1. The Xia Dynasty existed, and Dayu was a great historical figure; 2. Yu Sheng Shi Niu was in Beichuan; 3. Promote Dayu Spirituality means a lot.
In March 1992, the Research Society went to Zhengzhou, Yuzhou, Dengfeng, Yanshi, Henan, Xia County, Shanxi and other places for investigation, went to Yanshi, Erlitou Xia Culture Site and Xia County Yucheng Site for field investigation, and found that Yusheng Central Plains The statement is just a folklore, lacking historical evidence, and the local annals of various places in the Central Plains unanimously record it as "Yusheng Xiqiang Shiniu". From July 2 to 5, the first national "Dayu and Xia Culture Symposium" was held in Beichuan.
On March 23, 1989, the People's Government of Mianyang City, Sichuan Province established a municipal-level scenic spot - Dayu Hometown Scenic Spot in Shiniu Village, located in Yuli Qiang Township, Beichuan County.The total area of the scenic spot is 30 square kilometers, and it is composed of "Yuxuegou", "Historical and Cultural Ancient Town" and "Shiniu Mountain".
Yuli Qiang Township is the seat of ancient Shiquan County. It belonged to Liangzhou in the Xia Dynasty, Shiniu Village in the Zhou Dynasty, Beichuan County in the Northern Zhou Dynasty, and Shiquan County in the eighth year of Tang Zhenguan (634 AD).Here is a place with a long history, rich Qiang style, beautiful mountains and rivers, fresh air, pleasant climate and simple folk customs.Especially the annual Yuwang Temple Fair and the Qiang calendar year, people gather here from all directions, crowds of people, shoulder to shoulder, to celebrate Dayu's birthday and celebrate the Qiang calendar year, dancing and singing for several days without end. In 1992, former President Yang Shangkun inscribed the banner of "Dayu's Hometown" here.
Beichuan seems to have won the authenticity of Dayu's birthplace, but other places do not agree and put forward their own reasons.
Henan, located in ancient Zhongzhou, is one of the important birthplaces of Chinese culture. In November 1977, an on-site meeting was held at the Wangchenggang site in Dengfeng County, Henan Province. In 1992, the China Yu Clan History Research Association launched a family history research. In April 1993, a meeting commemorating the 4235th anniversary of Dayu's death was also organized.And got in touch with the Flower Tree Association of the Yu Clan in Danyang, South Korea. Yu Dakui, the president of the Danyang Yu Clan Flower Tree Association in Korea, sent Yu Rongjun, the director-general, to Zhengzhou in 1993 to contact the China Yu Clan History Research Association, and the history of the Yu Clan in China The Research Association sent Mr. Yu Huaxing to South Korea to pay a visit to Mr. Yu Dakui.
From October 10 to 14, 1994, the Chinese Society of Pre-Qin History, the editorial department of "Central Plains Cultural Relics" and the Second Luoyang Cultural Relics Work Team jointly held the National Xia Culture Academic Seminar. More than 80 experts and scholars gathered in the ancient capital Luoyang and visited Yan The Shierlitou site and Yanshi Shangcheng site were visited and investigated, and heated discussions were held on issues such as the origin of Chinese civilization, the connotation of Xia culture, age, periodization, and the relationship between Xia and Shang culture.
In the 1980s, Jin Yizhong, Xu Zhizhong, Dong Zhiqing, and Shi Yansheng from Yuwang Village, Xia County, Shanxi Province collected and compiled historical materials of Xia Yu spontaneously.They inspected the ruins of King Yu City such as the Xialing Tomb, the Qingtai Temple of Yu Temple, and the Roulin Wine Pond, found precious cultural relics such as "Dayu Coins", found 6 inscriptions about Dayu, and sorted out the first in Shanxi Province. A manuscript on Xia Yu's historical materials, "A Brief Examination of the Capital of Yu", which includes a brief introduction to Dayu's life, the history of Xia County, the origin of Yuwang City, and the origin of Yuwang Temple, etc., and also collected and sorted out 4 articles about Dayu folk tales.
Who was Dayu's family name became an unsolvable mystery for a while.At this time, he was not considered a god, but an ordinary person with a birthplace.
Doubts about ancient times prevailed in modern times, and some scholars questioned whether there was such a person as Yu.The well-known scholar Gu Jiegang proved that Yu was a worm, which of course was criticized by historians at the time, such as Liu Yimou and others.
Another historian Ji Lianhai claimed on TV that Yu "passed through the house three times but never entered" because Yu fell in love with the woman Yaoji during the flood control process.He believed that Yao Ji dedicated the legendary "Red Treasure Book [Book of Danyu]" with the magical method of water control as a token of love to Dayu, so he confirmed that Dayu had become her husband under the custom of "walking marriage" at that time .Dayu, on the other hand, made up a story about "Wushan Goddess Yaoji" helping him control the water in order to deceive his wife, so he was ashamed to face his wife, so he went through the house three times and refused to enter.
Xie Xingpeng, director of the Yuqiang Cultural Research Institute of the Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences, denounced it as nonsense. He said that Yao Ji was the daughter of the legendary Queen Mother and belonged to a god, so she could not fall in love with Dayu who was a human being.
Perhaps, the current Dayu is far from the Dayu of the Xia Dynasty. This Dayu is a myth co-edited and created by people from all dynasties since the Xia Dynasty.Dayu is actually a mirror, and the different interpretations of Dayu reflect the spiritual mirror image of that era.Don't believe in public affairs without selfishness, don't believe in heroes, don't believe in hard work and dedication to benefit the people, isn't it the truest spiritual portrayal of the mercenary desire of some people today?
Is Dayu a god or a man?Those who argue that they are Dayu's hometown certainly say that he is a human being.But as soon as he went to the place where Dayu was active, or where he had been to control the water, he was deified again.There are relics and rumors of Xia Yu left in many parts of the country.There is Yumen in Hancheng County, Shaanxi; Yumenkou in Hejin County, Shanxi; Yuwang City Site at the foot of Zhongtiao Mountain in Xia County, Shanxi; Yuwangtai in the suburbs of Kaifeng, Henan; Yuwang Suojiao Well in Yuxian City; Yugong at the east end of Guishan Mountain in Wuhan There is a stele of King Yu on the top of Yuelu Mountain in Changsha, Hunan; there are Yu Ruins and Palace of King Yu in Huaiyuan County, Anhui; there is even a Palace of King Yu in Nanjiang County, Sichuan Province in the southwest;These relics of Dayu all over China are engraved with Dayu's great achievements and people's yearning and admiration.No one has ever been loved by the people in such a vast area like Dayu, and his influence has not faded through such a long period of time.
