Chinese Idiom: The Foolish Old Man Removes the Mountains (Yu Gong Yi Shan)

Synopsis

Yu Gong Yi Shan is a Chinese idiom meaning perseverance and determination in overcoming obstacles, from a story of an old man who decided to dig up two mountains.

The Story

The idiom The Foolish Old Man Removes the Mountains comes from Lie Zi. In ancient times, there was an old man named Yu Gong (Foolish Old Man), nearly ninety years old. Two mountains, Taihang and Wangwu, stood in front of his house, forcing him to take long detours. Yu Gong gathered his family and said: Let us work together to level these two mountains and build a straight road to the south. Everyone agreed. So Yu Gong led his descendants in digging up the mountains, carrying the earth and stones to the Bohai Sea.

A wise old man mocked him: At your age, how can you possibly move these mountains? Yu Gong replied: When I die, my sons will continue. When they die, their sons will continue. Generation after generation, there is no end. But the mountains will not grow taller. Why worry that they cannot be leveled? The Emperor of Heaven was moved by Yu Gong's sincerity and sent two gods to carry the mountains away.

Definition

References

1. Baidu Baike: Yu Gong Yi Shan
2. ZDIC: Chinese Dictionary
3. Lie Zi