Emperor Yao (帝堯) | 24 Histories

Overview

Emperor Yao was a Legendary sage ruler of ancient China.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Tang Yao	唐堯	Tang Yao
Posthumous name	Emperor Tang	唐帝	Tangdi
Regnal name	Tang	唐	Táng

Life and dates

Death

Natural
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 16
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passages 144, 151

Attested activity

上古苗裔
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 169
唐、虞之世
Directly stated · History of Jin 127, passage 9
唐、虞之道
Directly stated · Book of Han 69, passage 201
唐堯
Directly stated · History of Song 141, passage 34
堯
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 175, passage 104
堯舜之用心
Directly stated · Book of Han 89, passage 26

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Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Chenfeng consort of Emperor Ku (陳鋒氏女)
bore 生
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 53
Child of Father of Yao (堯父)
father 父
Strongly inferred · History of Ming 115, passage 160
Parent of Shun (舜)
father 父 · Claimed parentage
Directly stated · History of Song 144, passage 140
Child of Emperor Ku (帝俈)
fathered 生 · paternal line
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 13, passage 252
Child of Emperor Ku of the Gaoxin clan (帝嚳高辛氏)
fathered 生
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 53
Parent of Dan Zhu (丹朱)
heir son 嗣子
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passages 86, 147
Child of Mother of Yao (堯母)
mother 母
Strongly inferred · History of Ming 115, passage 159
Parent of Danzhu (丹朱)
son
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 53, passage 55
Parent of Elder daughter of Yao (堯長女)
two daughters 二女
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passages 108, 169
Parent of Younger daughter of Yao (堯次女)
two daughters 二女
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passages 108, 169
Sibling of Zhi (摯)
younger brother 弟 · Paternal half siblings
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 290

Kinship Role worthy son · Count 0 · Negated true
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 205
Kinship Role sons · Count 9
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passages 169, 172

Key source chapters

Career and standing

legendary ancient ruler 堯
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 59, passage 4
sage-king famed for performance review 考績之聖王
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 178, passage 76
Held
Ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 3
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 290

Places and affiliations

Tang 唐
Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 3
Polity Tang (legendary) 唐 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 178, passage 76
Polity Tang 唐
Directly stated · Book of Han 69, passage 201
At Chengyang Spirit Terrace, Jiyin 济阴成阳灵台 · Relation Cult site
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passage 47

Works and attributed material

Brine Pool 鹹池
Relation Music attributed to · Mode quoted-claim Speaker Yang Shou (楊收)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 184, passage 52
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Addressed to Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 23
Judgment · Exemplar · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 120, passage 118
When the four seas are impoverished, Heaven's mandate is cut off forever. 四海困窮，天祿永終
Speech · Speaker · With Emperor Shun (帝舜) · Direct quotation · Mode named-source-report Speaker Emperor Yao (帝堯)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 120, passage 14
Speech · Speaker · With Shun (舜) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 109
Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passages 85, 87-89, 91-92, 94, 98-99, 101, 103-104, 107, 114-115, 150

Events and relationships

Abdicated and yielded
Political · Ruler · With Emperor Shun (帝舜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 3
yielding/abdication 揖讓
Political · Abdicating ruler · Abdicated
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 120, passage 118
Accepted good counsel
Political · Ruler · With Yu the Great (大禹), Hou Ji (后稷), Xie (禼) · Outcome Good carried out
Directly stated · Book of Han 22, passage 13
Attacked Miao
Military · Attacker
Directly stated · History of Liao 78, passage 65
Charged
Political · Speaker · With Emperor Shun (帝舜)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 120, passage 14
Cited as canon
Exemplar · Model sovereign
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 40, passage 60

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Deliberated before punishing four villains
Legal · Ruler · Mode quotation Speaker Fan Tiao (樊鯈)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 38, passage 95
Endured nine years of flood with stores prepared
Disaster · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 144
Established spare commands and complete laws as the foundation of governing
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 60, passage 9
Established offices of Xi and He
Administrative · Ruler · With Xi (羲), He (和)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 21
established the Xi and He officials 立羲、和之官
Administrative · Ruler · Established offices · With Xi (羲)
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 102
Executed the Four Villains
Legal · Ruler · Mode named-source-report Speaker Liang Tong (梁統)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 39, passage 37
Executed
Legal · Ruler · With Gun (鮌), Huan Dou (讙兜) · Outcome Evil counsel rejected
Directly stated · Book of Han 22, passage 13
Governed with minimal punishment
Governance · Ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 23, passage 89
Had no worthy son; each came to it by his own path
Moral exemplum · Subject
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 205
Instituted three examinations of officials
Administrative · Ruler · Mode quotation Speaker Zhu Fu (朱浮)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 38, passage 65
Let robes hang down and realm governed
Cultural · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 131, passage 8
Ordered Four Sons to deliver seasons
Administrative · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 8
Ordered Boyi and Three Lords
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · History of Liao 61, passage 5
Ordered instrument making
Administrative · Commander · With Xihe (羲和)
Directly stated · History of Song 76, passage 2
Passed throne
Political · Actor · With Shun (舜)
Directly stated · History of Song 141, passage 364
Performance review cited as superior model
Ritual · Exemplar
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 178, passage 76
Received tailao sacrifice
AD 85 二月 · Ritual · Recipient · At Chengyang Spirit Terrace in Jiyin 济阴成阳灵台
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passage 47
Restored descendants of Chong and Li
Administrative · Ruler · With Chong (重), Li (黎)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 21
Reverently conformed to heaven
Ritual · Ruler
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 140, passage 112
Said to have had the Four Evils at his court
Legendary allusion · Sage ruler · Mode direct-quotation Speaker Emperor Wu of Liang (梁武帝)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 38, passage 224
Sought flood controller
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 6
Suffered the great flood and charged Yu
Governance · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 57
Took the throne without seeking it
Political · Exemplar
Directly stated · Book of Chen 2, passage 6
Used arms when unavoidable
Military · Legendary ruler · Mode edict-historical-exemplum Speaker Later Liang Last Emperor (末帝)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 10, passages 5, 7
Yielded realm
Political · Ruler · With Xu You (許由) · Mode hearsay
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 5
Yielded throne
Ritual · Abdicator · With Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 109
Yielded throne
Succession · Abdicator · With Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 23
Abdication · Abdicator · With Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 24, passage 23
Relation Listed with · Person Shun (舜) · [object Object]
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 59, passage 4
Relation Superior of · Person Hou Ji (后稷)
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 26, passage 8
Relation Co ruler with · Person Emperor Shun (帝舜)
Strongly inferred · Book of Southern Qi 60, passage 8
Relation Instructor of · Person Emperor Shun (帝舜)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 120, passage 14
Relation Legendary predecessor of · Person Emperor Shun (帝舜)
Strongly inferred · History of Liao 44, passages 29, 31
Relation Predecessor of · Person Emperor Shun (帝舜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 3
Relation Superior of · Person Xihe (羲和)
Directly stated · History of Song 76, passage 2
Relation Patron of · Person Chao Fu (巢父)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 155
Relation Ruler of · Person Xi (羲)
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 23, passage 265
Relation Patron of · Person Hou Ji (稷)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 92, passage 162
Relation Patron of · Person Xu (許)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 155
Relation Appointor of · Person Xi (羲)
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 102
Relation Ruler of · Person He (和)
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 23, passage 265
Relation Predecessor of · Person Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 23
Relation Patron of · Person Xie (契)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 92, passage 162
Relation Appointor of · Person He (和)
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 102

