Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors 三皇五帝 | |||||||
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Government | Monarchy | ||||||
Emperor | |||||||
• c. 2852 – c. 2737 BC or c. 2952 – c. 2836 BC | Fuxi | ||||||
• c. 2495 – c. 2437 BC | Zhuanxu | ||||||
• c. 2436 – c. 2366 BC | Ku | ||||||
• c. 2356 – c. 2255 BC | Yao | ||||||
• c. 2355 – c. 2241 BC | Shun | ||||||
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Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors | |
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Hanyu Pinyin | Sān huáng wǔ dì |
Bopomofo | ㄙㄢ ㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄨˇ ㄉㄧˋ |
Wade–Giles | San1 Huang2 Wu3 Ti4 |
Tongyong Pinyin | San huáng wǔ dì |
Part of a series on the |
History of China |
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According to
In myth, the Three Sovereigns were demigods who used their abilities to help create mankind and impart to them essential skills and knowledge. The Five Emperors were exemplary sages who possessed great moral character, and were from a golden age when "communications between the human order and the divine were central to all life" and where the sages embodied the divine, or aided humans in communicating divine forces.[7]
In this period the abdication system was used before Qi of Xia violently seized power and established a hereditary monarchy.[8]
History
Taoist
Variations
Depending on the source, there are many variations of who classifies as the Three Sovereigns or the Five Emperors. There are six to seven known variations.[10] Many of the sources listed below were written from much later dynasties.
The following appear in different groupings of the Three Sovereigns: Fuxi, Nüwa, Shennong,
The following appear in different groupings of the Five Emperors: Yellow Emperor, Zhuanxu, Emperor Ku, Emperor Yao, Emperor Shun, Shaohao, Taihao (太昊), and the Yan Emperor.
Three Sovereigns
The Three Sovereigns, sometimes known as the Three August Ones, were said to be
They have elements in common with xian, such as the Human Sovereign's cloud-chariot and their supernatural abilities. Upon his death, the Yellow Emperor was "said to have become" a xian.[11]
The Three Sovereigns are ascribed various identities in different historical texts. The Yellow Emperor is supposedly the ancestor of the Huaxia people.[12] The Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor was established in Shaanxi to commemorate the ancestry legend.[12]
According to source | Three Sovereigns |
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Records of the Grand Historian, addition by Sima Zhen | Fu Xi , Nüwa, Shennong
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Sovereign series (帝王世系) | Fu Xi, Shennong, Yellow Emperor[10] |
Shiben | Fu Xi, Shennong, Yellow Emperor[10] |
Baihu Tongyi (白虎通義) | (1st variation) Fu Xi, Shennong, |
Fengsu Tongyi | Fu Xi, Nüwa, Shennong[10] |
Yiwen Leiju | Heavenly Sovereign, Earthly Sovereign; Human Sovereign[10] |
Tongjian Waiji (通鑑外紀) | Fu Xi, Shennong, Gonggong |
Chunqiu yundou shu (春秋運斗樞) Chunqiu yuanming bao (春秋元命苞) |
Fu Xi, Nüwa, Shennong |
Shangshu dazhuan (尚書大傳) | Fu Xi, Shennong, Suiren |
Diwang shiji (帝王世紀) | Fu Xi, Shennong, Yellow Emperor |
Five Emperors
The Five Emperors were traditionally thought to have invented "fire, writing and irrigation."[13]
According to source | Five Emperors |
---|---|
Records of the Grand Historian | Yellow Emperor, Zhuanxu, Ku, Yao, Shun[10] |
Sovereign Series (帝王世紀) | Shaohao, Zhuanxu, Ku, Yao, Shun[10] |
I Ching | Taihao (太昊), Yan Emperor, Yellow Emperor, Yao, Shun[10] |
Comments of a Recluse, Qianfulun (潛夫論) | Taihao, Yan, Yellow Emperor, Shaohao, Zhuanxu better source needed ]
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Zizhi tongjian waiji, (資治通鑒外紀) | Yellow Emperor, Shaohao, Zhuanxu, Ku, Yao[14] |
Five Emperors family tree
(1) Yellow Emperor[15] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(2) Shaohao | Changyi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jiaoji | (3) Zhuanxu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(4) Ku | Qiongchan | Sb. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(5) Zhi | (6) Yao | Houji | Jingkang 敬康 | Sb. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Danzhu | Juwang | Sb. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Qiaoniu 橋牛 | Gun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gusou | (8) Yu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ehuang | (7) Shun | Nuying | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shangjun | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Creation myth
There is the legend of the Four shi (四氏) who took part in creating the world. The four members are Youchao-shi (有巢氏), Suiren-shi (燧人氏), Fu Xi-shi (伏羲氏), and Shennong-shi (神農氏).[16]
Legacy
These kings are said to have helped introduce the use of fire, taught people how to build houses and invented farming. The Yellow Emperor's wife is credited with the invention of silk culture. The discovery of medicine, the invention of the calendar and Chinese script are also credited to the kings. After their era, Yu the Great founded the Xia dynasty.[3]
Gallery
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Shennong tasting herbs to discover their qualities
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Historian's depiction of the Yellow Emperor
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Another depiction of the Yellow Emperor
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Shaohao Tomb near Qufu, Shandong
References
- ^ a b "三皇五帝 – 国学网" [Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors – Chinese Studies Network] (in Chinese (China)). 2012-08-16. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ISBN 9780804723534.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-07-141279-7.
- ISBN 978-0-7607-8379-5.
- ISBN 978-1-83886-263-3.
- ^ Asim, Ina (2007). "Keynotes 2". University of Oregon. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
- )
- ^ Feng, Shi (2009) "A Study of the Pottery Inscription 'Wen Yi 文邑'". Chinese Archaeology, Vol. 9 (Issue 1), pp. 170-177. full text
- ISBN 0-7607-1078-3.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 劉煒/著. (2002) Chinese civilization in a new light. Commercial press publishing. ISBN 962-07-5314-3, p. 142.
- Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
- ^ ISBN 962-8885-24-3.
- ISBN 978-0-395-35336-3.
- ^ a b ”CHINAKNOWLEDGE”, Chinese History - The Three Augusts and Five Emperors 三皇五帝
- ^ Records of the Grand Historian
- ^ Wang 2006, pp. 4–7.
Further reading
- "Ssŭma Ch'ien's Historical Records, Introductory Chapter". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. 26 (2). Translated by Allen, Herbert J.: 269–295 1894. .
- "The Annals of the Bamboo Books: The reigns of Huang-te, Che, Chuen-heuh and Hëen-Yuen; The reigns of Yaou and Shun". The Chinese Classics, volume 3, part 1. Translated by Legge, James. 1865. pp. 108–116.