Chapter 113: The Reign of the Five Emperors

After the Battle of Banquan, the human race enjoyed internal stability and external peace, allowing development to be put firmly on the agenda.

During the reign of the Yellow Emperor, four virtuous ministers—Jufenghou, Limu, Changxian, and Dahong—governed the people alongside him. Under their guidance, both internal affairs and military strength advanced, and society took a significant step toward civilization.

Minister Cao Hu invented upper garments; Minister Boyu created lower garments; Minister Yu Ze crafted shoes. From then on, people no longer wore animal hides or bark cloth.

The Yellow Emperor, inspired by the way floating leaves drift on water, fashioned boats, and Minister Gong Gu accompanied these vessels to navigate the waters. Drawing from the principle of tumbleweeds rolling, he invented wheels and axles, greatly facilitating transportation.

Huang Yongfu invented the plow, and the Yellow Emperor ordered the creation of cauldrons and steamers, among other utensils.

The Yellow Emperor reigned for a full century, a hundred years that marked a time of great progress and opportunity for humanity.

Previously, people identified themselves by various clans, but now such divisions had vanished; only their town or village affiliations remained.

The entire human race had merged into one.

The Yellow Emperor had twenty-five children, with Leizu as his principal wife, who bore him two sons.

The eldest was Xuanxiao, also known as Qingyang, born by the river; the second son was Changyi, born near the Ruo River.

Changyi married a woman from the Shushan clan named Changpu, and they had a son named Gaoyang.

Gaoyang was exceptionally intelligent from a young age. He would always think thrice before acting and made decisions only after careful contemplation. He was steadier than other children and earned the Yellow Emperor’s praise.

When the Yellow Emperor’s merits were fulfilled, he appointed his grandson Gaoyang to succeed him as the human sovereign—the same Gaoyang who became Emperor Zhuanxu, one of the Five Emperors.

During Emperor Zhuanxu’s reign, his major achievement was the assimilation of the Jiuli tribes. The Jiuli was a collective name for the eighty-one clans united by Chiyou, a large extended family not easily integrated.

To weaken theocratic power and strengthen imperial authority, Zhuanxu banned the Jiuli people from practicing shamanism. To address this, he reformed the shamanistic religion, personally performing sincere rituals to honor Heaven, Earth, and ancestors, setting an example for all.

He appointed ministers to oversee Heaven worship to appease the spirits and others to manage civil affairs, comforting the people and encouraging them to follow natural laws in agricultural production and land reclamation.

He forbade divination and attempts to communicate with the gods, restoring social order.

However, the Jiuli tribes were not easily subdued and rebelled against Zhuanxu’s policies.

At this critical moment, an assistant caught Zhuanxu’s attention—his own nephew.

Qingyang had never been much favored by the Yellow Emperor and lived as a commoner, as did his son Jiaoji. But by chance, Jiaoji’s son Gaoxin came into Zhuanxu’s view.

From then on, Gaoxin served closely by Zhuanxu’s side, gaining political exposure.

Zhuanxu ruled for seventy-eight years. At the age of ninety-eight, his virtues were complete, and he ascended to the Fire Cloud Cave.

At that time, the successor appointed by Zhuanxu was none other than Gaoxin, who became Emperor Ku, another of the Five Emperors.

When Emperor Ku assumed the throne at age thirty, in the prime of his vigor, he continued Zhuanxu’s policies, which provoked the Jiuli and other tribes to rebel. Ku swiftly organized armies to quell the uprisings and also undermined the enemy from within, bringing true stability.

Beyond governance, Ku had a deep love for music. He commissioned musician Xian Hei to compose pieces such as “Nine Bows,” “Six Arrays,” and “Six Heroes.” He also ordered musician Yue Chui to craft instruments like the war drum, bell, and stone chime. In times of peace, people would pass their leisure with pure music.

Ku was approachable and impartial. During his reign, he treated all matters equally, earning the people’s deep affection.

One story reflecting Ku’s integrity is the famed tale of “Marrying the Dog Panhu.”

When the Jiuli rebelled and even Fang Wang of the north joined the fray, Ku was preoccupied and issued a decree: whoever beheaded Fang Wang would receive a thousand gold pieces, be granted the title of ten thousand households, and marry a princess.

At that time, the imperial princess was traveling south with a dog that was remarkably intelligent. Upon hearing the decree, the dog vanished, causing the princess great sorrow.

