Now, the Yellow Emperor, whose surname was Gongsun and given name was Xuanyuan, was a prodigy, speaking as a toddler and growing into a brilliant and studious man. During his time, the rule of Shennong had already weakened. Various warring states were mercilessly crushing the people, while Shennong was powerless to stop it. Therefore, Xuanyuan took up arms to conquer those rebellious states, and many states quickly submitted to him. However, Chiyou was the most brutal and ruthless, and no one could defeat him. The Yan Emperor also wanted to invade other states, but they all sought refuge with Xuanyuan. He cultivated virtue, organized his army, and oversaw the land, ensuring the Five Grains flourished and the people were pacified. He even surveyed the land himself and trained bears, tigers, and other ferocious beasts for his army. Finally, he fought a great battle with the Yan Emperor at Banquan. After three battles, he won.
Later, Chiyou rebelled again and did not obey the commands of the Heavenly Emperor. Huangdi led the armies of the tribal leaders to engage in a great battle with Chiyou in Zhuolu, ultimately defeating and killing him. As a result, the tribal leaders all supported Xuanyuan as the emperor, replacing the Shennong clan, who became known as Huangdi. If there were those who did not obey him, Huangdi would lead his troops to subdue them; once an area was pacified, he would move on to another. He opened mountain passes and built roads, rarely having a moment of peace. He traveled east to the sea, climbing Mount Wan and Mount Tai; west to Mount Kongtong, climbing Mount Jitou; south to the Yangtze River, climbing Mount Xiong and Mount Xiang; north to the Huanzhou region, where he carved an oath in Fushan and established a capital near Zhuolu. He frequently moved around, never settling in one place, with his army as his protection. His official titles all contained the character "Yun," such as Yunshi. He also established left and right Grand Supervisors to oversee the entire country. With peace throughout the land, spirits and deities, and the mountains and rivers themselves came to pay homage, and there were many sacrificial activities. He obtained a sacred tripod and observed the sun's shadow to calculate the calendar. He appointed wise ministers like Fenghou, Limu, Changxian, and Dahong to govern the country.
He followed the laws of the heavens and the earth, studied astronomy and geography, explored the mysteries of life and death, and solved various problems. He promoted the cultivation of various grains and plants, the domestication of birds, beasts, insects, and moths, and collected a wide variety of items such as celestial bodies, earth and water, minerals, and precious metals, working diligently and using his own wisdom and abilities. Due to the auspicious signs of the virtue of earth, people called him Huangdi. Huangdi had twenty-five sons, among whom fourteen sons founded their own clans.
Legend has it that the Yellow Emperor lived on Xuanyuan Hill and married Leizu, the daughter of the Western Ling family, as his main wife. Leizu gave birth to two sons for the Yellow Emperor, and their descendants all became rulers of the world. One was named Xuanyao, also known as Qingyang, who later lived along the Yangtze; the other was named Changyi, who lived by the Ruoshui River. Changyi married a woman named Changpu from the Shushan family, and they had a son named Gaoyang, a man of great virtue. The Yellow Emperor was buried at Qiaoshan after his death. Later, the Yellow Emperor's grandson, Changyi's son Gaoyang, succeeded to the throne, becoming Emperor Zhuanxu.
Emperor Zhuanxu, of the Gaoyang family, was the grandson of the Yellow Emperor and the son of Changyi. He was a man of quiet strength and deep wisdom, very strategic, capable, and knew how to weigh the pros and cons. He was good at cultivating talent, delegating responsibilities based on local needs, adapting to the times, following the Mandate of Heaven, drawing on spiritual beliefs to establish rituals, governing with virtue, and sincerely worshiping the heavens and the earth. His empire stretched far and wide. It reached north to Youling, south to Jiaozhi, west to Liusha, and east to Panmu. All creatures, great and small, and all within reach of the sun and moon, submitted to his rule.
Emperor Zhuanxu had a son named Qiongchan. After Zhuanxu's death, Gaoxin, the grandson of Xuanyao, succeeded to the throne, becoming Emperor Ku.