We all have a similar experience: folks will exaggerate and create special characters according to their own psychology and wishes in word of mouth.The transformation of man into God is probably inseparable from this psychological and collective creation.According to Guo Moruo's research in "Ancient Chinese Social Studies Xia Yu's Questions":
"1. Before the Yin and Zhou Dynasties, there should have been a pre-inhabited nation in China; 2. This pre-inhabited nation should be the Xia tribe; 3. Yu must be the god-man in the legend of the Xia nation." There is indeed a relationship between what you saw in the book, and this must be a legendary figure of the Xia nation, there is no doubt about it." Mr. Guo demonstrated Yu in a logical way, and his argument was fresh, but it was not completely convincing.
In his "Historical Records", Sima Qian called Yu Xia Yu, and he wrote him as a real person, and his name was Wen Ming.His father was Gun who failed to control the floods, and Gun's background is very precious. His father was Emperor Zhuanxu, and further pushed up, Zhuanxu's father was Changyi, and Changyi's father was the Yellow Emperor.Therefore, it can be said that Yu is the great-great-grandson of the Yellow Emperor and the grandson of Emperor Zhuanxu.Yu's grandfather Changyi and father Gun were both ministers of the emperor.
As a result, a convincing historical fact slowly unfolded, and the earliest and oldest chapter of China's water control was presented in an atmosphere rich in mythology.As the first person in Chinese history to successfully control water, Dayu is the oldest water control hero of the Chinese nation. The story of his water control is well-known, and it has not been worn out by the years for thousands of years. The halo on his head has shone on the land of China for more than 4,000 years!Water control has won him the support of all people, water control has given him the prestige of building a country, and water control has made him immortal!Turn him from a man into a god.
It can be seen that the pain caused by floods to human beings is so deep, and the flood control is so important to the common people!
The earliest memories of human beings are always full of fear and boundless imagination for nature.Both eastern and western peoples have myths and legends related to floods.In that distant world, what happened?Was the age of floods a true picture of the natural world?What kind of survival crisis did the monstrous flood bring to human beings?Human beings' fear of water will never disappear. Almost the history of human existence is the history of fighting against floods.The heroes who save the world are all sublimated from this torrential flood.
From the 21st century BC to the 16th century BC, in the Yellow River Basin, an ancient tribe united more than 10 tribes and called themselves Xia.In the period of Tang Yao and Yu Shun, a man named Yu of the Xia clan won the throne. During the four hundred years from Xia Yu to Xia Jie, only an emperor with outstanding achievements like Xia Yu was admired by all generations, and his praises were passed down forever. .
However, such a dynasty that is not recorded in writing, an ancient time that is confused with legends, some mysterious things will always be hidden in the depths of the years.No matter how we research and search, it is futile without archaeological discoveries.The so-called research we do for our own interests is all a rough patchwork of past historical materials.We don't know such a strange book, where did it come from?The first emperors like Yao and Shun left beautiful legends and endowed power with kindness.The beginning of their abdication was praised by later generations, but never reproduced.In that primitive society, their daily life was completely erased from memory.A dynasty that has been confirmed by history like the Xia Dynasty, but it is difficult to find its trace.Yu's deeds flutter like the wind on the earth, but they exceed the limit of human ability. Only the ability of God enters the spiritual world of human beings like a daydream.All of this has become a distant history in the naming of an era. Because of the absence of words, the Neolithic Age is like a ball, with only a hazy light passing by.
"The flood was raging. Gun stole the land of the emperor to fill up the flood, and did not wait for the emperor's order. The emperor ordered Zhurong to kill Gun in Yujiao, and Gun revived Yu. The emperor ordered Yu to spread the soil to fix Kyushu." ["Shan Hai Jing · Hai Nei Jing" "】
That is not the original world, but this is the world where human beings have memories, and the earliest memory of the human world points to the flood!Earthquakes, volcanoes, droughts, colds, and plagues are terrifying, but they will not cause shocking scenes. This is a display of disasters with the earth as a giant stage. Torrential floods, cross-flows in the sky, trees hanging upside down, embankments collapsing, and homes become swamps. For fish and turtles.People's fear of heaven and earth is like ants facing rivers and lakes.
How did the flood come about?Maybe the ancients would keep asking such questions in their minds, but there are no clear records in the ancient books. "Huainanzi·Benjingpian" said that it was due to Gonggong's "vibration" that "in the time of Shun, Gonggong was revitalizing the flood, and thinning the empty mulberry" ["Huainanzi·Benjingpian"].People at that time could only attribute everything to God.Gonggong is such a domineering god.
But who was Gonggong sent by?Has a world of gods been established to operate as complexly as human society, and to deduce the cause and effect of a disaster clearly?God has been born in the hearts of men.The floods flooded Kyushu just because of the wrath of the water god Gonggong?Here one must ascend to the Creator Almighty, whose sulking wrath can burn souls. "Book · Dayu Mo" has "Emperor [Shun] said: 'Come to Yu, pour water to warn you.'" The flood has been regarded as the will of heaven.Just like the Hebrew myth about the flood, it was because the Lord was saddened to see the great sin of man on the earth, so that the flood destroyed the world.According to Eastern legends, it is human greed that angered the Creator, so the flood flooded the world.Human beings find the reason in their own evil.
People's fear of the flood is far less intense than the fear of Almighty God.People always believe that the end of the world is coming. The clouds and mists rushing in the sky cannot be touched by human beings, like an unreal existence. When people look up, it becomes the curtain of the mysterious world.
"Mencius Teng Wengong 1" said: "During the time of Yao, the world was still not flat, and the flood flowed across the world. The grass and trees were luxuriant, the animals reproduced, the grains were not grown, and the animals were aggressive. The way of animals' hoofs and birds' traces, hand in hand. in China."