Assessments and attributes

Assessment great sage · Mode quotation Speaker Fan Tiao (樊鯈)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 38, passage 95
Assessment highest longevity and sagely virtue among the Five Emperors and hundred kings · Mode named-speaker Speaker Chen Kangbo (陳康伯)
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passage 166
Assessment highest wisdom: can join in good but not in evil · Mode named-source-report Source Work the Tradition 傳
Directly stated · Book of Han 22, passages 13-14
Assessment no lord greater than Yao · Mode quotation Speaker Sima Xiangru (司馬相如)
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 191
Assessment performance review surpasses what Yuan Kai puts first · Mode speaker-judgment Speaker Liu Fen (劉蕡)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 178, passage 76
praised in the edict as a supreme sage 詔中稱為上聖
AD 955 · Mode narrator
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 115, passage 14

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possessed a divine nature and subtle virtue
Character
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 60, passage 8
Item celestial model 象 · Relation Associated with
Directly stated · History of Liao 44, passage 29

Source notes

Historicity legendary
Directly stated · Book of Chen 2, passage 6; Book of Chen 24, passage 23; Book of Han 11, passage 102; Book of Han 25, passage 289; Book of Han 26, passage 8; Book of Han 117, passages 109, 136; Book of Later Han 30, passage 275; Book of Later Han 34, passage 26; Book of Later Han 38, passages 21, 65, 95; Book of Later Han 39, passage 37; Book of Later Han 40, passage 60; History of Jin 35, passage 24; History of Jin 127, passage 9; Book of Jin 101, passage 200; Old Book of Tang 27, passage 69; Old History of the Five Dynasties 120, passage 118; Old History of the Five Dynasties 147, passage 35; History of Liao 44, passage 29; History of Liao 61, passage 5; History of Liao 117, passage 32; Book of Southern Qi 33, passage 205; Draft History of Qing 111, passage 4; Draft History of Qing 120, passage 14; Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 290; Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 2; Records of the Grand Historian 3, passage 6; Records of the Grand Historian 23, passage 89; Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 3; Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 11; History of Song 76, passage 2; History of Song 141, passages 34, 259; History of Song 144, passage 140; History of Song 497, passage 41; Book of Sui 5, passage 62; New History of the Five Dynasties 59, passage 4; New History of the Five Dynasties 71, passage 1; Book of Zhou 46, passage 14
Historicity legendary
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 109, passage 47
Value legendary
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 2, passages 373, 379
Value legendary
Directly stated · Book of Han 22, passage 3; Book of Han 68, passage 20; Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 13; New Book of Tang 178, passage 76
held the virtue of Fire, which Han succeeded
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 114
From Fangxun 放勳 · To Emperor Yao 帝堯
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passages 57, 290

References in the histories

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History

218 passages

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 25Volume 25 Biographies 17: Zhang Zuan; Zhang Liang; Zhang Yao; Zhang Qi; Xu Yuan; Wang Jun; Wang Hong · 1 passage

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伏願陛下哀忠念舊，愛孤恤寡，矜愚嘉善，舍過記功，敦骨肉之情，廣寬仁之路，思堯、舜之風，慕禹、湯之德，克己復禮，以成美化，天下幸甚。」 I venture to hope Your Majesty will pity the loyal and remember the old, cherish the orphaned and comfort the widowed, pity the foolish and praise the good, pardon faults and record merit, thicken kinship among flesh and bone, broaden the path of generous forbearance, think of the manner of Yao and Shun, admire the virtue of Yu and Tang, restrain yourself and return to ritual to complete a transformation of culture — all under Heaven would be greatly blessed."

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 30Volume 30 Biographies 22: Cui Xian; Gao Dezheng; Cui Ang · 2 passages

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帝以衆人意未協，又先得太后旨云：「汝父如龍，汝兄如虎，尚以人臣終，汝何容欲行舜、禹事？ Because the men's hearts were not yet one, Gao Yang had also received the empress dowager's word earlier: "Your father was like a dragon and your brother like a tiger, yet both died as subjects — how can you think to play Yao and Shun?

旭云：「五行遞運，有始有終，齊王聖德欽明，萬方歸仰，臣等昧死聞奏，願陛下則堯禪舜。」 Xu said, "The Five Agents turn in succession — all things have beginning and end. The Prince of Qi's sacred virtue is bright; the ten thousand regions look to him. We risk death to report: we pray Your Majesty will follow Yao in yielding to Shun."

