Yao (emperor)

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Emperor Yao, fantasy drawing in the 13th century

Yao ( Chinese  堯  /  尧 , Pinyin Yáo ) (according to tradition after 2353–2234 BC) was a legendary Chinese ruler, was one of the Three Exalted and the fourth of the Five Great Emperors . It is also known under the names Yaotangshi ( 陶 唐氏 ), Yi Fangxun ( 伊 放 勳 ) and Yi Qi ( 伊 祈 ).

Life

Yao was the second son of Emperors Kù and Qingdu ( 慶 都 ). According to tradition, Yao became emperor at the age of 20 and died at the age of 119 when he handed over the throne to Emperor Shun , with whom he also married his two daughters ( 娥 皇 , Éhuáng and 女 英 , Nǚyīng ). Yao considered his biological son Danzhu to be morally depraved and therefore unsuitable to take the throne. Yao is considered a wise and morally perfect scholar emperor, whose benevolence and care should become the model for the rulers of the later dynasties. In older Chinese literature, Yao, Shun, and Yu are often viewed as historical figures. Modern historians of course assume that these are symbolic figures for the establishment of uniform hierarchical structures of rule at the transition from the primordial to the patriarchal feudal society .

Lore

Yao's greatest achievement is successfully fighting a flood disaster that struck ancient China .

Since the Yellow River in particular often overflowed its banks and buried entire stretches of land under its masses of water and mud, it is generally assumed that Yao tamed this river by building dams with "swelling earth" stolen from the sky. However, it is also reported that in Yao’s time the sun did not set for ten full days, while the land was flooded by a wave "that reached into the sky". Because of further passages such as “The water probably reached the highest mountains, and the hills in front of it could not be seen at all”, some researchers attached to the catastrophism see parallels to u. a. reports passed down in the Bible suggest a worldwide cataclysm .

Yao is also said to have determined the cardinal points and introduced a new calendar. His ministers Xi and He are considered the founders of Chinese astronomy . Emperor Yao's ascetic needlessness was always praised: According to a report by the philosopher Han Fei, he lived on millet and “green soup”; his clothing was made of animal skins in winter and rough vegetable fibers in summer. Last but not least, Yao is credited with inventing the game of Go . Through the game his son Danzhu should learn discipline, concentration and mental balance.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c James Legge: Book of Documents , (see Bibliography)

literature

Web links

predecessor Office successor
Zhì King of China
2333–2234 BC Chr. 		Shun