But before long, the dog returned carrying a human head.

Upon hearing this, Ku doubted the tale and went to investigate.

To his astonishment, it was true.

Ku honored his decree without hesitation, granting the princess and palace maidservants to serve the dog—who was indeed Panhu.

As an emperor, Ku was disciplined, selfless, promoted honesty, and discerned right from wrong, earning universal respect.

Ku reigned for seventy years. Upon reaching one hundred years old, he passed the throne to his youngest son, Zhi.

Ku had four famous consorts: Jiang Yuan, mother of Qi (ancestor of the Zhou dynasty); Jian Di, mother of Xi (ancestor of the Shang dynasty); Qing Du, mother of Yao (Emperor Yao); and Chang Yi, mother of Zhi.

Emperor Zhi ruled nine years during a transitional period of power. He favored close confidants and indulgence, leading to widespread rebellion, divine displeasure, and frequent disasters. People fled to the region governed by Yao.

At that time, freedom of speech prevailed, and the populace openly criticized Zhi and praised Yao. Under pressure, Zhi abdicated in favor of his brother Yao.

Emperor Yao was the first to establish a calendar, enabling laborers to work according to seasons without missing agricultural timings. He also authored the “Yao Canon.”

In those troubled times, capable and virtuous men were scarce, leaving a void in capable officials and generals, challenging the state's stability.

Yao decisively ordered each tribe to recommend virtuous and talented sages. He also assessed officials’ performances, rewarding the good and punishing the corrupt, restoring order and greatly reducing malfeasance.

With clear governance and a strong military, the nation embodied the grandeur of a great power.

Yao not only focused on internal affairs but skillfully mediated relations among various clans, earning universal love.

Yet, no one is perfect. As Yao aged, he inevitably made mistakes.

His greatest political error was entrusting Gun to control the floods. Lacking better candidates, Yao appointed Gun, who spent nine years battling the waters without success.

Aware of his advancing age and slowing faculties, Yao began seeking a successor.

As mentioned, Yao had implemented a talent selection system and hoped to find a suitable heir through it.

Indeed, he found one.

This man was a descendant of Emperor Zhuanxu named Chonghua. Chonghua’s father was Gusu; Gusu’s father was Qiaoniu; Qiaoniu’s father was Juwang; Juwang’s father was Jingkang; Jingkang’s father was Qionghan; Qionghan’s father was Emperor Zhuanxu.

After Qionghan, the family had farmed quietly without political involvement.

What caught Yao’s attention enough to marry his daughters to this man?

Chonghua lost his mother early, and his father remarried, having another son. Growing up amidst his father’s harshness, stepmother’s disdain, and brother’s arrogance, Chonghua displayed remarkable wisdom: when unjustly beaten, he would avoid conflict; when family needed help, he would return.

Such virtue in repaying resentment with kindness inspired admiration.

When Yao asked who was the most filial, all pointed to Chonghua.

Skeptical, Yao married his daughters Ehuang and Nuying to Chonghua to test him. Unexpectedly, Chonghua harmonized the household and heeded their advice. Yao then resolved to abdicate in his favor.

Yao reigned seventy years and ascended to the Fire Cloud Cave at age 118.

This Chonghua was Emperor Shun.

Yao’s political failings drew much criticism, and upon taking the throne, Shun promptly investigated, punishing the guilty and reinstating the innocent. Praise for Shun spread across the land.

To ensure clean governance, Shun decreed performance evaluations every three years, with promotions or dismissals based on three consecutive assessments.

Through these reforms, all affairs took on a new appearance.

Among the greatest contributors was the son of a man Shun had exiled. Shun did not obstruct this man’s career, wishing to see if he resembled his father. This was Yu, son of Gun.

Shun ruled fifty years, with flood control as his foremost achievement.

Regarding succession, Shun considered his son Shang Jun, but the boy was unruly and unfilial. After consultation and recommendation, Shun chose Yu, the most respected, as heir.

The Yellow Emperor, Zhuanxu, Ku, Yao, and Shun all belonged to the same lineage, with the Yellow Emperor as their ancestor. To collectively refer to them alongside the Three Sovereigns—Fuxi, Nüwa, and Shennong—they are called the Five Emperors.

While the human race surged forward vigorously, the Primordial Supreme Being of the Chan Sect could not muster any spirit at all.