"Mencius Teng Wen Gong Xia" also said: "During Yao's time, the water flowed backwards and flooded China. Snakes and dragons lived in it, and the people were uncertain. The bottom was a nest, and the top was a camp."
This period is the late ice age, and the flood is a powerful force that destroys the world.This flood in the Yao and Shun era occurred after a severe drought and did not recede for 22 years.It was raining day after day, and the sky was dark.There is a vast ocean on the land, and it is almost difficult to find land. "Tangtang and floods are cut, and Huaishan and Xiangling are swaying, vast and vast" ["Shangshu·Yao Dian"].These naked people, with their faces full of sorrow and pain, are drifting in groups in the water; on the mountain, those caves are crowded with these people who have nowhere to hide; in the middle of the water, on those big trees, there are nests one by one It is a nest built by people with branches.In order to survive, animals also compete with humans for territory.
Those who can fight against the flood are beyond the abilities of ordinary people, and they are gods in the eyes of everyone.Yao then looked around for someone who could control the flood.At this time, Siyue [the ancient Siyue was not only a name of a person, but also a name of a clan, and a name of a mountain, and the four mountains refer to a name of a person] and the officials all recommended Yu's father Gun, saying that he was competent.Yao objected, saying: "He violated the mandate of heaven and ruined his clan, so he is useless." Siyue still insisted, saying: "Compared with each other, there is no one who is stronger than him among so many ministers. Why don't you let him try?" try."
After Yao hesitated, he followed Si Yue's suggestion and called Gun to ask him to be ordered to control the flood.Gun thus became the first person to stand up to control the flood.
Nine years have passed, and the floods are still rampant.At this time, Emperor Yao was looking for an heir to the throne and found Shun.Therefore, he decided to abdicate the emperor to Shun, first let him perform the duties of the emperor, and go to the four directions to inspect.On the way of inspection, Shun still saw the overflowing flood, but could not see the effect of Gun's water control.Gun took the method of blocking the water to control the water, resulting in ineffective water control. In a fit of anger, Emperor Shun killed Gun under Mount Yu.Shun's punishment of Gun won the support of the people of the world.
In the mythical version, Gun died because he did not wait for the order of the Emperor of Heaven, and stole the treasure of the Emperor of Heaven to control the flood. Hayama. "In the past, Gun disobeyed the emperor's order and killed him on Mount Yu, and turned him into a yellow dragon to enter Yuyuan." ["Guoyu·Jinyu Eight"]
"Shan Hai Jing Hai Nei Jing" records: "Gun died at the age of three and did not rot. He dissected it with a Wu knife and turned it into a yellow dragon."
The place where Gun was killed was called Mount Yu. It was in the shade of the North Pole, a place where the sun would never shine.It is said that to the south of the mountain is Yanmen, where there is a dragon named "Candle Dragon" with a human face and a body length of more than 1,000 miles.Since Pangu opened up the world, it has been entrenched here, and it always holds a candle in its mouth for lighting.The legendary Youdu is near Yushan.
After Gun was killed, because his wish to control the water was not fulfilled, his spirit persisted, so his body did not rot for three years.Moreover, new life was still being conceived in his undecomposed corpse.This is his son Yu.He is feeding this little life with his blood, heart and soul.He expects this little life to grow up and complete his unfinished business.
Yu grew in Gun's stomach, and within three years he quickly acquired supernatural power, even surpassing his father Gun.
God was horrified when he learned that Gun's body had survived for three years.He was afraid that Gun would turn into a ghost to fight against him, so he sent another god and brought a precious sword "Wu Dao", which cut Gun's body open.At this time, a horned dragon suddenly jumped out, with a pair of sharp horns growing on its head, it leaped and twisted on the ground, and flew above the clouds in the blink of an eye.This was Gun's son Yu.
Gun's corpse dissected by the god moved, shrunk into a yellow dragon, and then leaped into the abyss of feathers.This yellow dragon has no divine power anymore, it is just an ordinary dragon, and all its divine power has been passed on to his son Yu.It survived, and its only expectation was to see Yu inherit his cause, rescue people from the siege of the flood, and control the torrential flood.
What a touching God!A failed hero, after death, he still wanted to control the water and refused to give up. The corpse did not rot for three years, and he used it to breed a new life that could help him realize his wish.What kind of spirit is this?This spirit touches the world, weeping ghosts and gods!
The story of Gun and Yu in mythology is mysterious, tragic and full of drama.
What makes people suspicious is, how could a generation of virtuous monarchs be sentenced to death for failing to control the water?What's more, Gun was recommended by the ministers to control the floods.He was diligent and never slackened, but he just followed ordinary people's methods and did not find a more scientific method to execute him. Is there any calculation and struggle of power in this?What's more, Gun really only knows how to block, so stupid?
To kill such a person who is managing water for the people, and still get the support of the people?This must be because the reasons for killing him have been tampered with, or the earliest fabricated charges were fabricated. Gun was the first person in China to have grievances.Or, gaining the support of the masses is basically a lie imposed on the masses, and the facts have been distorted.Gun is a tragic figure, the first historical mystery.
Since the time of Yao in ancient times, all the tribes in the Central Plains have formed a powerful tribal alliance. The tribal alliance is led by the alliance council and is a democratic social organization.As the leader of the tribal alliance, Yao organized everyone's production, resisted natural disasters, and adjusted the relationship between the various tribes. His spirit of serving the people was sincerely supported by the people. "Yao passed away twenty-eight years after his death. The people mourned, as if they had lost their parents. For three years, there was no joy in all directions, thinking of Yao." These legends may be credible.
Both "Shangshu·Yao Dian" and "Historical Records·Benji of the Five Emperors" wrote that in his old age, Yao felt that he could not continue to be the leader of the alliance, so he held a meeting to discuss the issue of his successor.At the alliance meeting, Yao recommended Siyue instead of Shun.Siyue thought that his ability was low, and he was afraid of being entrusted with a heavy burden, so he declined the position of leader. Then everyone recommended Shun from the Youyu tribe for this position.The opinions of the people were that Shun, as Yao's deputy, had to pass various tests before he could take over. Three years later, Yao believed that "a woman's career can be achieved in three years. A woman ascends to the throne."This is the famous abdication in history.It was during this three-year probationary period that Shun killed Gun.
