In ancient times, devastating floods frequently ravaged the land, causing immense suffering. The ruler Yao, deeply troubled, summoned his ministers for counsel. They recommended Gun to control the waters, but Yao hesitated, warning, "Gun is too stubborn and self-willed for such a task." Only after repeated urgings from his advisors did Yao reluctantly agree.
Gun, tasked with controlling the floods, built dikes and dams to hold back the waters, but his efforts were like plugging one hole only to see another burst open—block the east, and the west would flood. After nine years of this futile struggle, the floods raged on, and Emperor Yao grew deeply frustrated.
When Emperor Yao grew old, he chose the virtuous Shun as his successor. Shun traveled south to inspect several flood control projects and, believing Gun to be incompetent, ordered him exiled to Feather Mountain. Seeing his dedicated efforts end so bitterly, Gun was filled with anguish. He urged his son Yu, "You must not fear hardship—carry on the work of taming the floods." Later, Gun fell ill from grief and died at Feather Mountain.
Yu succeeded his father's unfinished work, earning Shun's trust through exceptional ability. Learning from his father's mistakes, he switched to channeling the floodwaters instead of blocking them. Working tirelessly, he traveled constantly for thirteen years, passing his own home three times without entering, and finally tamed the great flood.
Shun was deeply impressed and chose Yu as his successor. After Shun's death, Yu ascended the throne and established China's first slave dynasty, the Xia.
At that time, people deeply revered and loved Yu, creating many myths, including one called "The Yellow Dragon Carrying the Boat."
One year, Yu the Great was on a southern inspection tour and prepared to cross the Yangtze River by boat. Unexpectedly, just as the vessel reached midstream, a massive yellow dragon emerged from the water, churning up towering waves and lifting the boat onto its back, threatening to capsize it at any moment. The passengers aboard were terrified, their faces turning pale as they screamed in panic.
Only Yu remained calm and composed, smiling as he said to the Yellow Dragon, "I am commanded by the Heavenly Emperor to benefit the people. Living, my life is entrusted to the mortal world; dying is like returning home. You need not try to frighten me—go back now!"
Seeing that Yu remained fearless in the face of danger and spoke with such reason, the Yellow Dragon quickly sank back into the water and vanished without a trace. From that day on, people held Yu in even greater reverence.
Later, people used the idiom "Five Colors Without Master" to describe an appearance of extreme panic and terror.
Source: *Huainanzi*, Chapter "Spirit Training"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "五色无主" came to describe an appearance of extreme panic and terror.