Emperor Yao

Emperor Yao

Emperor Yao, the son of Emperor Ku, was originally named Yi Qi Fangxun, also known as Tang Yao and Emperor Yao. Born around 2377 BCE and deceased in 2259 BCE, he was a distinguished leader of the Huaxia tribe during ancient times. One of the mythical Five Emperors in Chinese mythology, it is said he was born to the south of Mount San’a. In Taoism, he is regarded as the Heavenly Official Emperor, one of the Three Officials Emperor, with his birth celebrated on the Lantern Festival.

Yao’s birth was shrouded in myth. According to legend, Emperor Ku’s third wife was named Qingdu. After her marriage, Qingdu remained at her parental home. One day in the last month of spring, while Qingdu and her parents were boating, a flying red loong appeared at noon. The next day, a smaller red loong appeared, and that night, Qingdu, unable to sleep and smiling with her eyes closed, felt a chilly wind envelop her, and the red loong pounced on her. Awakening, she found her body covered in a stench-filled saliva, and beside her, a drawing soaked with saliva depicting a red figure with sharply defined upper features and fuller lower features, high arched eyebrows, and long hair, inscribed with the words “Also blessed by Heaven.” Subsequently, she became pregnant. Fourteen months later, she gave birth to a son who looked exactly like the figure in the drawing. At this time, Emperor Ku’s mother passed away, and he mourned her death so profoundly that he neglected Qingdu and their son. Qingdu raised her son at her parental home until he was ten, before sending him back to his father, and this child was later known as Emperor Yao. Initially, Yao took his maternal grandfather’s surname Yi Qi (Qi).

After Emperor Ku’s death, his eldest son Zhi initially succeeded him. Yao, as his younger brother, was responsible for advising him on state affairs. However, after nine years, Zhi felt that he lacked Yao’s capabilities and voluntarily abdicated the throne to his brother. Another version suggests that Zhi was inept at governing and faced strong opposition from his ministers, who forced him off the throne.

Emperor Yao and the Institution of Abdication. When discussing Emperor Yao, one cannot overlook his system of abdication. In the succession of the throne, Yao did not follow the traditional path of “son succeeds father.” Instead, he innovatively implemented abdication. Believing that his son, Danzhu, was not virtuous enough to shoulder great responsibilities, Yao sought opinions widely and ultimately chose Shun as his successor. This action not only demonstrated Yao’s foresight and magnanimity but also set a glorious example for future generations. Henceforth, “abdications” became an essential part of ancient Chinese political culture, revered by emperors throughout history.

The Roots of Confucianism and Moism. During the Pre-Qin Dynasty, the Confucian and Moism schools were the most influential, known as the “prominent schools.” Both schools rallied around the figures of Yao and Shun. From that time, Yao was regarded as a sage king, embodying the ideal personality in ethics and morals and a model monarch for governing and pacifying the realm. As Confucianism’s importance in Chinese cultural tradition grew, it became increasingly embraced by the people. Later, Confucianism adopted the motto “inheriting the governance of Yao and Shun, establishing the laws of Wen and Wu”; from the Tang dynasty through the era of the Confucian school of idealist philosophy of the Song and Ming dynasties, the doctrine of “Tao succession” was vigorously promoted, with Yao becoming the spiritual forefather of Confucian thought.

The Invention of Wine-Making. Legend has it that Yao was transformed from a loong and was particularly sensitive to Spiritual Energy. Attracted by the spiritual energy of the dripping springs, he led his people to settle there, utilizing the local spiritual energy to develop agriculture, ensuring that his people could live and work in peace and contentment. To give thanks to the heavens and pray for the future, Yao would select the finest grains and soak them in the water of the dripping springs, using special techniques to remove all impurities and extract the essence to brew a blessing water. This water, clear, pure, and fragrantly subtle, was offered to the heavens and shared among the people to celebrate well-being. Grateful to Yao, the people named this blessing water “Hua Yao.”

A Chance Encounter with the Deer Fairy. The Deer Fairy was a fair-skinned, beautiful, and kind-hearted fairy who had tamed a black dragon lurking near her fairy cave to ensure the safety of the people and the deer herd. She transformed the dragon into her mount.