The truth of history is often confusing, sometimes even completely opposite.Yao's abdication has not been without objections since ancient times. It is recorded in the ancient book "Bamboo Book Chronicles" of the Warring States period: "In the last years of Yao, his virtue declined, and he was imprisoned by Shun." See my father." "Han Feizi Shuoyi" also has a record of "Shun forced Yao". "Guang Hongming Ji" quotes "Jizhong Bamboo Book": "Shun imprisoned Yao in Pingyang and took the throne." "Lu Shi Chunqiu·Xing Lun" stated another reason why Shun killed Gun: "Yao gave the world to him. Shun and Gun were vassals, and they were angry with Yao, saying: "The one who has obtained the way of heaven is the emperor, and the one who has obtained the way of the land is the Sangong. Now I have obtained the way of the earth, and I am not regarded as the Sangong." He won the Sangong. He was very angry with the beast, and wanted to think it was chaos... So Emperor Shun killed him in Yushan, and he was paired with Wu Dao."
During this period, the development of private ownership and the abdication system based on public ownership began to encounter challenges.Perhaps the struggle to usurp the throne has already begun.When the state power of the Xia Dynasty was formed, it would be unimaginable without force to usurp it.
After Shun ascended the throne, he first rectified the tribal alliance meeting and expelled some tribal leaders who had different political views from his own: "Follow Gonggong in Youzhou, release Huandou in Chongshan, flee Sanmiao in Sanwei, kill Gun in Yushan." A group of new tribal leaders were absorbed: "In the past, the Gaoyang family had eight talented men, who benefited from them in the world, and they were called 'Eight Kai'. The Gaoxin family had eight talented men, who were called 'Eight Yuan' in the world. Those of the sixteen clans benefited the world with their beauty, but their names did not fade away. As for Yao, Yao failed to raise them. Shun raised the eight Kais to make them the masters of the Houtu... eight yuans were raised to spread the Five Teachings in all directions." Shun summoned them, A division of labor was also carried out among the members of the Alliance Council.
Once, Emperor Shun asked Siyue: "Among you, who else can promote the career of Emperor Yao? I want him to take up an important position." Everyone said: "Bo Yu can make the career of Emperor Yao great if he is Sikong. "These tribal leaders elected Yu again.This time, Shun did not object, and he agreed without hesitation. He said, "Yes, good!" Then he ordered Yu, "Go and control the water and soil, and work hard to do it well!" Ministers such as Houji and Gaotao.Shun then said, "You'd better go and handle the matter I entrusted to you!"
The son of a man who was put to death due to poor water control was favored by Emperor Shun, and he was asked to undertake the unfinished mission of his father and continue to control the water. What kind of move is this?Want to kill them all?The reason behind the twists and turns is no longer known.Anyway, both Yao and Shun gained incomparable reputations.Yu then went to the rivers and lakes on the earth.
No one would have imagined that Yu would gain fame behind him because he went to the rivers and rivers on the earth.He thus became a generation of emperors.He is a real great man!He changed the social system, the way of power transfer, and established a country, and he would never kill less people, but he succeeded!Later generations praised Yu to the extent that he was not stingy with words.Sima Qian praised him in "Historical Records" for his intelligence, intelligence, wit, physical strength, ability to endure hardships and hard work, morality and law-abiding, honesty, kindness and amiability.And his way of being an official is also diligent, solemn and serious, which can be called a model for all officials.What is even more incomprehensible is that he also praised his voice and body, saying that his voice is the standard temperament, and his body is the standard scale. With his voice and body, the height of the rhythm and the length of the scale can be corrected. .This is a super singer and a super male model!At that time, people really cared about their bodies so much?Perhaps it was the set of ethical philosophy created by Confucius, who was born only after 2000, which ignored the most important foundation of life—the body.In ancient times, the body was important, much more important than the moral code!
Yu accepted the order of Emperor Shun and took office together with the two ministers Yi and Houji.It is absolutely impossible for him to control the water in such a vast land without a huge water control team. "Historical Records" only wrote one sentence: He ordered the princes and officials to mobilize the sinners who were punished for hard labor to divide the land of Kyushu.These sinners should be slaves, the captives of various tribal wars, and they became slaves. They should be huge in number. A slave society appeared during Yu's lifetime, and slaves must occupy a large proportion of the population.With such a labor force that can be used at will, Yu is naturally full of confidence.It is a pity that the labor efficiency was extremely low at that time, and there were no advanced labor tools, only stone tools were available.The Bronze Age was far behind them, as copper was hidden in stone, as untraceable and unperceived as time.
Yu crossed mountains and ridges along the way, and set up piles with trees, which were the signs of construction, and he used them to measure the appearance of mountains and rivers.Together with his assistants, he trekked across mountains and rivers, surveyed the source, upstream, and downstream of the water, and piled up some stones or felled trees in important places as marks for reference when controlling the water.
Once, when they walked to a river in Shandong, suddenly there was a strong wind, dark clouds rolled, lightning and thunder, heavy rain, and mountain torrents broke out, sweeping away many people at once.Some were drowned in the roaring flood, others lost in the tumbling currents.Dayu's disciples were frightened, so some people later called this river Tuhai River [in the area of Yucheng and Liaocheng County in Shandong Province today].
After the inspection, Dayu carefully studied various water regimes, and finally decided to use dredging methods to control the flood.Dayu personally led the disciples and the common people, and took crude stone axes, stone knives, stone shovels, wooden shovels and other tools to control the water.There is a saying that in the Kyushu designated by Dayu, more than 30,000 people in each state have invested in water control projects.They sleep in the open for picnics, wear rough clothes and light food, go in the wind and rain, get up early and stay late, and never dare to slack off.
Sima Qian wrote that Yu felt sorry for his father Gun being punished for his failure to control the floods. It is human nature that "Yu hurt his ancestors and his father Gun and failed to be punished because he worked hard and thought hard."He walked on the land his father stepped on, recalling the scenes of his life with his father, there must be uncontrollable grief.He may fear his life when he controls the water, and his father's death may be his future.This is even an impossible task, his death is so real, you can see the end when you look up.His indifference to fatigue, his hard thinking, especially the fact that he has lived outside the house for 13 years and passed by the house several times without daring to go in, may be the shadow of his father's tragic death oppressing him, making him dare not have Slack off.Therefore, Sima Qian wrote that he "lived abroad for thirteen years, and dared not enter the house".A "dare not" said how much bitterness.This is a lonely and lonely person who is doomed to abandon his family. First he lost his father, and later he was turned into a bear because he was rushing to dig a river. Finally, he scared his wife into a stone and lost her lover.He had to ask Shi Shi for a son.In order to complete this great cause of water control that no one has ever completed, he even "dedicated filial piety to ghosts and gods".
