[2] Yi was appointed by Shun to assist in controlling the great flood through the controlled burn use of fire to clear the land forests, overgrowth, and marshes; and, also, to provide meat to feed the workers involved in the disaster management effort: he thus became a close companion of Yu, with whom he worked closely for thirteen years in this effort.
[4] Then, after the successful struggle against the flood, and the subsequent reorganization of government, Yi was appointed Minister of Animal Husbandry.
[6] Alternately, Yi is credited by creation of the canon of laws, while his relationship to the flood quelling is not underlined.
This presentation is provided in the "Lü xing" 呂刑 chapter of the Book of Documents, where he is listed together with Yu the Great and Houji as "three princes" 三后.
According to Sima Qian, Boyi's children by a 'jade lady of the Yao' included Lian the Great and Ruomu.