Emperor Ku, also known as Gaoxin, was the Yellow Emperor's great-grandson. His father, Jiaoji, was the son of Xuanyao, who was the Yellow Emperor's son. Neither Xuanyao nor Jiaoji ruled, but Gaoxin finally inherited the throne. Gaoxin was Zhuanxu's distant cousin.
Gaoxin, a divinely born being, showered blessings on the people, never seeking personal gain. He was intelligent and wise, with a far-reaching vision and the ability to perceive the smallest details. He followed the ways of Heaven, understood the suffering of the people, and was both compassionate and dignified, gracious and trustworthy. He was a man of great self-cultivation, and all under heaven submitted to him. He managed resources wisely, lived simply, and patiently taught his people. He revered Heaven and Earth and showed deep respect for the spirits. He had a calm demeanor, noble character, disciplined actions, and dressed simply. Emperor Ku ruled justly; his authority extended wherever the sun shone and the rain fell.
Emperor Ku married the daughter of Chenfeng, who bore Fuxun; and then he married the daughter of Juzi, who bore Zhi. After Emperor Ku's death, Zhi succeeded him. Zhi, as emperor, proved unfit to rule, and later his brother Fuxun took over, becoming Emperor Yao.
Emperor Yao, also known as Fuxun, was a truly benevolent and virtuous ruler! His compassion was as vast as the sky, and his wisdom was as deep as the divine. Being near him felt like sunshine, while from afar, he was inspiring, like gazing at the clouds. He was wealthy but not extravagant, prominent but not arrogant. Wearing simple hemp clothes, riding a red chariot, and driving white steeds, he was understated yet grand. He ruled with wisdom and compassion, bringing peace and prosperity to his people and uniting the land.
Emperor Yao appointed the Xi brothers to observe celestial phenomena and set up a calendar system to ensure that the common people could farm on time. He sent Xi Zhong to Yanggu, the place where the sun rises in the east, to track the sun's movements and determine the timing of spring plowing. When the sun was at its highest point and the Bird Stars were visible, spring had arrived. People begin to farm and birds and animals become active. He then sent Xi Shu to the south to observe the sun's movements and determine the timing of the summer solstice. When the sun was at its highest point and the Fire Stars were visible, summer had arrived. People begin to harvest and birds and animals shed their feathers. He also sent He Zhong to Meigu in the west, where the sun sets, to observe the sun's movements and determine the timing of the autumn harvest. When the sun was at its highest point and the Void Stars were visible, autumn had arrived. People begin to harvest and birds and animals grow softer coats. Finally, he sent He Shu to Youdu in the north to observe the sun's movements and determine the timing of the winter solstice. When the sun was at its highest point and the Pleiades were visible, winter had arrived. People begin to stay warm and birds and animals grow thick fur. A 366-day year with extra months to keep the seasons on track? Pretty clever! Yao also kept his officials in line, and everything ran smoothly.
Emperor Yao sighed, "Who can take on this important task and continue my work?" His son Fang Qi suggested, "My son Dan Zhu is clever and capable." Emperor Yao shook his head and said, "Ah, this child is wayward and violent, not suitable!" Emperor Yao asked again, "Who else can take on this task?" Minister Huan Dou recommended, "Although Gong Gong is a smooth talker, he is still diligent in his work and worth considering." Emperor Yao said, "Although Gong Gong is eloquent, his methods are not right. He appears respectful on the surface, but is actually careless, not suitable!" Emperor Yao sighed again, "Ah, the Four Ministers, now the floods are causing disasters, inundating the countryside, and the people are suffering. Who can control these raging floods?" The Four Ministers unanimously recommended Gun. Emperor Yao said, "Gun does not follow the rules and will bring shame on his family, not suitable!" The Four Ministers said, "Well, it's worth a try; what have we got to lose?" Emperor Yao finally listened to the advice of the Four Ministers and appointed Gun to control the floods. However, nine years passed, and Gun made no progress in controlling the floods.