One day, Emperor Yao happened upon the Lady of the Guya Mountain, a divine deer spirit. She immobilized a giant python that had been transformed from a black tiger spirit, thus saving Yao. Afterwards, they shared their deepest emotions and agreed to marry. On their wedding night, they celebrated their union in a cave, using it as their bridal chamber. The peak of the mountain blazed with bright flames, illuminating the South Cave as if it were daylight. The entire cave was enveloped in a dazzling red hue, creating a spectacular and beautiful scene. The local villagers were drawn to this beautiful sight, and later, emulating Yao and the Lady of the Guya Mountain, they began lighting red candles in their homes during weddings, casting a radiant red glow. They affectionately coined the term “bridal chamber” for the newlyweds’ room, a poetic name that has persisted to this day. Thus, the wedding night also came to be known as “the night of the bridal chamber and candles.”

The year after their marriage, the Lady of the Guya Mountain gave birth to a son named Danzhu. The original black tiger spirit harbored a grudge against her and seized the opportunity to complain to the Heavenly Emperor about her marriage to Yao. Enraged, the Heavenly Emperor ordered her imprisonment in the gorge of the South Cave, where she was punished to grind grain daily and forbidden from transforming back into human form. Henceforth, the Lady of the Guya Mountain was forced to live apart from Emperor Yao, and their son, Danzhu, was raised by Yao. After an unsuccessful search for the Lady of the Guya Mountain, Emperor Yao personally went to Mount Guya but failed to find her. He eventually married another woman from the Sanyi clan. Danzhu was later ennobled in Dan Territory (Fushan), hence the name Danzhu Township. In memory of the Lady of the Guya Mountain’s merits and virtues, people later placed a statue of her in a small cave next to the Black Loong Cave of the South Cave, where incense has been continuously offered for hundreds of years.

Creating the game of Go. Legend has it that during the ancient times when Emperor Yao ruled over Pingyang, after he had pacified and united the various tribes and states, agriculture flourished and the people’s lives prospered. However, one matter deeply troubled Emperor Yao: his son, Danzhu, had grown up but was not taking his responsibilities seriously. Instead, he idled away his days, indulged in frivolous activities with his friends, and frequently caused trouble. Emperor Yao thought to himself: to reform Danzhu, I must first stabilize his temperament and entertain his mind by teaching him some skills. Initially, he taught him hunting, but Danzhu did not take to it. Sighing, Yao said, “If you won’t learn hunting, then learn the game of stones used in military strategy. Once you master it, it will be very useful.” Saying this, he used an arrowhead to etch crisscrossing squares onto a flat hillside rock and gathered a heap of small stones, giving half to Danzhu. He then proceeded to teach Danzhu, hand in hand, how to use the stones to represent advancing and retreating military tactics that he had used in leading his tribes in battle. This time, Danzhu actually paid attention and showed patience.

In the following days, Danzhu devoted himself to learning the game of Go and stopped wandering outside, which relieved his mother, Consort Yi, tremendously. Emperor Yao told Consort Yi, “The game of stones encompasses profound principles of governing the people, the army, and the landscape. If Danzhu truly reforms and understands these principles, it would be natural for him to succeed me.” However, before Danzhu could master the game, he listened to his old companions’ misleading words, felt that playing the game was too restrictive, lacked freedom, and was too intellectually demanding. He reverted to his old ways, indulging in bad company and even plotting to usurp his father’s throne. This deeply distressed Consort Yi, who fell gravely ill and passed away. Heartbroken, Emperor Yao sent Danzhu to the south, no longer wanting to see him, and abdicated his throne to Shun. Shun, following in Yao’s footsteps, also used the game of Go to teach his son, Shang Jun. Subsequently, pottery from that era began to feature the grid pattern of the Go game, and historical records mention, “Yao created Go to teach Danzhu.” Today, in the west mountains of Jinzhang Village in Longci Township, there remains engraved Go game stone formations at Qipanling.