There is no intention to belittle Dayu here. His forbearance and hard work beyond ordinary people must be due to his father. "Historical Records" writes that he was frugal, living in a very simple and rudimentary way, and he used his funds to control the river, all for the success of water control, because he cannot fail!
Because Dayu traveled around all year round, he lost weight, his skin was tanned, his hands were covered with calluses, the soles of his feet were covered with blood blisters, and even the hair on his legs was polished off. Can't take care of cleaning up.The common people were all heartbroken and weeping when they saw it.
In controlling the water on such a huge land, Dayu's traces have reached such a vast area. In an era of backward transportation, Dayu must pursue his own speed. "Historical Records" writes: "Travel on land by car, travel on water by boat, travel on mud by sledge, travel on mountain by shovel." When he walked on the ground, he took a cart.It is not known what kind of car he had at that time, but it must have been faster than a person can walk.He took a boat when he walked in the water, which shows that the boat was invented at that time. The ancient history of the boat shows that the Xia Dynasty may not be as backward as we imagined, and some basic things have already appeared in life.He rides on a sled when he walks in the mud, and wears shoes with teeth when he walks on the mountain road-the sled and the shoes are enough to prove the above inference.As for science and technology, "Historical Records" provides: "Left guideline, right rule, four o'clock", he holds the guideline in his left hand, and the gauge and moment in his right hand, and is also equipped with an instrument for measuring the four o'clock and determining the direction.These are already very advanced. 4,000 years ago, if these records were true, the ancient Chinese civilization would have been very splendid.It is not a lie to be an ancient civilization.
Dayu controlled the water. In addition to dredging rivers and repairing lakes, he also engaged in development and administrative work. He is like the prime minister of a country. He works on the spot wherever he goes. Perhaps the ancient power distribution is not as modern as With such a fine division of labor, perhaps Dayu could not see what he could do and would not do it, waiting for things to drag on, ignoring them, and letting others handle them.Or he is an ambitious person who wants to govern benevolently and buy people's hearts.Or he thought of his father, who must hold power in order not to be killed.Dayu was such a person capable of handling major events, a statesman and a great man with great talent.He combined water control with governing the country and nourishing the people. While controlling floods, he also guided people to restore and develop agricultural production, promote water transportation, and rebuild their homes.Every time he governed a place, he took the initiative to unite the clan and tribal chiefs, improve the construction of the regime, and make the people live and work in peace and contentment.