Emperor Yao said, "Ah, the Four Ministers, I have been in power for seventy years. Who do you think is qualified to succeed me?" The Four Ministers replied, "We're not worthy to take the position of emperor." Emperor Yao said, "Find all my relatives, and anyone else who's been keeping a low profile!" Everyone said to Emperor Yao, "There is a man in the common people named Yu Shun, worth considering." Emperor Yao said, "Oh, I have heard of him. What do you think?" The Four Ministers replied, "He's known for his filial piety, despite having a difficult family. His father was stubborn, his mother domineering, and his brother arrogant, yet he managed to keep the peace and run a well-ordered household." Emperor Yao said, "Then let's give him a try!" So, Emperor Yao married his two daughters to Shun, observing his character. Shun treated them with the same respect he showed his own wife, and Yao was delighted.
Then Emperor Yao appointed Shun to handle state affairs. Shun managed the five essential policies in an orderly manner, with all officials performing their duties and everything in perfect order. Both inside and outside the court, visitors and nobles all showed great respect towards him. Emperor Yao then sent Shun to inspect mountains, forests, rivers, and marshes. Even when encountering storms and thunderstorms, Shun stayed calm and found his way around. Emperor Yao believed Shun to be a sage, so he summoned him and said, "You have handled state affairs for more than three years with amazing achievements. You should inherit the throne!" Shun hesitated, but Emperor Yao insisted on his decision. On the first day of the first month, Shun officially inherited the throne and held a ceremony at the ancestral temple of Emperor Yao.
As Emperor Yao grew old, he let Shun govern on behalf of the Son of Heaven to see how things would go. Shun worked diligently, governing the country, offering sacrifices to heaven and earth, inspecting the four directions, standardizing rituals and systems, enforcing rewards and punishments, establishing laws, lightening the burden of taxes, and winning the hearts of the people. Every February, he went on a tour of the east, reaching Mount Tai for sacrifices, inspecting the mountains and rivers, meeting with vassals from the east, unifying time, measurements, and standards, standardizing rituals, and establishing five levels of sacrificial offerings and corresponding penal systems. He followed a similar pattern for his southern, western, and northern tours. Upon returning from the tours, he held important sacrifices at the ancestral temple. Every five years, he went on a tour, and the vassals had to pay homage four times. Through these tours, Shun got a feel for what the people wanted, inspected officials, enforced rewards and punishments, and governed the country. He divided the country into twelve provinces, dredged rivers, established a sound legal system, meted out punishments that fit the crime, showing he believed in both good governance and strong laws. "How awe-inspiring! Only through just laws can we have peace!"
Now, that troublemaker Huandou and Gonggong spread slander. Emperor Yao found it unacceptable but still allowed Gonggong to demonstrate his abilities. Sure enough, Gonggong proved to be a real villain, causing all sorts of trouble. Later, the Four Mountains recommended Gun to control the floods. Emperor Yao had doubts, but the Four Mountains insisted on giving it a try. However, Gun's efforts to control the floods proved ineffective, and the people suffered greatly. The Sanmiao tribes in the Jianghuai and Jingzhou regions were a constant problem.
Shun went to Yao and suggested exiling Gong Gong to Youling, where he could wreak havoc on the Northern Di; Huan Dou to Chongshan, to plague the Southern Man; relocating San Miao to Sanwei to trouble the Western Rong; and executing Gun and casting him to Yushan to torment the Eastern Yi. Once he'd taken care of those four, the world finally became peaceful.
Emperor Yao ruled for seventy years, then made Shun the crown prince for twenty years before passing the power to him and retiring. Twenty-eight years after his retirement, Emperor Yao passed away. People were heartbroken, mourning Yao like they'd lost their own parents. For three years, there was no singing or dancing throughout the country; everyone was in remembrance of Emperor Yao. Knowing his son Dan Zhu was not capable of inheriting the throne, Yao passed it to Shun. It was a tough call: Shun meant peace, but Dan Zhu's ruin; Dan Zhu meant his happiness, but the world's downfall. Emperor Yao said, "I absolutely cannot let the world suffer for the benefit of one person!" So in the end, he handed the world over to Shun. After the three-year mourning period ended, Shun arranged for Dan Zhu to be south of the Yellow River. Everyone—the visiting nobles, the litigants, even the musicians—went to Shun, ignoring Dan Zhu entirely. Shun said, "This is the will of heaven!" From then on, Shun became the emperor, known in history as Emperor Shun.
