One is that people lead elephants.
Henan province is located in the middle and east of China, in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, and most of the area is south of the Yellow River, so it is named Henan. In ancient times, the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River were criss-crossed, with dense forests and many elephants, so this area was vividly described as a place where everyone led elephants. The word Yu is composed of giving and elephants, and giving refers to me. This is one of the sources of the pictographic word "Yu" and the origin of Henan's abbreviation "Yu".
Second, Yuzhou said.
According to historical records, Henan is called "Yu" for short, which originated from. After Dayu succeeded in harnessing water, the world was designated as Kyushu. Now Henan is located in Yuzhou, in the middle of Kyushu. Later, Henan was called "Zhongzhou" and "Central Plains". This is another origin of Henan's abbreviation "Yu".
The third is the theory of astronomical phenomena.
Some scholars believe that the word "Yu" has something to do with ancient humans looking up at the astronomical phenomena and making calendars to guide agricultural production. As the saying goes, "everything is great, it is the universe" and "only the sky is great", and what is great should be the sky, not the elephant. The astronomical records in Xia Ji Nian contain real records of ancient people observing images and timing. The connotation of "Yu" should be "astronomical phenomena" and should be based on "Xia Yan" and the astronomical phenomena given by nature in Dayu era. The Central Plains where the capital of Xia Dynasty is located has four distinct seasons, and it is called "Yuzhou", which shows the ideology of the ancestors of Xia Dynasty, which is another way of saying that Henan is called "Yuzhou".
The above three statements are far-fetched and unconvincing.
According to historical records and archaeological excavations, from about 5000 years ago to Shang Dynasty, most areas in the Central Plains belonged to subtropical climate. At that time, the climate was very warm and there was plenty of rain. There were not only elephants, but also rhinos and tigers and leopards. A large number of ivory products and elephant bones have been unearthed from Yin Ruins in Anyang, Henan Province. Later, due to climate change, elephants gradually disappeared in the Central Plains.
"Depression" is interpreted as "depression, happiness, annoyance, safety and comfort" in Er Ya. "Shangshu Gong Yu" said: "Yu, Shu also." It means happiness and comfort. If interpreted literally, "Yu" means relaxed and comfortable. Jade, which refers to me, is an auspicious animal in ancient times, representing auspicious meaning. In ancient times, the natural life span of elephants can reach 60 years, which is quite long compared with the ancient people with an average life span of only 20 years. Elephants live in this area of Henan, and live with human beings. They are big and long-lived. Ancient people are willing to be with elephants, which means that they live as long as elephants. Therefore, people who lived here in ancient times called it Yu, which is also a yearning for a better life.
To sum up, the reason why Henan is abbreviated as "Yu" expresses the pride of our ancestors living in the Central Plains and their yearning for a better life.