The God Of Climbing Mountains, Yu-Er, is only one foot tall with completely human features. I think Yu-er might be mountain dwarf.
Duke Huan of Qi (685–643 b.c.e.) was on a military campaign northwards against the state of Guzhu. A little more than three miles from the Bei-er River, he stopped short and stared transfixed. He aimed his bow but drew back and dared not shoot, saying to his attendants, “Do you see that person ahead?” The attendants answered, “We see no one.”
The Duke said, “This campaign is destined to fail for I am much confused! I have just seen a person only a foot tall with completely human features. He wore a hat and his right arm was raised as he raced on a horse. This campaign is destined to fail for I am much confused! How could there be a person like this?” Guan Zhong (c. 730–645 b.c.e.) replied, “I have heard that there is a God Of Climbing Mountains, Yu-Er, who is only one foot tall with completely human features. When a hegemon arises, the God Of Climbing Mountains appears. He races on a horse to indicate the way. When he raises his arm, it means that there is a river ahead. The right arm means to turn right to cross the river.”
When they arrived at the Bei-er River, there was someone there to aid them in crossing who said, “If you cross to the left, the water’s depth will reach your hats but if you cross to the right, it is only as deep as your thighs. You can cross successfully to the right.” Duke Huan stood and bowed before Guan Zhong on his horse and said, “I am at fault for not realizing your sageliness.” Guan Zhong replied, “I have heard that a sage can know things before they appear but just now, I was only able to know this after he appeared. Your humble servant is no sage, merely someone who is able to understand the teachings of others.”
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| 登山之神：俞儿 |
桓公北伐孤竹，未至卑耳之谿十里，闟然止，瞠然視。援弓將射，引而未敢發也，謂左右曰：「見是前人乎？」左右對曰：「不見也。」公曰：「事其不濟乎？寡人大惑，今者寡人見人，長尺而人物具焉，冠右袪衣，走馬前疾，事其不濟乎？寡人大惑，豈有人若此者乎？」管仲對曰：「臣聞登山之神有俞兒者，長尺而人物具焉，霸王之君興，而登山神見，且走馬前疾，道也。袪衣，示前有水也。右袪衣，示從右方涉也。」至卑耳之谿，有贊水者，曰：「從左方涉，其深及冠，從右方涉，其深至膝。若右涉，其大濟。」桓公立拜管仲於馬前曰：「仲父之聖至若此，寡人之抵罪也久矣。」管仲對曰：「夷吾聞之，聖人先知無形。今已有形而後知之，臣非聖也，善承教也。」
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