Shun, whose real name was Zhonghua, was the son of Gu Sou, the grandson of Qiao Niu, the great-grandson of Ju Wang, the great-great-grandson of Jing Kang, the fifth ancestor Qiong Chan, the sixth ancestor Emperor Zhuan Xu, and Zhuan Xu's father was Chang Yi. For seven generations, from Qiong Chan to Shun, they were just regular folks.
Shun's dad, Gusou, was blind, and his mom was dead. Gusou played favorites, always siding with his new wife and son, always trying to off Shun, so Shun had to keep dodging him. Even a tiny slip-up meant punishment for Shun. However, Shun was getting more and more filial, never once complaining.
Shun was from Jizhou. He farmed in Lishan, fished in Leize, made pottery by the river, crafted stuff in Shouqiu, and toiled in the fields. His dad was stubborn, his mom was a real firecracker, and his brother Xiang was a total jerk. All three of them wanted to get rid of Shun, but Shun, who was filial to his parents and loving towards his brother, never made a mistake. Those who wanted to get rid of him never got a chance. Even when they tried to mess with him, he was always right under their noses.
When Shun was twenty years old, he became famous for his filial piety. By the time he was thirty, Emperor Yao was looking for capable men, and the four regional governors recommended Shun, saying he was suitable. So Emperor Yao married his two daughters to Shun to assess his character and let his nine sons live with Shun to test his worth. Shun lived in Gui River, and his behavior was very cautious. Emperor Yao's two daughters did not show any arrogance towards Shun's relatives because of their noble status; they were truly virtuous. Emperor Yao's nine sons also got along better and better with Shun. Shun plowed fields in Lishan, and the people of Lishan made way for him; he fished in Leize, and the people of Leize made room for him; he made pottery by the river, and the pottery was well-made. A year later, the place he lived became a village, two years later it became a town, and astonishingly, three years later it became a big city. Emperor Yao gave Shun clothes made of fine linen, a zither, built a granary for him, and gave him cattle and sheep.
But his blind old man, Gǔsǒu, still wanted to kill him. He made Shun repair the granary roof, then planned to burn it down from below. Shun used two rain hats as protection, jumped down from the granary, and escaped, luckily not dying. Later, Gǔsǒu made Shun dig a well. While Shun was digging the well, he secretly dug a hidden passage nearby. When he dug deep, Gǔsǒu and the elephant filled the well with soil, and Shun escaped from the hidden passage. Gǔsǒu and the elephant thought Shun was dead, and they were very happy. The elephant crowed, "That was my idea!" Then the elephant separated from his parents and said, "You get the cattle, sheep, and granary. Shun married the two daughters of Emperor Yao, as well as the zither; all belong to me." Then the elephant moved into Shun's palace and played Shun's zither. When Shun went to see him, the elephant looked unhappy and said, "Man, I miss Shun! It breaks my heart!" Shun replied, "Yeah, you should be celebrating!" Shun continued to be filial to Gǔsǒu and showed even more love to his brother. Therefore, Emperor Yao let Shun try to manage the five key departments and the hundred officials, and Shun managed everything in an orderly manner.
Long ago, the Gao Yang clan produced eight exceptionally talented individuals. The common people all benefited from them, and they were called the "Eight Virtuous Men." The Gao Xin clan also produced eight talented individuals, who were known as the "Eight Originals." These sixteen individuals, their achievements were passed down through the ages, and their reputation has always been good. However, during Emperor Yao's reign, he was unable to employ all of them. Emperor Shun, on the other hand, was different. He highly valued the "Eight Virtuous Men," allowing them to manage the land and be in charge of various affairs, all running smoothly and orderly. He also valued the "Eight Originals," letting them spread five virtues throughout the country: fathers should be benevolent and righteous, mothers should be kind and loving, elder brothers should be friendly, younger brothers should be respectful, and children should be filial; that's how you make a family work.
