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Yu Gong Moving Mountains

The Academy of Contemporary China and World StudiesUpdated:  August 30, 2024

Yu Gong Moving Mountains

The story of "Yu Gong Moving Mountains" is a ancient fable from the book Liezi. According to legend, an old man named Yu Gong lived at the foot of two great mountains in the north. The mountains blocked the way for him and his family. At the age of ninety, Yu Gong decided to lead his sons and grandsons in an attempt to remove the mountains. An old man named Zhi Sou ridiculed Yu Gong and his family, saying that it was foolish to attempt to move such large mountains with only a few people. Yu Gong replied, "Although I am old and will die, I have sons and grandsons who will continue the work, and their sons and grandsons will do the same. The mountains, on the other hand, will not grow any taller, and as we dig away a little bit at a time, why shouldn't we be able to remove them?"

Spring passed and autumn arrived, but Yu Gong's determination remained unwavering. His persistence moved the Heavenly Emperor, who sent two gods down to the earth to carry the mountains away, helping Yu Gong to realize his dream of a clear path through the mountains.

The story of Yu Gong is one about confidence and perseverance of the working people of ancient China and embodies the spirit of the Chinese nation to forge ahead in the face of difficulties and strive for success through hard work. For thousands of years, this story has circulated widely, and the spirit of Yu Gong removing the mountains has become an important symbol of traditional Chinese culture.

愚公移山

愚公移山是出自《列子》的古代寓言故事。相传北山山下住着一位名叫愚公的老人。他的家门南面有两座大山挡住了出路。在年已九十岁时,愚公下决心率领他的儿孙们上山,凿石挖土,想要挖走这两座大山。有个名叫智叟的老人讥笑愚公一家这样干太愚蠢了,认为仅凭愚公父子几人要挖掉这两座大山是完全不可能的。愚公回答说:“我虽然老了,但我死后有我的儿子,还有孙子,子子孙孙是没有穷尽的。而这两座山却不会再增高了,挖一点就会少一点,怎么会挖不平呢?”春去秋来,愚公移山的意志不变,日夜搬山不止。愚公的坚持感动了天帝,他派两个神仙下凡,背走了那两座山,帮助愚公实现了移山通路的理想。

愚公移山的故事,反映了中国古代劳动人民的信心和毅力,体现了中华民族知难而进、艰苦奋斗的精神。千百年来,愚公移山的故事广为流传,愚公移山精神成为中华优秀传统文化的重要标识。

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