Yu Gong Moves the Mountains, a Chinese Myth

In ancient China, there was an old man named Yu Gong.  Yu Gong lived in a remote place and had to travel by foot to the nearest town to get supplies for his farm.  Because there were two great mountains between his home and the nearest town, Yu Gong’s journey took many hours.  One day, Yu Gong decided that he had had enough of these mountains that added much time and walking to his journey, and he set about to move the two mountains out of the way, one stone at a time.  Yu Gong’s sons and grandsons also helped him as he moved the stones.  Many people laughed at him, but Yu Gong replied, “These mountains are never going to get any bigger, but my children’s children will only increase.”  The gods were so moved by the determination of Yu Gong and his family that they helped by moving the two great mountains out of the way.  This story shows that, though a task may seem impossible, with one’s family anything is possible.  (Pic:  Annie ponders the "He Lan Mountains" during a hike.  We can see these mountains from our living room window.)