: Conversely, the earth tilted toward the southeast, causing great floods and explaining why most of the major rivers in China flow toward the East China Sea.
: The collapse of the cosmic balance unleashed torrential rains and massive floods, threatening all life on earth until the goddess Nüwa intervened to patch the heavens and restore order. Fury Gong
The destruction of Mount Buzhou led to immediate and catastrophic environmental shifts that redefined the world's geography: : Conversely, the earth tilted toward the southeast,
: The sky tilted toward the northwest, which is used to explain why the sun, moon, and stars appear to move in that direction. The legend usually begins with a fierce struggle
The legend usually begins with a fierce struggle for power between Gonggong and another high deity, often cited as , one of the legendary Five Emperors, or sometimes Zhurong , the god of fire. Gonggong, driven by pride and ambition, sought to seize control of the celestial hierarchy. Despite his immense strength and command over the waters, he was ultimately defeated by his rival. The Shattering of Mount Buzhou
Overcome by a fit of uncontrollable rage and humiliation after his loss, Gonggong committed a desperate act of defiance. He hurled his massive body against , a sacred peak that served as one of the eight celestial pillars supporting the sky. The impact was so great that the mountain shattered, causing the pillar to collapse. Cosmic Consequences
Gonggong remains a complex figure in folklore, personifying the raw, untamed, and often destructive power of water that can both sustain and annihilate life.