Then, let's talk about those unreliable people. Di Hongshi produced a good-for-nothing; he perverted justice and protected the wicked, and everyone calls him Hun Dun. Shao Haoshi also produced a degenerate son; he was a liar, hated honesty, and was known for his deceitful ways, and everyone calls him Qiongqi. Zhuanxushi also produced an incorrigible boy who was utterly unteachable and did not understand human language, and everyone calls him Taowu. Their descendants suffered the consequences of their actions. When it came to Emperor Yao's time, even Emperor Yao couldn't get rid of them. Jinyunshi also produced a gluttonous and corrupt official, and everyone calls him Taotie. Everyone hated him and compared him to the previous three. Later, Emperor Shun set up a banquet at the four city gates and banished these four to the far reaches of the empire to act as guardians against evil spirits. From then on, the four city gates were safe, and there were no more bad people.
When Shun went to the mountains in the south for inspection, he encountered a raging storm but did not get lost, so Emperor Yao knew that Shun was competent enough to govern the world. Emperor Yao was old, so he let Shun serve as regent to handle political affairs and inspect various places. Shun acted as regent for twenty years before Emperor Yao officially appointed him to the position. Eight years after assuming the regency, Emperor Yao passed away. After the three-year mourning period, Shun passed the throne to Yao's son Danzhu, but ultimately the world submitted to Shun. Yu, Gao Tao, Qi, Hou Ji, Bo Yi, Kui, Long, Chui, Yi, and Pengzu were all in Yao's service, though their official roles hadn't yet been defined.
Then Shun went to meet with his ancestors and discussed matters with the Four Mountains/Great Ministers, opening four gates to facilitate communication and understand the situation in all directions. Shun also ordered twelve regional governors to discuss how to emulate the virtues of Emperor Yao, and he himself based his rule on benevolence, staying away from treacherous and deceitful individuals, thus gaining the allegiance of the surrounding tribes. Shun asked the Four Mountains, "Who can work as diligently as Emperor Yao and be appointed to an official position?" Everyone said, "Bo Yu can serve as Minister of Works (responsible for public works and construction) and inherit Emperor Yao's achievements." Shun replied, "Yes, Yu, you are responsible for managing the land and water; you must work hard!" Yu thanked him and humbly suggested that Ji, Qi, and Gao Tao should be appointed. Shun agreed, saying, "Alright, let it be so."
Shun continued, "Hou Ji, the common people are beginning to suffer from hunger; you are responsible for planting various crops." He then said, "Qi, the people are not harmonious and the five social classes are restless; you will serve as Minister of Law and must diligently implement the five principles of social harmony, with tolerance as the top priority." Shun added, "Gao Tao, the barbarians are causing chaos and thieves are rampant; you will serve as Chief Justice and must enforce the five traditional punishments, establish the duration of sentences and conditions for reduction, create a hierarchical system, and specify the treatment for different levels, ensuring fairness and strictness." Shun then asked, "Who can manage my projects?" Everyone said that Chui could, so he was appointed as Gong Gong (the overseer of public works). Shun then asked, "Who can manage my mountains, forests, grass, birds, and beasts?" Everyone said that Yi could, so he was appointed as Zhen Yu (the protector of nature). Yi thanked him and humbly suggested that Zhu Hu and Xiong Pi should be appointed. Shun agreed, saying, "Alright, let it be so; work together diligently." So Yi got Zhu Hu and Xiong Pi to help him out.
Shun asked the Four Mountains again, "Who can be in charge of my Three Rites?" Everyone said Boyi could. Shun said, "Boyi, I appoint you as the Master of Rituals, and I want you to be diligent and virtuous day and night." Boyi humbly suggested that Kui and Long should be appointed instead. Shun said, "Okay, let's put Kui in charge of music, teaching the children to be upright and kind, strong but fair, simple but not haughty. His music should stir the heart and inspire hope, harmonious and resonant, a blend of perfect tones; poetry should express thoughts and emotions, singing should convey long-term aspirations, the voice should be melodious, the music harmonious, the eight tones coordinated, without conflicting with each other, so that both humans and gods can coexist harmoniously." Kui said, "Okay, I will bring harmony to all creation." Shun said, "Long, I am worried that treacherous people will confuse and disturb my subjects, so I appoint you as my trusted advisor; keep me regularly apprised, and you must be loyal and reliable." Shun said, "Now, all twenty-two of you, remember to be diligent and always carry out my orders promptly." Shun implemented a system of assessment every three years, rewarding and punishing based on the results, and a wave of construction projects spread throughout the land. Finally, Shun also quelled the rebellion of the Three Miao tribes in the north.
