Xirang

The Self-Growing Soil

A miraculous soil that grows of itself without end. Gun stole it to dam the Great Flood and was slain; his son Yu triumphed by dredging instead.

The Shanhaijing records: "The flood waters rose to heaven. Gun stole the Emperor's xirang, the self-growing soil, to dam the flood without awaiting orders, and the Emperor ordered Zhurong to slay him." Gun's damming failed, but his son Yu the Great controlled the waters by dredging the nine rivers — the soil remains a parable of using divine gifts wisely.