After the flood receded, pieces of plains emerged from the water. He led people to build ditches in the fields, diverted water for irrigation, planted millet, millet, beans, hemp and other crops, and let people grow rice in low-lying areas.He not only achieved great success in controlling floods, but also made progress in agricultural production.Confucius once praised Yu's merits in water control and said: I can't find any shortcomings in him. His palace is simple but he didn't think of improving it.
Yu climbed to the pinnacle of power and successfully turned the abdication system into a hereditary system, and turned the loose tribal union into a country-the first dynasty in Chinese history, the first to bring China from primitive society to slavery社会，他杀戮而不留下恶名，他征税而没有引来反抗，他在治水的过程中，施展政治手腕却获得赞扬，特别是他身后美名万代传颂，他从一个人变成了一个神。这足可证明他是一个非凡的帝王。
《史记》里记述：他开发九州土地，疏导九条河道，修治九个大湖，测量九座大山。他让益给民众分发稻种，可以种植在低洼潮湿的土地上。又让后稷赈济吃粮艰难的民众。粮食匮乏时，就让一些地区把余粮调济给缺粮地区，以便使各诸侯国都能有粮食吃。禹一边行进，一边考察各地的物产情况，规定了应该向天子交纳的贡赋，并考察了各地的山川地形，以便弄清诸侯朝贡时交通是否方便。这已经是一个帝王的作为。
禹也关心百姓的疾苦。有一次，看见一个人穷得把孩子卖了，禹就把孩子赎了回来。见有的百姓没有吃的，他就让后稷把仅有的粮食分给百姓。禹穿着破烂的衣服，吃粗劣的食物，住简陋的席篷，每天亲自手持耒锸，带头干最苦最脏的活。
在这里，九州土地、九条河道、九个大湖、九座大山，九是最大数，并非实指，而是许多的意思。只有九州也许是实指，因为九州就是大禹划定的。从此，中国号称自己国土时都爱称九州。
那时的九州显然不能等同于现在的九州，九州有多大，大禹当年治水的地域就有多大。关于夏代地理，《尚书·禹贡》有详细的记载，但这是一本夏代的书，还是晚至西周才出现的书？如若是前者，“篇名以贡，纪贡制也。贡冠以禹，志禹功也”。书中所记九州、五服当是禹规划制定。导山、导水也是禹主持治理。那么，“东渐于海，西被于流沙，朔、南暨：声教讫于四海”，当是夏王朝的领土范围。如若是后者，九州当是《左传》中司马侯所说的九州。“恃险与马，而虞邻国之难，是三殆也。四岳、三涂、阳城、大室、荆山、中南，九州之险也，是不一姓。”按《夏史初探》作者郑杰祥的阐释，这里阳城、大室二山相近，荆山、中南二山相近，四岳、三涂二山也相近，这六山既为“九州之险”，弄清六山地望也就能搞清楚古代九州的大致范围，也就搞清楚了大禹治水的范围。他认为六山集中位于今河南西部伊、洛、颍、汝地区，因此，这里可能就是古代九州的中心区，大致在西起华山以东、东达豫东平原的地区。《史记·殷本纪》说：“曰：'古禹、皋陶久劳于外，其有功夫民，民乃有安。东为江，北为济，西为河，南为淮，四渎已修，万民乃有居。'”这里借商代人的口，说出了夏朝的地域，也就是大禹治水的范围。四渎应是夏王朝四方领土的大致界线。“南为淮”，今仍有淮水，发源于河南的桐柏山，东流经信阳、息县、淮滨……“西为河”，当指陕西、山西和河南三省之间的黄河。“北为济”，今有济水，发源于河南济源县，东流经温县、武陟县，南入黄河。这两条河流，那时可能都独自流入大海。“东为江”，有人认为江水当指鸿水，也即鸿沟水，古字“鸿”从“江”音。鸿沟水是古代中原的一条大水。从以上四水也可知夏代地域范围，它与六山所表明的地域大致相当。
如果此说成立，大禹治水的范围将大大缩小。
依司马迁所记，大禹治水及考察是从帝都冀州开始的。这是第一州。冀州所在，沧海桑田，早已匿迹。文章记述了冀州的土地特征，这里的土地呈现出沙一样的白，而且松软，可能是黄河的冲积区吧？因此，这样的土地是不错的，起码属于中等，即第五等。不知什么原故，这个地区从此要交第一等的赋税。
大禹在冀州先完成了壶口工程。这壶口让人想到黄河著名的壶口瀑布。但4000年前的地名能流传的又有几多？
接着，大禹又治理了梁山及其支脉。治理好了太原地区，一直到太岳山之南。修治好覃怀之后，又继续修治了衡水和漳水。
常水、卫水疏通了，大陆泽也修治完毕。
这里居住的人是东北鸟夷部族，他们出产皮衣，于是定贡品为皮衣。大禹非常关心其进贡的路线，他指给他们绕道碣石山向西，进入黄河。这是条水路，用船运送皮衣，舜帝见到了一定开心。这是大禹除治水之外向舜送去的又一大礼。
第二个州是兖。兖州在济水和黄河之间，它的土地上有九条河流流过，甚至更多，它们在雷夏这个地方蓄积成了一个大湖。其中一条雍水和一条沮水也流入了湖中。土地发黑，特别肥沃，野草疯长，高大的树木遮天蔽日，鸟类群集，鸣嘤树林与湖泊之间。但这里的田地只属中下，即第六等。因此，他们的赋税也属下下，即第九等。解除了水患，老百姓从山上搬下来，定居在平原上，在地上种上了桑，养了蚕。4000年前，这里就有了养蚕业，就能出产丝绸。这是多么了不起的事情！古代文明如此之早？什么时候丝绸就出现了？
