Why Are Flood Myths Found Worldwide? Starting with China's Tale of " Da Yu controlling the flood"

Throughout human history, nearly every ancient civilization's creation myth involves a common theme, floods. Why are these flood myths so widespread? Because early humans mostly settled near water sources, and floods and droughts were often the greatest natural disasters they had to face. In an age without modern technology, floods were almost unavoidable, and every year they could threaten lives and homes. Whether in the Yellow River Basin of China or the Nile River of Egypt, ancient rivers often brought devastating floods. While water systems provided abundant resources for early civilizations, they also posed enormous life and death challenges. Floods not only destroyed homes, but also changed the face of entire societies, becoming an undeniable nightmare in human history. Therefore, flood myths carry deep symbolic meaning. They not only represent the devastation of natural disasters, but also symbolize destruction, cleansing, and rebirth. From China's Daji, controlling the flood, to the Western Noah's Ark, and the Gilgamesh of ancient Babylon, the heroes in these myths used wisdom and courage to lead people out of disaster and into rebirth and hope. Today, we will start with the story of Daji controlling the flood and explore how these timeless flood myths have deeply influenced the development of human civilization and become part of global cultural heritage. 1. The Ubiquity of Floods A shared memory across civilizations, China's Daji controlling the flood is one of the representative flood myths. According to the legend,