Kuafu Chasing the Sun

Kuafu Chasing the Sun

"Kuafu Chasing the Sun" is a well-known Chinese myth that originated from the Shan Hai Jing or the Classic of Mountains and Seas. The myth tells the story of Kuafu, a giant who lived on a vast mountain in the northern wilderness. In the north, the summer was brief, and the winter was long and icebound. Every day, the sun would rise in the east and swiftly set in the west. Kuafu wished to catch the sun and prevent it from setting to bring perpetual light and warmth to the land. So Kuafu set out westwards on his quest to chase the sun. When he arrived at the valley where the sun had set, he was already exhausted and thirsty. So he drank all the water from the Yellow River and the Weihe River, but this was not enough to quench his thirst. Undeterred, he continued the chase and eventually died of thirst on his way to the northern lake. Before he died, he discarded his peach wood staff, which miraculously sprouted into a lush peach forest. The forest provided shade and shelter for travelers, and the peaches quenched their thirst.

The story embodies the ancient Chinese desire to understand nature and the unwavering determination to conquer it.

夸父追日

夸父追日是出自《山海经》的古代神话。夸父是远古时期的一位巨人，住在北方荒野的一座大山上。北方夏季短暂，冬季漫长寒冷，太阳每天从东方升起，又匆匆向西边落下。夸父希望太阳永不落下，不断地给大地带来光和热，让寒冷的北方和江南一样温暖。于是他大步朝太阳落山的方向追去。当夸父追到太阳落入山谷之际已是口干舌燥，便喝干了黄河和渭河的水，却还是没有解渴，后来在去北方大湖找水的途中不幸干渴而亡。夸父临终前抛掉手里的桃木杖，木杖落地的地方顿时生出一片茂盛的桃林并结出鲜桃，为后来追求光明的路人遮阴、解渴。

夸父追日的故事，反映了中国古代人民了解自然、战胜自然的朴素愿望和顽强精神。