Kuafu () is a

giant In folklore, giants (from Ancient Greek: ''wiktionary:gigas, gigas'', cognate wiktionary:giga-, giga-) are beings of humanoid appearance, but are at times prodigious in size and strength or bear an otherwise notable appearance. The word ''gia ...

Chinese mythology Chinese mythology () is mythology that has been passed down in oral form or recorded in literature throughout the area now known as Greater China. Chinese mythology encompasses a diverse array of myths derived from regional and cultural tradit ...

who wished to capture the Sun. He was a grandson of

Houtu Hòutǔ () or Hòutǔshén (), also known as Hòutǔ Niángniáng (in Chinese either or ), otherwise called Dimǔ () or Dimǔ Niángniáng (), is the deity of all land and earth in Chinese religion and mythology. Houtu is the overlord of all t ...

Story

One day, Kuafu decided to chase and catch the Sun. He followed the Sun from the East to the West, draining the

Yellow River The Yellow River, also known as Huanghe, is the second-longest river in China and the List of rivers by length, sixth-longest river system on Earth, with an estimated length of and a Drainage basin, watershed of . Beginning in the Bayan H ...

and the

Wei River The Wei River () is a major river in west-central China's Gansu and Shaanxi provinces. It is the largest tributary of the Yellow River and very important in the early development of Chinese civilization. In ancient times, such as in the Records ...

(all rivers and lakes crossing his path) to quench his burning thirst. However, the big rivers were also unable to quench his thirst, and as he searched for more water, he eventually died of

dehydration In physiology, dehydration is a lack of total body water that disrupts metabolic processes. It occurs when free water loss exceeds intake, often resulting from excessive sweating, health conditions, or inadequate consumption of water. Mild deh ...

. The wooden club he was carrying grew into a vast forest of peach trees called the Deng Forest (). In one version, Kuafu turns into a mountain range. This mountain range and the peach forest are said to be located in present day Lingbao. In modern Chinese usage, the story of Kuafu chasing the Sun () is used to describe a person who is brave, overly optimistic, overestimating one's own abilities, and willing to overcome all the obstacles to reach the goal, but cannot achieve it.

Tribe

"Kuafu" can also be taken to refer to his people, the Kuafu-shi () or "Clan of Kuafu". Since "shi" can mean both "clan" and "maiden name", as well as serving as a masculine honorific like "mister" or "sir", it is sometimes used in reference to his people or the individual. During the

battle of Banquan The Battle of Banquan () took place in ancient Chinese history as recorded by Sima Qian's ''Records of the Grand Historian''. It was fought by ''Huangdi'', the Yellow Emperor, and ''Yandi'', the Flame Emperor. Background The "Battle of Banquan ...

Chi You Chiyou () is a mythological being that appears in Chinese mythology. He was a tribal leader of the Nine Li tribe () in ancient China. He is best known as a king who lost against the future Yellow Emperor during the Three Sovereigns and Five Empero ...

's tribes allied themselves with the Kuafu tribe and the ''Sanmiao'' () tribe and attacked the Yan Emperor's tribe, driving them into the lands of the Yellow Emperor.

References

*Yang, Lihui, ''et al.'' (2005). ''Handbook of Chinese Mythology''. New York: Oxford University Press.

Notes

{{Chinese mythology Chinese giants Classic of Mountains and Seas

Story

Tribe

See also

References

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