Dayu Controlling the Waters

The merit of Dayu’s water control lies in "channels" rather than "dams," representing the earliest awakening of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. Taking this philosophy of "dredging and channeling" as its core soul, the artwork seeks a symbolic language that transcends literal myth.

In the painting, the Yinglong (Response Dragon) coils around Dayu’s waist, visually fusing the dragon's body with the human form in a seamless unity of man and dragon. This conveys a profound metaphor—Dayu is the dragon, and the dragon is Dayu; he himself embodies the absolute power that splits mountains and opens seas. Meanwhile, the figure grasping the leisi (an ancient agricultural and ditch-digging tool) and standing proudly atop the wave-breaking spirit turtle is Tushanshi, Dayu's wife. No longer a passive waiter, she steps forward as an active companion, stabilizing the human order with a commanding aura akin to the Earth Mother. Through this reinterpretation, the artwork breaks away from the traditionally male-dominated heroic perspective, profoundly revealing the enduring and magnificent feminine power behind this ancient epic.