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 50Volume 50 Biographies 42: Favored by Nobles · 1 passage

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至說世祖云：「自古帝王，盡為灰燼，堯、舜、桀、紂，竟復何異？ He even told Shizu, "Every emperor since antiquity ends as ashes—what difference between Yao, Shun, Jie, and Zhou?

Book of Chen, Chapter 2Volume 2: Emperor Wu 2 · 2 passages

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放勛、重華之世，咸無意於受終，當塗、典午之君，雖有心於揖讓，皆以英才處萬乘，高勳御四海，故能大庇黔首，光宅區縣。 Yao and Shun took the throne without seeking it; the rulers of Wei and Jin, though they spoke of abdication, still set men of rare talent upon the throne and men of towering merit at the helm of the realm—thus they sheltered the people and brought order to the land.

梁氏以天祿斯改，期運永終，欽若唐、虞，推其鼎玉，朕東西退讓，拜手陳辭，避舜子於箕山之陽，求支伯於滄洲之野，而公卿敦逼，率土翹惶，天命難稽，遂享嘉祚。 The House of Liang, its mandate spent, its turn complete—like Tang and Yu they offered up the regalia. We yielded east and west, bowed with joined hands and pleaded our case, hiding like Shun's son on Mount Ji's sunny slope, seeking Zhibo on Cangzhou's wilds—but ministers pressed us and the realm looked up in dread. Heaven's mandate would not wait; thus We received the glorious throne.

Book of Chen, Chapter 4Volume 4: Emperor Fei · 2 passages

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文皇知子之鑒，事甚帝堯，傳弟之懷，又符太伯。 Emperor Wen knew which son could bear the charge, as Yao did; his wish to pass the throne to his younger brother matched the Duke of Wu.

世祖知神器之重，諒難負荷，深鑒堯旨，弗傳寶祚焉。 Emperor Wen knew how heavy the throne was and that this son could not carry it; reading Yao's intent, he did not hand him the mandate.

Book of Chen, Chapter 24Volume 24: Zhou Hongzheng; Yuan Xian · 2 passages

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竊聞撝謙之象，起於羲、軒爻畫，揖讓之源，生於堯、舜禪受，其來尚矣，可得而詳焉。 I have heard that the image of yielding and modesty arose with the trigrams of Xi and Xuan, and that bowing and yielding began with the abdications of Yao and Shun. The tradition is ancient and can be traced in detail.

自惟多幸，懽沐道於堯年，肄業終身，不知老之將至。 Reflecting on my great fortune, I rejoice to bathe in the Way in an age like Yao's; I study all my life and do not know that old age is coming.

Book of Han, Chapter 2Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 2 · 2 passages

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是以頌高祖云：「漢帝本系，出自唐帝。 Hence in praising Gaozu it is said: "The imperial lineage of Han issues from the Emperor of Tang.

由是推之，漢承堯運，德祚已盛，斷蛇著符，旗幟上赤，協于火德，自然之應，得天統矣。 From this it follows that Han inherited Yao's cycle; its virtue and fortune were already flourishing. The severed serpent displayed the sign, the banners above were red, and in accord with the virtue of Fire, as a natural response, Han obtained Heaven's lineal succession.

Book of Han, Chapter 10Volume 9: Annals of Emperor Yuan · 1 passage

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二年春二月，詔曰：「蓋聞唐虞象刑而民不犯，殷周法行而姦軌服。 In the second month of spring in the second year, an edict declared: 'Indeed I have heard that Tang and Yu symbolized punishments and the people did not violate, Yin and Zhou practiced laws and wicked ruffians submitted.

Book of Han, Chapter 11Volume 10: Annals of Emperor Cheng · 1 passage

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詔曰：「昔在帝堯立羲、和之官，命以四時之事，令不失其序。 An edict declared: 'Formerly Emperor Yao established the officials Xi and He, commanded them with the affairs of the four seasons, causing them not to lose their order.

Book of Han, Chapter 22Volume 20: Prominent People from the Past Until the Present · 2 passages

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自書契之作，先民可得而聞者，經傳所稱，唐虞以上，帝王有號謚。 From the time writing first appeared, what the classics and commentaries preserve about the earliest ages is that rulers from the era of Yao and Shun and earlier were remembered with formal titles and posthumous names.

傳曰：譬如堯舜，禹、稷、禼與之為善則行，鮌、讙兜欲與為惡則誅。 As the Tradition says: take Yao and Shun. When Yu, Ji, and Xie joined them in doing what was right, it was carried out; when Gun and Huan Dou sought to join them in wrongdoing, they were executed.

Book of Han, Chapter 25Volume 23: Treatise on Punishment and Law · 4 passages

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唐虞之際，至治之極，猶流共工，放讙兜，竄三苗，殛鯀，然後天下服。 In the age of Yao and Shun, even at the height of good government, they still exiled Gonggong, banished Huandou, deported the Sanmiao, and executed Gun; only then did all under heaven submit.

以桀詐堯，若卵投石，夫何幸之有！ But trying to defeat true sage rule by trickery is like hurling an egg at rock.

孫卿之言既然，又因俗說而論之曰：禹承堯舜之後，自以德衰而制肉刑，湯武順而行之者，以俗薄於唐虞故也。 Xunzi, having made this argument, went on to reason from the conventional account: Yu succeeded Yao and Shun but, believing that moral virtue had declined, instituted mutilating punishments; Tang and King Wu retained them because customs were less refined than in the age of Yao and Shun.

今漢承衰周暴秦極敝之流，俗已薄於三代，而行堯舜之刑，是猶以鞿而御駻突，違救時之宜矣。 Now Han has inherited the utter exhaustion left by declining Zhou and violent Qin. Customs are already less refined than under the Three Dynasties, yet to apply the punishments of Yao and Shun would be like trying to control a savage, bolting horse with a light bridle: it would run contrary to what the times require.

Book of Han, Chapter 26Volume 24a: Treatise on Trade 1 · 2 passages

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堯命四子以「敬授民時」，舜命后稷以「黎民祖飢」，是為政首。 Yao ordered the Four Sons to "reverently give the people the seasons," and Shun charged Houji with the saying that "the common people first suffered hunger"; these matters stood at the head of government.

