Yu the Great Altar

Yu the Great Altar

Yu the Great Altar is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Like the Yellow Emperor and the Yan Emperor, Yu the Great is a common ancestor revered by the Chinese nation. He has been deeply respected by Chinese people at home and abroad throughout history. The story of him spending thirteen years taming the floods, passing by his home three times without entering, has been passed down to this day. The history of Yu’s flood control began with the Min River. As the first person to guide the river from the source at Mount Min, he created a unique method, system, and philosophy of flood control, forming the spirit of “the highest goodness is like water,” which respects the laws of natural ecology. The flood control experience he pioneered—“guiding the river from Mount Min, and branching it eastward into the Tuo”—has influenced practices throughout history.

After Yu’s death, later generations revered him as the God of Water. Yu Temples and Yu Shrines were built across the country to worship him, mainly to commemorate his achievements in flood control and to pray for his blessings for favorable weather and stable rivers. Yu culture can be described as an integrated complex of ancient Shu and Tibetan-Qiang cultures. The elements of Yu culture, where “you are in me and I am in you,” blend and interact, creating a vibrant and mutually enriching cultural tapestry. The influence of Yu “is not only in history but also in the present.” The spirit of Yu holds rich practical significance and should be continually renewed. The cultural connotation and spiritual richness of Yu culture also lie in its ability to subtly inspire and enlighten people through cultural imagery and heritage, providing them with the “calcium” of humanistic spirit, igniting the cultural flame of striving for perfection, and thus continuously guiding people toward wisdom and nobility.

Source: Dayu Farm