He began his rule as emperor in 2697. His legendary reign is credited with the introduction of wooden houses, carts, boats, the bow and arrow, and writing. Huangdi himself is credited with defeating “barbarians” in a great battle somewhere in what is now Shanxi—the victory winning him the leadership of tribes throughout the Huang He (Yellow River) plain.
These guys were awesome. They loved the people and were considered highly ethical and unselfish. They also were decedents from Huan Di, the Yellow Emperor.
Yao (r. 2357–2256 b.c.e.) and Shun (r. 2255–2205 b.c.e.) are revered figures because they epitomized wisdom, humility, and unselfishness.
The canon of Yao in the Book of History cites Yao as a descendant of the Yellow Emperor and credits him with devising a calendar of 356 days to regulate agriculture, encouraging morality, establishing a rudimentary government, and above all selecting a successor unselfishly.
Okay, so this is interesting. Yao was the first to devise a calendar of 356 days. Why is that interesting? This was more than 2000 years before Christ. AND. Yao wanted a morally decided successor. He is stated to be 70 years when entered into a journey to decide on a successor.
70 years in a 365 day calendar is a very old man in the time of 2000 before Christ.
After ruling for 70 years he set about choosing a worthy successor because he thought his own son unfit and found a humble man called Shun, who was admired as a dutiful son to undeserving parents. Shun did not think himself worthy, but Yao insisted and married his two daughters to Shun to observe his behavior. Yao shared his rule with Shun for 28 years and then abdicated in favor of Shun.
After ruling for 70 years he set about choosing a worthy successor because he thought his own son unfit and found a humble man called Shun, who was admired as a dutiful son to undeserving parents. Shun did not think himself worthy, but Yao insisted and married his two daughters to Shun to observe his behavior. Yao shared his rule with Shun for 28 years and then abdicated in favor of Shun.
Women of this age are definitely chattel. So at the age of 70 Yao set out to find a successor. He found Shun and the two reigned together for 28 years. That means Yao was 98 years old when he decided to abdicate. I don't really think he abdicated, so much as retired.
Shun, according to legend, also descended from the Yellow Emperor and was a virtuous and benevolent ruler. Both Yao’s and Shun’s reigns were troubled by great floods and attempts to build dikes that did not work.
Shun then appointed an official named Yu to deal with the problem. Yu traveled the land and worked on flood control for more than a decade, succeeding because he dredged the riverbeds and channeled the water to the sea.
Shun, according to legend, also descended from the Yellow Emperor and was a virtuous and benevolent ruler. Both Yao’s and Shun’s reigns were troubled by great floods and attempts to build dikes that did not work.
Shun then appointed an official named Yu to deal with the problem. Yu traveled the land and worked on flood control for more than a decade, succeeding because he dredged the riverbeds and channeled the water to the sea.
China then and now has an enormous heritage of rivers. Some of the people in China lived in wetlands and needless to say, those Chinese cultures were eradicated because of the rise and fall of those waters during ice ages and retreats.
He worked so hard that on three occasions he passed his own house and heard his wife and children weeping in loneliness but did not go in. Such was his dedication that Shun set aside his son, made Yu his co-ruler for 17 years, and then abdicated in his favor.
Yu was also a humane and wise ruler (r. 2205– 2198 b.c.e.). Together Yao, Shun, and Yu are called the Three Sage Rulers. Yu also attempted to bypass his son and appoint the best man his successor. The people were so grateful to him that they insisted on putting his son Qi (Chi) on the throne.
Thus began the first Chinese dynasty, the Xia (Hsia) dynasty. The territory under these three rulers was centered on modern Shanxi (Shansi) Province in northern China. Later, Chinese historians idealized Yao, Shun, and Yu, extolling their reign as the golden age.
Their moral conduct became the grand themes of historical and literary writings for posterity. As a result of modern scientific methods of investigating history they have been assigned to the position of legendary figures.
He worked so hard that on three occasions he passed his own house and heard his wife and children weeping in loneliness but did not go in. Such was his dedication that Shun set aside his son, made Yu his co-ruler for 17 years, and then abdicated in his favor.
Yu was also a humane and wise ruler (r. 2205– 2198 b.c.e.). Together Yao, Shun, and Yu are called the Three Sage Rulers. Yu also attempted to bypass his son and appoint the best man his successor. The people were so grateful to him that they insisted on putting his son Qi (Chi) on the throne.
Thus began the first Chinese dynasty, the Xia (Hsia) dynasty. The territory under these three rulers was centered on modern Shanxi (Shansi) Province in northern China. Later, Chinese historians idealized Yao, Shun, and Yu, extolling their reign as the golden age.
Their moral conduct became the grand themes of historical and literary writings for posterity. As a result of modern scientific methods of investigating history they have been assigned to the position of legendary figures.
Xia dynasty was real or a myth? Xia dynasty is the first dynasty of China. It was founded in 2100 BC and ended in 1600 BC.
The map above is of the Huan Di - Yao Shun Yu the Great dynasty in yellow. The black color is an outline of China today.
All this information is to create an understanding of how China is NOT the owner of Taiwan.
So, this was the first recognizable form of governance in China which resulted in the ideology of dynasty. For every king or Emperor was a land to rule and see to benevolent intent with the people. That is very early tradition.
These guys did not sail the seven seas looking for wealth and conquest. That ideology was not a concept by these three kings/emperors.