故堯、禹有九年之水，湯有七年之旱，而國亡捐瘠者，以畜積多而備先具也。 Thus Yao and Yu endured nine years of floods, and Tang seven years of drought, yet no one in their states was abandoned to starve, because their reserves were ample and their preparations made in advance.

Book of Han, Chapter 42Volume 33: Wei Bao, Tian Dan and Hán Xin (King of Han) · 1 passage

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贊曰：周室既壞，至春秋末，諸侯秏盡，而炎黃唐虞之苗裔尚猶頗有存者。 The appraisal says: After the Zhou house had collapsed, by the end of the Spring and Autumn period the feudal lords were largely exhausted, yet descendants of Yandi, Huangdi, Tang, and Yu still survived in considerable numbers.

Book of Han, Chapter 67Volume 57b: Sima Xiangru · 2 passages

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歷唐堯於崇山兮，過虞舜於九疑。 He salutes Yao at Mount Chong and Shun among the peaks of Jiuyi.

因斯以談，君莫盛於堯，臣莫賢於後稷。 Judging by that text, no ruler surpassed Yao and no minister equaled Houji.

Book of Han, Chapter 68Volume 58: Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan · 2 passages

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臣聞上古堯、舜之時，不貴爵常而民勸善，不重刑罰而民不犯，躬率以正而遇民信也； I have heard that under Yao and Shun, rank and salary were not lavishly prized, yet the people strove toward goodness; punishments were not heavy, yet no one broke the law—the rulers corrected themselves first, and trust ran both ways;

臣聞堯遭鴻水，使禹治之，未聞禹之有水也。 I have heard that Yao met the great flood and charged Yu to tame it—I have not heard that the fault was Yu's.

Book of Han, Chapter 69Volume 59: Zhang Tang · 1 passage

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夫親親任賢，唐、虞之道也，其封安世為富平侯。」 To cherish kin and employ the worthy is the Way of Tang and Yu. Let Anshi be enfeoffed as Marquis of Fuping."

Book of Han, Chapter 70Volume 60: Du Zhou · 1 passage

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如此，即堯、舜不足與比隆，咎異何足消滅？ Do this, and you will surpass even Yao and Shun—what omen could stand against you?

Book of Han, Chapter 76Volume 65: Dongfang Shuo · 4 passages

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陛下富於春秋，方積思於《六經》，留神於王事，馳騖於唐、虞，折節於三代，偃不遵經勸學，反以靡麗為右，奢侈為務，盡狗馬之樂，極耳目之欲，行邪枉之道，逕淫辟之路，是乃國家之大賊，人主之大蜮。 Your Majesty is young and should steep yourself in the Six Classics and the models of Yao, Shun, and the Three Dynasties; instead Dong Yan spurns learning, exalts luxury, fills your days with dogs, horses, and sensual delight, and leads you down depraved paths—he is a public scourge and a parasite on the throne.

朔對曰：「堯、舜、禹、湯、文、武、成、康上古之事，經歷數千載，尚難言也，臣不敢陳。 Shuo answered, "The deeds of Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Wen, Wu, Cheng, and Kang lie so far back in time that even after millennia they are hard to discuss clearly; I would not presume to rehearse them here.

陛下誠能用臣朔之計，推甲乙之帳燔之於四通之衢，卻走馬示不復用，則堯、舜之隆宜可與比治矣。 If Your Majesty would truly adopt my plan — haul those ranked curtains into the open crossroads and burn them, retire the racehorses and show the realm they will not be raced again — then Your government might stand comparison with the golden ages of Yao and Shun.

朔對曰：「自唐、虞之隆，成、康之際，未足以諭當世。 Shuo answered, "Not even the heights of Yao and Shun's age, nor the peace of King Cheng and King Kang, gives us a fair yardstick for today.

Book of Han, Chapter 82Volume 71: Jun, Shu, Yu, Xue, Ping and Peng · 1 passage

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昔者帝堯南面而治，先『克膽俊德，以親九族』，而化及萬國《孝經》曰『天地之性人為貴，人之行莫大於孝，孝莫大於嚴父，嚴父莫大於配天，則周公其人也。』 Emperor Yao faced his court and began by illumining matchless virtue and bringing harmony to his nine clans, until his influence spread to every state. The Classic of Filial Piety says that among heaven and earth's gifts none ranks above man, that among human deeds none ranks above filial piety, that honoring the father is filial piety's height, and that joining the father to heaven is its summit—and the Duke of Zhou is the model.

Book of Han, Chapter 89Volume 78: Xiao Wangzhi · 4 passages

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今陛下以聖德居位，思政求賢，堯舜之用心也。 Your Majesty now rules with sage virtue, seeks good government and worthy men—the mind of Yao and Shun.

堯在上，不能去民欲利之心，而能令其欲利不勝其好義也； Under Yao you could not erase the thirst for gain, yet gain never overcame the love of right;

故堯、桀之分，在於義利而已，道民不可不慎也。 The gulf between Yao and Jie is simply righteousness against profit—governing the people demands care.

陛下布德施教，教化既成，堯、舜亡以加也。 Your virtue and teaching have already wrought a transformation Yao and Shun could not surpass.

Book of Han, Chapter 94Volume 83: Xue Xuan and Zhu Bo · 1 passage

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且持此道歸，堯、舜君出，為陳說之。」 Take that sermon home and save it for the day Yao and Shun walk the earth again."

Book of Han, Chapter 96Volume 85: Gu Yong and Du Ye · 2 passages

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堯遭洪水之災，天下分絕為十二州，制遠之道微而無乖畔之難者，德厚恩深，無怨於下也。 Under Yao the world was shattered by flood and carved into twelve regions; control of the periphery grew weak, yet the people did not revolt—such was the depth of his virtue that none nursed a grudge.

