Shaohao (少昊) | 24 Histories

Overview

Shaohao was a Legendary Ruler.

IdentityLegendary · Male

Roles

Found in

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name		少昊氏	Shaohao shi
Posthumous name	Human Emperor	人帝

Life and dates

Attested activity

legendary antiquity
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 94, passage 161; History of Jin 35, passage 62; New Book of Tang 12, passage 160

Key source chapters

Book of Later Han, Chapter 94 Volume 83: Biographies of Hermits 1 passage
History of Jin, Chapter 35 Volume 35 Treatises 16: Rites 8: Consecration of Shrines to a Sages; Temple to the Warrior King Cheng of Zhou; Monarchs of Past Ages; Halls to Various Spirits in Changbai Shan, Dafang Shan, Amur River, Jia Yin Hou; Spirits of the Lu River; Spirits of Zhao Yin Shun; Spirits of Zhen an Gong, Rui Shen Gongl; Worshipping, Sacrifices, Vists, and State Ceremonies at Zhen Xian Jun Wang Temple 1 passage
New Book of Tang, Chapter 12 Volume 12 Treatises 2: Rites and Music 2 1 passage

Places and affiliations

Organization Five Human Emperors 五人帝 · Relation Member of
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 12, passages 160, 178, 181

Events and relationships

Paired with
Ritual · Associated deity · Other White Emperor 白帝 · Occasion beginning of autumn 立秋
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 12, passage 160
Shared sacrifice
Ritual · Recipient · At Bright Hall 明堂 · Organization Five Human Emperors 五人帝
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 12, passage 181

Source notes

Historicity legendary
Directly stated · History of Jin 35, passage 62; New Book of Tang 12, passage 160

References in the histories

Book of Later Han, Chapter 94Volume 83: Biographies of Hermits · 1 passage

Open chapter

父让，王莽时为城门校尉，封脩远伯，使奉少昊后，寓于北地而卒。 His father Liang Rang, under Wang Mang, was colonel of the gates, enfeoffed Baron Xiuyuan to sacrifice to Shaohao, then moved to Beidi and died there.

History of Jin, Chapter 35Volume 35 Treatises 16: Rites 8: Consecration of Shrines to a Sages; Temple to the Warrior King Cheng of Zhou; Monarchs of Past Ages; Halls to Various Spirits in Changbai Shan, Dafang Shan, Amur River, Jia Yin Hou; Spirits of the Lu River; Spirits of Zhao Yin Shun; Spirits of Zhen an Gong, Rui Shen Gongl; Worshipping, Sacrifices, Vists, and State Ceremonies at Zhen Xian Jun Wang Temple · 1 passage

Open chapter

三年一祭，于仲春之月祭伏犧于陳州，神農於亳州，軒轅於坊州，少昊於兗州，顓頊於開州，高辛於歸德府，陶唐於平陽府，虞舜、夏禹、成湯於河中府，周文王、武王於京兆府。 Sacrifices were held once every three years: in mid-spring Fuxi was honored at Chen Prefecture, Shennong at Bozhou, the Yellow Emperor at Fang Prefecture, Shaohao at Yan Prefecture, Zhuanxu at Kai Prefecture, Gaoxin at Guide Prefecture, Emperor Yao at Pingyang Prefecture, Shun, Yu, and Tang at Hezhong Prefecture, and Kings Wen and Wu of Zhou at Jingzhao Prefecture.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 12Volume 12 Treatises 2: Rites and Music 2 · 1 passage

Open chapter

立秋祀白帝，以少昊氏配，太白、三辰、七宿、蓐收之位如赤帝。 At the beginning of autumn, sacrifice to the White Emperor, with the Lesser Bright One as associated deity; Great White, three chronograms, seven lodges, and Rushou are positioned as for the Red Emperor.