要经过13年的整治之后，土地的出产才能和其他各州相同。沇【兖】州这一地区进贡的物品于是选择了漆和丝，还有用竹筐盛着的有花纹的锦绣。进贡时也走水路，由济水进入漯水，然后进入黄河。
青州位于大海到泰山之间，这里的土地也呈白色，却十分肥沃。但到了海滨一带，土地宽广，一望无垠，但大都是盐碱地，呈现出荒芜一片的景色。但不是盐碱地的土地属上下，即第三等，因此，青州的赋税定为中上，属第四等。
在青州堣夷平治之后，淮水、淄水也被疏通了。
第三州就是青州。青州定下的贡品是盐和细葛布，有时也进贡一些海产品，还有泰山谷地生产的丝、大麻、锡、松木、奇异的石头，莱夷地区可以放牧，所以，那里进贡畜牧产品，还有用筐盛着用来做琴弦的柞蚕丝。进贡也走水路，由汶水转入济水。
青州显然已经到了大海边，司马迁记述的大禹治水的范围早超过了上面所说的六山与四渎所阐释的范围，而是《禹贡》中的“东渐于海，西被于流沙，朔、南暨：声教讫于四海”了。这也才能解释大禹为什么会在浙江的绍兴召开庆功会，并埋葬在那里。我们总抱着落后的眼光看待古代，以为那时的社会如何原始，结果常常犯下无知的错误。长沙马王堆出土的汉墓，那些华丽的丝织品、金缕衣，现代人叹为观止，难以想象。许多古代出土的金饰，其繁复奢华，精密细腻，可用辉煌夺目来形容，毫不夸张，那种富丽堂皇，远比现代人奢侈。
《夏史初探》一书作为研究著作，作者河南人的立场十分明显。在这样一个市场经济年代，许多的学术研究都难以做到纯粹了。
大禹治水涉及到的第四个州是徐州。它在大海、泰山到淮水之间，需要治理的是淮水、沂水。这片土地呈现红色，有的地方出现五色土。泥极具黏性，草木一派森然。土质属上中，即第二等。给定的赋税则为中中，即第五等。治理好淮水、沂水后，蒙山、羽山一带都能种植作物了。为治淮水、沂水，大禹在大野开辟了一个蓄水湖，东原的水也都退去了。一个物产丰富、富饶美丽的徐州呈现在天地间。它进贡的物品也是多样的，有供天子筑坛祭天用的五色土，有羽山上的野鸡，有峄山之南产的可用于制造琴瑟的孤生桐。那时，音乐已经成为人们喜爱的精神享乐。制造琴瑟要从遥远的地方寻找孤生桐，非常讲究材质，连琴弦也从很远的地方进。贡品还有泗水之滨用浮石制的石磬，淮夷的珍珠和鱼类，还有用竹筐盛着的纤细洁净的黑白丝绸。
进贡的路线也设计好了，走水路通过淮水、泗水，然后转入黄河。黄河成了一条进贡的大河，一条朝拜的黄河，一条帝国权力抵达四面八方的经络。
第五个州便到了扬州。扬州在淮河与大海之间，这里明显地土地湿润了，出现了竹林，竹林只在靠近长江一带往南的地方才有生长，大禹已经到了长江流域。这里的竹让人想起郑板桥画的竹子，那形态瘦硬刚劲，是南方清秀的风骨。这里的扬州如果是现在的扬州，那就是郑板桥的家乡。彭蠡汇成了湖泊，松江、钱塘江、浦阳江在此入海，南归的鸿雁也在这里栖息，起起落落，在晨阳夕晖里展翅。繁茂的草木遍地疯长，已是满眼皆绿。但田地却被定为了下下，是因为还不懂得种植水稻吗？湿润的土壤种植小麦肯定是下下，属第九等，赋税也只好居下上，即第七等，有时可居第六等。毕竟靠近南方了，北方人还不习惯于南方的荒蛮，这荒蛮也许是高大的遮天蔽日的树木与连天的荒草吧。随后的几千年里，中原人都把长江以南的地区斥为“南蛮”之地、湿溽烟瘴之地。作为漫长的农业文明古国，南方的农业与北方大相径庭，一个是旱地里的种植，一个是水里的种植。司马迁写到大禹让益给民众分发稻种，种植在低洼潮湿的土地上。那时已有水稻种植，也许还不够广泛，要由益来派发稻种。但益的稻种又是从何而来呢？水稻的种植在多少年前已经开始？炎帝时期？或者更早？
震泽地区因为水患解除，也获得了安定。南方物产丰富超过了北方，扬州进贡的物品多种多样，有三色铜、瑶、琨等美玉和宝石，有竹箭，还有象牙、皮革、羽毛、旄牛尾和岛夷人穿的花草编结的服饰，有用竹筐盛着的有贝形花纹的锦缎，特别是南方才产的橘子、柚子，受到了欢迎，朝廷常常下令进贡。为防止它们腐烂，还得想办法包好。进贡的水路第一次进入长江，贡品先进入大海，再从长江进入淮河、泗水，而后进入黄河。那时的海，就挨着现今的扬州。宋朝时，在泰州建望海楼，泰州城里就可以看海，而今沧海桑田，大海已往东远远退去，望海楼已无海可观，到处是炊烟四起的平畴。夏代的统治就到达了长江流域，中国的第一个国家竟如此巨大，如庞然大物，雄踞东方。欧洲那时还是一片荒蛮之地。
第六个州是荆州，位于荆山到衡山的南面。这里属长江、汉水流域，有众多的河流湖泊，是一个水的世界，鸟的世界。沱水、涔水是大的支流，云泽、梦泽是巨大的湖，也许就是云梦泽吧，洞庭湖的古名，中国第一大淡水湖。八百里洞庭，是四千年后的水域，四千年的冲刷、淤积仍是如此浩浩荡荡，四千年前那是怎样的烟波浩渺？让沱水、涔水有自己固定的河道，这在南方也许还不太难，在北方，要让黄河有个固定的河道那如同做梦。几十年里，河床就会改变，以前的台地，变了河床，以前的河床可能有人家居住了。这与土质的黏性有关。但是，无论北方南方，固定河道的工程量却是一样的。因为土地的潮湿，南方修筑河堤的难度可能更大。
多少人多少年的奋斗，沱水、涔水疏导好了；云泽、梦泽也治理好了。大禹定下荆州的土质为下中，即第八等，赋税却定为上下，即第三等。进贡的物品琳琅满目，有羽毛、旄牛尾、象牙、皮革、三色铜，以及椿木、柘木、桧木、柏木，还有粗细磨石，可做箭头的砮石、丹砂，特别是可做箭杆的竹子箘簬和楛木，是汉水附近三个诸侯国进贡的最有名的特产，此外，还有装在匣子里的包裹着的供祭祀时滤酒用的青茅【酒在那样的时代已经盛行，但酒的浓度可能不高，酒糟与酒液混在一起，喝时还要用东西去过滤】，用竹筐盛着的彩色布帛，以及穿珠子用的丝带。朝廷有时还命令荆州进贡九江出产的大龟。这大龟不知是吃还是用于祭祀？从后来中国人对于龟的态度，极有可能是把它当做神物，进行祭祀。毕竟到了长江，进贡的水路要麻烦一些，路线经由长江、沱水、涔水、汉水，要转行一段陆路，然后再进入黄河流域的洛水，然后转入南河。
第七个州是豫州，位于荆州和黄河之间。仿佛一个顺时针旋转，又回到了北方的黄河流域。这里应该属于黄土地，土质松软肥沃，低地则是坚实的黑土，同样肥沃无比。田地属于中上，即第四等。赋税则居上中，即第二等，有时居第一等。这里靠近了夏代的核心区域，是中原文明的发源地之一，有成熟的种植技术。这是它赋税定为一、二等的原因吧。众多的河流已经被疏通了，伊水、洛水、瀍水、涧水都流入了黄河，荥播则汇成了一个湖泊，此外，荷泽也疏浚了，还修筑了明都泽的堤防。人民安居乐业，年岁风调雨顺。