誠放退殘賊酷暴之吏錮廢勿用，益選溫良上德之士以親萬勝，平刑釋冤以理民命，務省繇役，毋奪民時，薄收賦稅，毋殫民財，使天下黎元咸安家樂業，不苦逾時之役，不患苛暴之政，不疾酷烈之吏，雖有唐堯之大災，民無離上之心。 Truly dismiss and retire every cruel, predatory, harsh, and violent official, bar them forever from office, and select more gentle men of high virtue to draw close to the myriad households. Make punishments fair, release the wronged, and order the people’s lives; reduce corvée so as not to steal the farming seasons, and lighten taxes so as not to exhaust the people’s wealth. Then the common people throughout the realm will settle their households and delight in their work, not suffering from labor that runs past the proper season, not fearing harsh and violent government, and not hating cruel officials; even if there were a disaster as great as Yao’s flood, the people would have no heart to leave their ruler.

Book of Han, Chapter 98Volume 87a: Yang Xiong 1 · 5 passages

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宮外近則洪崖、旁皇、儲胥、弩阹，遠則石關、封巒、枝鵲、露寒、棠梨、師得，遊觀屈奇瑰瑋，非木摩而不雕，牆塗而不畫，周宣所考，般庚所遷，夏卑宮室，唐、虞棌椽三等之制也。 Nearby stood Hongya, Panhuang, and the rest; farther off Stone Pass, Seal Peak, and other lodges— marvels of touring architecture, yet meant to recall King Xuan's scrutiny, Pan Geng's migration, Xia's humble halls, and the three grades of unadorned rafters of Tang and Yu.

既祭，行遊介山，回安邑，顧龍門，覽鹽池，登歷觀，陟西嶽以望八荒，跡殷、周之虛，眇然以思唐、虞之風。 Afterward they toured Mount Jie, Anyi, Dragon Gate, the salt ponds, and the western peak, scanning the eight directions and pondering the vanished manners of Yao and Shun.

瞰帝唐之嵩高兮，□隆周之大寧。 They gaze upon the lofty age of Tang of Yao; they ponder the great tranquility of high Zhou.

雖頗割其三垂以贍齊民，然至羽獵、田車、戎馬、器械、儲偫、禁御所營，尚泰奢麗誇詡，非堯、舜、成湯、文王三驅之意也。 Some outer parkland was cut back for the people, yet the hunt itself—chariots, horses, gear—still swaggered in luxury, far from the restrained three-sided chase of the sages.

群公常伯楊硃、墨翟之徒喟然稱曰：「崇哉乎德，雖有唐、虞、大廈、成周之隆，何以侈茲！ The assembled lords and ministers, Yang Zhu, Mozi, and their like, sighed and said, "How lofty is this virtue! Though Yao and Shun had their glory, and though the Great Hall of Xia and flourishing Zhou rose so high, how could they surpass this!

Book of Han, Chapter 99Volume 87b: Yang Xiong 2 · 2 passages

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故有造蕭何律於唐、虞之世，則悖矣； Had someone drafted Xiao He’s Han code in the age of Yao and Shun, it would have been absurd.

《典》、《謨》之篇，《雅》、《頌》之聲，不溫純深潤，則不足以揚鴻烈而章緝熙。 The documents of Yao and Shun, the hymns of the 《Odes》, must be warm, dense, and deep or they cannot trumpet great merit and spread the light of good rule.

Book of Han, Chapter 101Volume 89: Upright Officials · 2 passages

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宣帝最先褒之，地節三年下詔曰：「蓋聞有功不賞，有罪不誅，雖唐、虞不能以化天下。 Emperor Xuan singled him out for praise early on. In the third year of Dijie an edict declared: "They say that where merit goes unrewarded and guilt unpunished, not even the sage-kings Yao and Shun could civilize the realm.

曰：「臣聞膠西王有諛臣侯得，王所為擬於桀、紂也，得以為堯、舜也。 Gong Sui explained: "He kept a flatterer named Hou De who masked conduct worthy of Jie and Zhou with praise fit for Yao and Shun.

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 5 passages

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昔在帝堯之禪曰：「咨爾舜，天之曆數在爾躬。」 When Emperor Yao yielded the throne he said, "Shun, the numbered seasons of Heaven now sit on you."

臮于稷𢍆，咸佐唐虞，光濟四海，奕世載德，至于湯武，而有天下。 Through ministers such as Hou Ji and Xie the virtue of Yao and Shun spread across the seas, generation on generation, until Tang of Shang and Wu of Zhou inherited the whole realm.

是故劉氏承堯之祚，氏族之世，著乎春秋。 The Liu lineage thus continued Yao's mandate, a pedigree the Spring and Autumn Annals already recorded.

唐據火德，而漢紹之，始起沛澤，則神母夜號，以章赤帝之符。 Emperor Yao held the virtue of Fire, and Han succeeded it; when it first arose in the Pei marshes, the divine mother cried out in the night to manifest the token of the Red Emperor.

蓋在高祖，其興也有五：一曰帝堯之苗裔，二曰體貌多奇異，三曰神武有徵應，四曰寬明而仁恕，五曰知人善任使。 Gaozu's ascent rested on five signs: Yao's bloodline, a singular physique, omens that blessed his arms, a generous humane temper, and a gift for placing the right men.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 30Volume 27: Biographies of Xuan, Zang, Two Wangs, Du, Guo, Wu, Cheng, Zheng, Zhao · 1 passage

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時，帝欲廣開鴻池，典諫曰：『鴻池泛溉，已且百頃，猶復增而深之，非所以崇唐、虞之約己，遵孝之愛人也。』 When the emperor planned to enlarge Hong Pool, Zhao Dian urged: 'It already floods nearly a hundred qing; to dig it wider and deeper is no way to honor the self-restraint of Yao and Shun or to show the humane care expected of a filial ruler.'

Book of Later Han, Chapter 32Volume 28b: Biography of Feng Yan · 3 passages

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欣吾黨之唐、虞兮，湣吾生之愁勤； I exult in the days of Tang and Yu; I pity this anxious life I lead;

堯、舜煥其蕩蕩兮，禹承平而革命。 Yao and Shun shone with effortless breadth; Yu took a settled age and forged a new mandate.