So, there were these twenty-two guys, and each one was an absolute legend: Gaoyao was in charge of justice, and the world was peaceful; everyone was happy as a clam. Boyi was in charge of etiquette, and things were super respectful; Chui was in charge of craftsmen, and craftsmanship was off the charts. Yi was in charge of mountains, forests, and fields, and he really tapped into those natural resources. Qi handled personnel, and everyone got along famously; Long was in charge of receiving guests, and visitors came from all over. Twelve governors managed the nine provinces, and nobody even thought about disobeying orders. However, the greatest credit must go to Yu, who tamed the mountains, cleared the rivers, conquered the floods, and brought peace to the nine provinces. Officials all paid their tributes on time, no exceptions. His kingdom stretched five thousand miles in every direction, and even the remote areas submitted. From the south to Jiaozhi, from the north to Fadi, to the west there were tribes like Xirong, Xizhi, Qusou, Di, and Qiang; to the north, there were Beishanrong, Fa, and Xishen; to the east, there were Chang and Niaoyi. The whole world submitted to the rule of Emperor Yu. Therefore, Yu held a grand celebration; the place was overflowing with treasures, and even a phoenix showed up to celebrate! That's how Yu brought about a golden age.
Emperor Shun was famous for his piety at the age of twenty. At thirty, Emperor Yao took a shine to him. By fifty, he began to help run the empire, and at fifty-eight, Emperor Yao died. Emperor Shun ascended to the throne at sixty-one. He ruled as emperor for thirty-nine years and later died during a southern tour in the wilderness of Cangwu. He was buried at Jiuyi Mountain in Jiangnan, now known as Lingling. After ascending to the throne, Emperor Shun personally led the royal entourage to pay respects to his blind father, showing great respect and filial piety. He also made his brother Xiang a prince. Unfortunately, Emperor Shun's son, Shang Jun, wasn't cut out for it, so Emperor Shun recommended Yu as his successor to the heavens. Seventeen years later, Emperor Shun died. After a three-year mourning period, Yu, supported by the nobles, ascended to the throne instead of abdicating to Emperor Yao's son. Danzhu, the son of Emperor Yao, and Shang Jun, the son of Emperor Shun, were both given territories to worship their ancestors, dressed alike, and followed the same rituals and music. They were treated as guests by the emperor, who didn't regard them as underlings, showing that he didn't dare to monopolize power. From the Yellow Emperor to Shun and Yu, although they shared the same surname, their country names were different to show off their achievements. Therefore, the Yellow Emperor's country name was Youxiong, Zhuanxu's country name was Gaoyang, Di Ku's country name was Gaoxin, Yao's country name was Taotang, and Shun's country name was Youyu. Yu established the Xia Dynasty and took the surname Si; Qi established the Shang Dynasty, also with the surname Zi; and King Wu established the Zhou Dynasty, with the surname Ji.
Sima Qian said: Many scholars mention the Five Emperors, which is remarkable. However, the "Book of Documents" only records history from Yao onwards; various schools of thought mention the Yellow Emperor, but their explanations are not very refined, and those fussy academics are embarrassed to voice them. In Confucian teachings, Zai Yu once asked about the virtues and imperial lineage of the Five Emperors, but Confucian scholars sometimes shy away from these topics. I traveled far and wide—from Kongtong Mountain in the west to Zhuolu in the north, to the seaside in the east, and to the Yangtze River and Huai River in the south. I spoke to many older folks who each recounted the deeds of the Yellow Emperor, Yao, and Shun. The customs in various regions are indeed different, but by and large, accounts closer to the original sources tend to be more trustworthy. I have read the "Spring and Autumn Annals" and "Records of the States," which elaborate on the virtues and imperial lineage of the Five Emperors, but my research is not in-depth enough, and the contents they record should all be true. There are many incomplete records in historical books, but some fragmentary accounts often appear in other texts. Without serious study, deep thinking, and understanding the meanings, it is definitely difficult to get my head around this stuff. I have compiled various explanations and selected the most reliable and elegantly phrased accounts to include at the beginning of this history. Next, I will continue to organize these materials, placing the more reliable and well-articulated records in the first chapter of this book.
