Shun (emperor)
Emperor Shun ( Chinese 舜 , Pinyin Shùn ; according to legend: *? BC; † 2240 BC) was one of the mythical primordial emperors of Chinese culture . Born as Yao Chonghua (姚 重 華), he was also known as Youyu-shi (有 虞氏), Great Shun (大舜), and Yu Shun (虞舜). Confucius saw it as a model for righteousness and virtue.
According to legend, Shun came from a simple family in eastern China. His father and stepmother were loveless with him and preferred his younger stepbrother; nevertheless, he showed them the necessary respect. He also miraculously escaped several attempts at homicide by his parents and stepbrother. He was very hardworking, tilled the fields, devoted himself to fishing and also practiced the pottery. Birds are said to have helped him weed his rice field.
Even Emperor Yao learned of Shun's virtuous lifestyle , who married him to his two daughters Ehuang and Nüying and, bypassing his own son, built him up as a more worthy successor. So Shun was Yao's representative for a long time and eventually took the throne. He exercised his rule in an exemplary manner, reformed the calendar system, measures and weights, regulated the waterways, introduced milder penalties and divided the empire into twelve provinces. According to legend, he died of old age after handing over his power to his most capable subject, his First Minister Yu the Great . Its capital was in Puban (蒲阪, today in Shanxi ).
See also: Chinese mythology
Web links
- threekingdoms.com (English)
Remarks
- ↑ a b Shun , in: Helmut Freydank et al. (Ed.): Lexikon Alter Orient , VMA-Verlag, Wiesbaden 1997, ISBN 3-928127-40-3 , p. 397.
- ↑ a b Shun in the Encyclopædia Britannica online
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| Yao |
King of China 23rd century v. Chr. |
Yu the great |