思唐、虞之晏晏兮，揖稷、契與為朋； I dwell on the calm of Yao and Shun's age and would take Hou Ji and Xie as my companions;

Book of Later Han, Chapter 34Volume 30a: Biographies of Su Jing; Yang Hou · 1 passage

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且火德承堯，雖昧必亮，承積世之祚，握無窮之符，王氏雖乘間偷篡，而終嬰大戮，支分體解，宗氏屠滅，非其效歟？ Han’s fire virtue follows Yao’s line; even in gloom it must flare; it carries forward ages of fortune and holds inexhaustible tokens. The Wangs may have usurped in a moment of weakness, yet they ended in hideous execution—dismemberment and clan extinction—is that not demonstration enough?

Book of Later Han, Chapter 38Volume 33: Biographies of Zhu, Feng, Yu, Zheng, Zhou · 3 passages

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惜乎棄休令之嘉名，造梟鴟之逆謀，捐傳世之慶祚，招破敗之重災，高論堯、舜之道，不忍桀、紂之性，生為世笑，死為愚鬼，不亦哀乎！ What a waste—to trade a good name for treason fit for birds of prey, to throw away lasting fortune and court ruin, to preach Yao and Shun while indulging a temper worthy of Jie and Zhou: mocked in life, a fool in death—is that not tragedy?

然以堯、舜之盛，猶如三考，大漢之興，亦累功效，吏皆積久，養老於官，至名子孫，因為氏姓。 Even under Yao and Shun, officers sat three rounds of review; our own dynasty rose by steady service—officials grew old in post, passed offices to sons, and surnames took root.

長水校尉樊鯈言於帝曰：『唐堯大聖，兆人獲所，尚優遊四兇之獄，厭服海內之心，使天下鹹知，然後殛罰。 Colonel of Changshui Fan Xiu urged the throne: 'Even sage Yao, once the people had their places, moved deliberately against the Four Villains, won the empire's trust, and let all understand before he punished.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 39Volume 34: Biography of Liang Tong · 1 passage

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聞聖帝明王，制立刑罰，故雖堯、舜之盛，猶誅四凶。 Sage kings always frame punishments—even Yao and Shun put down the Four Villains.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 40Volume 35: Biographies of Zhang, Cao, Zheng · 1 passage

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宜及嘉時，遵唐帝之典，繼孝武之業，以二月東巡狩，封於岱宗，明中興，勒功勛，復祖統，報天神，禪梁父，祀地祇，傳祚子孫，萬世之基也。』 You should use this propitious season, follow Yao's model and Emperor Wu's example, tour east in the second month, feng Mount Tai to proclaim the restoration, record achievements, realign the cult with the founders, thank heaven above, shan at Liangfu, honor earth below, and lay a foundation for endless generations."

Book of Later Han, Chapter 92Volume 82a: Biographies of Alchemists 1 · 1 passage

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臣聞堯登稷、契，政隆太平； Your servant has heard that when Yao raised Ji and Xie, peace spread across the realm;

Book of Later Han, Chapter 109Volume 98: Rituals and Worship Part Two · 1 passage

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二月，上东巡狩，将至泰山，道使使者奉一太牢祠帝尧于济阴成阳灵台。 In the second month the emperor set out on an eastern tour; before reaching Mount Tai he dispatched envoys with a full tailao offering to honor Emperor Yao at the Spirit Terrace in Chengyang, Jiyin.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 131Volume 120: Treatise on Carriages and Dress, Part Two · 1 passage

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黃帝、堯、舜垂衣裳而天下治，蓋取諸乾巛。 The Yellow Emperor, Yao, and Shun are said to have “let robe and skirt fall straight,” and good government followed—an image drawn, tradition holds, from the trigrams Qian and Kun.

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 · 4 passages

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奠幣，姑洗宮《和甯之曲》，辭曰：「天生聖人，賢于堯舜。 For the presentation of silks, the "Song of Harmonious Peace" in the Guxian mode was sung; its words run: "Heaven gave birth to a sage more worthy than Yao and Shun.

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.

泰和三年、尚書省奏：「太常寺言：'《開元禮》祭帝嚳、堯、舜、禹、湯、文、武、漢祖祝版請禦署。 In Taihe 3 the Secretariat memorialized: "The Court of Imperial Sacrifices reports that under the Kaiyuan Rites, prayer boards for sacrifices to Di Ku, Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Kings Wen and Wu, and the Han Founder require imperial endorsement.

《開寶禮》犧、軒、顓頊、帝嚳、陶唐、女媧、成湯、文、武請禦署，自漢高祖以下二十七帝不署。 The Kaibao Rites require imperial endorsement for Fu Xi, the Yellow Emperor, Zhuanxu, Di Ku, Emperor Yao, Nüwa, Tang, and Kings Wen and Wu; from Han Gaozu downward twenty-seven emperors are not endorsed.

History of Jin, Chapter 127Volume 127 Biographies 65: Xiao You, Wendihanwolubu, Chen Yan, Liu Yu, Meng Xing, Wang Zhen, Liu Zheng, Yin Yi, Chu Chengliang, Wang Qufei, Zhao Zhi, Du Shisheng, Hao Tianting, Xue Jiyuan, Gao Zhongzhen, Zhang Qian, Wang Rumei, Song Ke, Xin Yuan, Wang Yuke · 1 passage

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然以唐、虞之世，「黎民阻饑」不免以命稷，「百姓不親、五品不遜」不免以命契，以是知順成之不可必，猶孝友之不易得也。 Even in the age of Tang and Yu, when "the people were beset by hunger," Ji had to be put in charge of agriculture; when "the common folk were estranged and the five bonds of kinship were in disorder," Qi had to be entrusted with education — which shows that a bountiful harvest cannot be taken for granted any more than filial piety and brotherly devotion can be secured at will.

Book of Jin, Chapter 101Volume 101 Records 1: Liu Yuanhai and Liu Xuan · 1 passage

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平陽勢有紫氣，兼陶唐舊都，願陛下上迎乾象，下協坤祥。」 Pingyang shows purple mist and was Yao's ancient seat—move there to match heaven and earth."