进贡的物品都是中原产的漆、丝、细葛布、麻，还有用竹筐盛着的细丝絮，有时朝廷命令进贡一些制玉磬用的石头。进贡的水路也方便，经洛水便进入了黄河。
第八个州是梁州，位于华山南麓到黑水之间。这里的土质是青黑色的，不算太好，属下上，即第七等，赋税也居下中，即第八等，有时是第七等或第九等。沱水、涔水也流经梁州，它们疏通后，汶【岷】山、嶓冢山都可以耕种了，蔡山、蒙山的道路也被修好，和夷地区治水也取得了成效。
梁州的贡品有美玉、铁、银【这里的铁、银是经冶炼后的铁和银吗？也许是另有所指】，可以刻镂的硬铁、可以做箭头的砮石、可以制磬的磬石，还有熊、罴、狐狸、织皮。贡品由西戎西倾山经桓水运出，再从潜水船运，进入沔水，要走一段山路，进入渭水，最后横渡黄河到达京城。
最后一州也就是第九州雍州，位于黑水与黄河西岸之间。这是黄土高坡地带，土地一片黄褐，土质极其松软，土壤干燥而肥沃，属于上上，即第一等，赋税居中下，即第六等。
大禹领导的治水在雍州便是将弱水整治好，让它向西流；引泾水汇入渭水；引漆水、沮水汇入渭水；导沣水汇入渭水。开通荆山、岐山的道路，开通终南山、敦物山一直到鸟鼠山的道路。在高原和低谷的治理工程上也取得了成绩，一直治理到了都野泽一带。三危山这样的地方也可以住人了。三苗族看到这一切大为赞叹，他们开始顺服于禹。
雍州的贡品是美玉和美石。进贡的路线从积石山下走水路，顺流到达龙门山间的西河，会集到渭水湾里。织皮族人居住在昆仑山、析支山、渠搜山等地，他们感念大禹的功绩，与西戎各国一道归服于禹。
雍州的积石山是否就是如今的积石？这一带已到了如今的青海，是青藏高原到陇西黄土高原的交界处，黄河从西南高地向东北低地流，40公里便从雷积山的海拔4218米落到吹麻滩的海拔2230米，河流湍急可想而知。沟谷山梁的地貌一路承接了从青稞小麦到洋芋胡麻的转换。青海的孟达峡与甘肃境内的积石峡，的确峰峦突起，两山夹一水，雄关峻极，数公里的峡谷都是绝壁悬崖，刀削斧劈。开凿这样的河道如果没有神力该如何动手？
九州已定，治水大捷，大禹的影响也从九州远播八方。这浩大的治水工程，重大的项目有九条道路、九条大河和九个大湖。禹不只是治水，还开路，指导耕种，组织生产，定赋税，确定京都到达九州的水路。
禹开通的九条山脉的道路是：一条从汧山和岐山开始，一直到荆山，越过黄河；一条从壶口山、雷首山开始，一直抵达太岳山；一条从砥柱山、析城山开始，直到王屋山；一条从太行山、常山，开到了碣石山，进入海中与水路相连；一条从西倾山、朱圉山、鸟鼠山开始，一直修到太华山；一条从熊耳山、外方山、桐柏山开始，直开到负尾山；一条从嶓冢山修到荆山；一条从内方山直开到大别山；一条从汶山之南，修到衡山，越过了九江，最后到达敷浅原山。
疏导的九条大河是：把弱水疏导到合黎，弱水下游则让它流入沙漠。
疏导黑水，流经三危山，流入青海。
疏导黄河，从积石山开始，到龙门山，向南到华阴，然后东折经过砥柱山，继续向东到孟津，再向东经过洛水入河口，直到大邳；转而向北经过降水，到大陆泽，再向北分为九条河，这九条河到下游又汇合为一条，叫做逆河，最后流入大海。
从嶓冢山开始疏导漾水，向东流为汉水，再向东则为苍浪水，经过三澨水，到大别山，南折流入长江，又向东与彭蠡泽之水汇合，再向东就是北江，流入大海。
大禹治水到达了长江，第四条江就是长江，从汶山开始疏导，向东分出的支流是沱水，往东到达澧水，经过九江，抵达东陵，再向东斜行北流，与彭蠡泽之水汇合，继续向东为中江，最后流入大海。
疏导沇水，向东流为济水，流入黄河，两水相遇，聚集为荥泽，向东经过陶丘北面，继续向东到达荷泽，向东北与汶水汇合，再向北流入大海。
从桐柏山开始疏导淮水，向东与泗水、沂水汇合，再向东流入大海。
疏导渭水，从鸟鼠同穴山开始，往东与沣水汇合，又向东与泾水汇合，再往东经过漆水、沮水，流入黄河。
疏导洛水，从熊耳山开始，向东北与涧水、瀍水汇合，又向东与伊水汇合，再向东北流入黄河。
九个大湖筑起了堤防。大禹治水以疏为主，也并不排斥堵。疏是根本方法，堵是根据实际情况而用。
几乎所有的大江大河都经过了治理，主要的道路也开通了，从此九州一统，四境之内都成了可居可耕之地。九州的土地好坏也评定了等级，赋税等级也根据三种不同的土壤等级评定好了，各地都能按照规定进贡纳税，金、木、水、火、土、谷六库的物资也治理得很好。四海之内的诸侯开始来京城会盟和朝觐了。禹在华夏境内九州之中分封诸侯，赐给土地，赐给姓氏。禹告诫大家：“要虔敬地把德行放在第一位，不要违背我天子的各种措施。”这时候的禹权倾朝野，达到了巅峰。与他的父亲鲧比起来，成功与失败，犹如天壤！
这样浩大的治水工程一定倾国力而为，没有各地百姓的全体投入是很难做到的。历史记住的往往只有代表人物，只是某一个人。禹是荣幸的，时势造英雄，洪水无助中的人们，需要这个神一样的英雄。
大禹治水的故事从发生时起就开始流传，越来越变得神奇，渐渐成为神话。这寄托了后人对大禹的崇敬，也寄托了一种共同的心愿。在历朝历代的书籍里，关于大禹的传说，零零星星，像不熄的火苗，向着下一代传递，勾画出那些久远而又神奇的细节。
关于黄河龙门的开凿，在大禹凿通之前，洪水泛滥的景象在《吕氏春秋·爱类篇》是这样描述的：“昔上古龙门未开，吕梁未发，河出孟门，大溢逆流，无有丘陵、沃衍、平原、高阜，尽皆灭之，名曰鸿水。”
这也是后人想象的文字。但这样的文字却影响了历史。司马迁出生在大禹治水的关键点上——韩城。《韩城县志》写到韩城与龙门遥遥相对，“两岸皆断山绝壁，相对如门，惟神龙可越”。司马迁在《史记》的自序中写下“迁生龙门，耕牧河山之阳”。《吕氏春秋·爱类篇》中的文字他一定熟读过。韩城城南的芝川镇司马岭的土山上，仍存有司马迁祠与墓。“高山仰止”四个大字与苍松翠柏，衬出的是太史公山河巍峨一般的气概！从这里可以俯瞰龙门过后的黄河，苍苍茫茫的一派阔大。也许正是这样的气才养出了一代太史公。“迁生龙门”含有多少自得，龙门即是禹门口。
《越绝书·外传记地》有这样的记载：“禹始也忧民救水，到大越，上茅山大会计，爵有德，封有功，更名茅山曰会稽”。司马迁20岁出游就选择了江南的会稽山，上面类似的文字他也一定是读过的。在那部皇皇巨著里，他写自己20岁的出游，只谈到两个人——大禹、孔子，他“探禹穴”、“观孔子之遗风”，他的知其不可为而为之的决然，以及可为之时的坚毅，他的“欲以究天人之际，通古今之变，成一家之言”竟是在受了那样的酷刑与侮辱中完成的，这分明有两个人的影子，他们代表了司马迁的某种精神向往。
司马迁在《史记·夏本纪》写大禹时，充满了崇敬的感情。他写过大禹后，后人从此以之为蓝本，大禹的形象不再游移，他的历史地位在他的文字下钢铁般稳固。因此，2000多年前的他对大禹这个人是坚信不疑的，对龙门为大禹所开也是坚信不疑的。
一年前，我从华山北面爬上云台峰，那是一