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 5Volume 5 Book of Later Liang 5: Taizu Annals 5 · 2 passages

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師唐、虞之典，上則於乾功，挹殷、夏之源，下涵於民極。 I take Tang and Yu as my pattern above to match Heaven’s work and draw on Yin and Xia below to hold up the people’s foundation—

朕聞歷代帝王，首推堯、舜； I am told that of all emperors and kings, Yao and Shun stand first;

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 10Volume 10 Book of Later Liang 10: Later Emperors Annals 3 · 1 passage

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而炎、黃有戰伐之師，堯、舜有干戈之用，諒不獲已，其猶病諸。 Even the Yellow and Flame emperors and Yao and Shun resorted to arms when they had no choice, though war grieved them.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 50Volume 50 Book of Later Tang 26: Biographies 2: Imperial Family · 1 passage

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史臣曰：昔武皇發跡於陰山，莊宗肇基於河朔，雖奄有天下，而享國日淺，眷言枝屬，空秀棣華，固未及推帝堯敦敘之恩，廣成王封建之義。 The historiographer writes: The Martial Emperor rose from the Yin Mountains and Emperor Zhuangzong founded his rule in Hebei. Though they briefly held the realm, their dynasties were short-lived. Their kinsmen bloomed like catalpa blossoms yet bore no fruit—they never attained Emperor Yao's generous ordering of kin or broadly extended King Cheng's principles of enfeoffment.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 115Volume 115 Book of Later Zhou 17: Shizong Annals 2 · 1 passage

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雖堯、舜、禹、湯之上聖，文、武、成康之至明，尚猶思逆耳之言，求苦口之藥，何況後人之不逮哉！ Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang were supreme sages; Wen, Wu, Cheng, and Kang were supremely enlightened—yet they still welcomed unwelcome counsel and sought bitter medicine for the state. How much more must lesser rulers do so!

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 119Volume 119 Book of Later Zhou 21: Shizong Annals 6 · 1 passage

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昔唐堯之至聖，有巢、許為外臣，朕雖寡薄，庶遵前鑒。 Of old the sage Yao had Youchao and Xu as ministers beyond the court; We, though meager, would follow that example.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 120Volume 120 Book of Later Zhou 22: Emperor Gong Annals · 3 passages

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是日，詔曰：「天生蒸民，樹之司牧，二帝推公而禪位，三王乘時以革命，其極一也。 That day an edict read: "Heaven bred the people and set rulers over them; Yao and Shun yielded the realm in the public interest, and the Three Kings changed the mandate when the time came—the principle is the same.

天地鬼神享於有德，謳謠獄訟附於至仁，應天順民，法堯禪舜，如釋重負，予其作賓，嗚呼欽哉！ Heaven, earth, and the spirits accept the offerings of the virtuous; the people's songs and lawsuits turn to supreme benevolence; answer Heaven and follow the people, yield as Yao did to Shun, cast off this heavy burden, and let me be your guest. Reverently!

故堯、舜之揖讓，漢、魏之傳禪，皆知其數而順乎人也。 Thus Yao and Shun's abdications and the Han and Wei transfers of the mandate all followed this pattern and answered to the people's will.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 140Volume 140: Treatises 2 Calendars · 3 passages

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故虞舜之紹唐堯，先齊七政； Thus when Shun succeeded Yao, his first act was to align the seven luminaries;

昔在唐堯，欽若昊天。 Of old, Yao of Tang reverently conformed to august Heaven.

唐堯之道也，其曆謹以「顯德欽天」為名。 This is the Way of Yao of Tang; the calendar is respectfully named "Xiande Qintian."

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 147Volume 147: Treatises 9 Punishment and Law · 1 passage

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伏以刑法者御人之銜勒，救弊之斧斤，故鞭撲不可一日弛之於家，刑法不可一日廢之於國，雖堯、舜淳古之代，亦不能舍此而致理矣。 Penal law is the bridle by which people are governed and the tool by which abuses are cut away. Flogging cannot be relaxed for a day in the household, nor penal law abandoned for a day in the state—even the pure antiquity of Yao and Shun could not achieve good order without it.

Book of Liang, Chapter 4Volume 4: Emperor Jianwen · 1 passage

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所以堯舜克讓，惟德是與； Therefore Yao and Shun yielded the throne, giving it only to the virtuous;

Book of Liang, Chapter 38Volume 38: Zhu Yi; He Chen · 2 passages

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堯爲聖主，四凶在朝； Yao was a sage, and still the Four Evils sat in court;

向令舜但聽公車上書，四凶終自不知，堯亦永爲暗主。 If Shun had listened only to anonymous memorials, the Four Evils would never have been exposed and Yao would have remained a blind ruler forever.

History of Liao, Chapter 41Volume 41 Treatises 11: Geography 5 · 1 passage

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西京大同府，陶唐冀州之域。 Datong Prefecture at the Western Capital was ancient Ji territory under Yao.

History of Liao, Chapter 44Volume 44 Treatises 14: Celestial Phenomena 3 · 1 passage

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天道之常，尋尺之中可以俯窺，陶唐之象是矣。 The regularities of heaven could be inspected within a few feet—such was the celestial model of the age of Yao.

History of Liao, Chapter 61Volume 61 Treatises 31: Punishment and Law 1 · 1 passage

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帝堯清問下民，乃命三後恤功於民，伯夷降典，折民惟刑，故曰刑也者，始於兵而終於禮者也。 Emperor Yao sought the people's counsel and charged the Three Lords to care for their welfare; Boyi issued the penal code and judged the people by law alone — hence the saying that punishment begins with arms and ends with ritual.

History of Liao, Chapter 78Volume 78 Biographies 8: Yelu Yilage, Xiao Haili, Xiao Husi, Xiao Siwen, Xiao Jixian · 1 passage

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堯之伐苗民也，呂侯追數其罪曰「殺戮無辜」。 when Yao attacked the Miao, Marquis Lü pursued the charge: "Slaughtering the innocent."

History of Liao, Chapter 117Appendix: History of the Liao Table · 1 passage

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臣脫脫誠惶誠恐頓首：欽惟皇帝陛下，如堯稽古，而簡寬容眾； Your subject Toqto'a, in deepest reverence and fear, bows his head and reports: I respectfully observe that Your Majesty, like Yao in studying antiquity, is concise in manner yet magnanimous toward all;

History of Ming, Chapter 115Volume 115 Biographies 3: Emperor Xingzong Xiaokang, Emperor Ruizong Xingxian · 2 passages

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河東地勢高，控制西北，堯嘗都之，然其地苦寒。 The Shanxi plateau commands the northwest and Yao once ruled there, but it is bitterly cold.

帝曰：「帝堯父母異陵，可知合葬非古。」 Jiajing replied: "Emperor Yao's parents lie in separate tombs—joint burial is not ancient practice."

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 10Volume 10 Treatises 2: Rituals 1 · 1 passage

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祠部郎何佟之議：「昔舜受終文祖，義非胤堯，及放勛徂落，遏密三祀。 He Tongzhi, directorate-of-sacrifices attendant, argued: "When Shun received the mandate from Wenzu he did not, in principle, inherit Yao; when Fangxun died, he suppressed music for three years.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 33Volume 33 Biographies 14: Wang Sengqian, Zhang Xu · 1 passage

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然重華無嚴父，放勳無令子，亦各由己耳。 Yet Shun had no stern father, and Yao had no worthy son—each came to it by his own path.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 47Volume 47 Biographies 28: Wang Rong, Xie Tiao · 2 passages

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抑又唐堯在上，不參二八，管夷吾恥之，臣亦恥之。 Moreover, when Emperor Yao sat above, he did not consult his Eight and his Two; Guan Zhong found that shameful, and so do I.

臣亦遭逢，生此嘉運，鑿飲耕食，自幸唐年。 I too have met with fortune, born in this excellent age, drinking from the plow and eating from the soil, counting myself blessed to live in an age like Tang Yao's.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 53Volume 53 Biographies 34: Virtuous Officials · 1 passage

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愿又曰：「堯以此教丹朱，非人主所宜好也。」 Yuan added, 'Yao used this game to teach his son Danzhu—it is not a pastime fit for a sovereign.'

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 60Preface · 1 passage

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昔者，唐虞有神明之性，有微妙之德，使由之者不能知，知之者不能名。 In antiquity Tang and Yu possessed a divine nature and subtle virtue: those who followed them could not fully grasp it, and those who grasped it could not put it into words.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 111Volume 111 Treatises 86: Selection and Examinations 6, Kao Ji · 1 passage

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三載考績之法，昉自唐、虞。 The practice of reviewing officials every three years began in the age of Yao and Shun.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 120Volume 120 Treatises 95: Food and Money 1, Households and Land System · 1 passage

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夫以唐、虞治平之世，而其告舜、禹也，諄諄以「四海困窮，天祿永終」為戒。 Even in the golden age of Yao and Shun, their charge to Shun and Yu rang with one warning: "When the four seas are impoverished, Heaven's mandate is cut off forever."

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 340Volume 340 Biographies 127: Wang Jie, Dong Gao, Zhu Gui · 1 passage

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惟原皇上無忘堯、舜自任之心，臣敢不勉行義事君之道。」 I only pray Your Majesty not forget the heart that takes Yao and Shun upon oneself; how dare your servant not strive to serve the ruler with righteousness."

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 353Volume 353 Biographies 140: Da Chun | Son: Sa Bin Tu, Tie Bao Younger Brother: Yu Bao, He Ying, Jue Luo Gui Fang · 2 passages

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昔孔子論仁至於濟眾，論敬至於安百姓，皆曰：'堯、舜其猶病諸。 Confucius, in speaking of benevolence as far as benefiting the multitude and of reverence as far as securing the people, said of each: 'Even Yao and Shun would still have found it difficult.'

'豈真以堯、舜之聖為未至哉？ Did he truly mean that Yao and Shun had not yet attained sagehood?

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 390Volume 390 Biographies 177: Jia Zhen, Zhou Zupei, Zhu Fengbiao, Dan Maoqian · 1 passage

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至如宋之章獻劉皇后，有今世任姒之稱，宣仁高太后有女中堯舜之譽。 Empress Liu Zhangxian of Song was hailed as a Ren Ji for her age, and Empress Gao Xuanyi was praised as a Yao or Shun among women.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 443Volume 443 Biographies 230: Sun Jianai, Zhang Baixi, Tang Jingchong, Yu Shimei, Shen Jiaben · 1 passage

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惟人心趣向各異，告以堯、舜、周、孔之道，則以爲不足法； Only people's inclinations differ: tell them the ways of Yao, Shun, the Zhou, and Confucius, and they deem them unworthy of imitation;

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 445Volume 445 Biographies 232: Wu Kedu, Zhu Yixin, Tu Keshou, An Weijun, Wen Ti, Jiang Chunlin · 1 passage

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危亂而可諱忘，則進苦口於堯舜，為無疾呻吟，陳隱患於聖明，為不祥舉動。 If danger may be hushed up and forgotten, then offering bitter counsel even to Yao and Shun would be called feigned groaning without illness, and warning of hidden perils before a sage ruler would be deemed an ill-omened act.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 34Volume 34: Book of Shu 4: Biographies of Concubines and Sons of the Two Lords · 1 passage

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今先主無權事之偪，而引前失以為譬，非導其君以堯、舜之道者。 Liu Bei faced no such coercion, yet Fa Zheng cited an old lapse as precedent—this was not guiding a ruler along the path of Yao and Shun.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 1Annals of the Five Emperors · 47 passages

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帝嚳娶陳鋒氏女，生放勛。 Emperor Ku took a Chenfeng woman to wife and she bore Fangxun.

而弟放勳立，是爲帝堯。 His younger brother Fangxun then took the throne; this was Emperor Yao.

帝堯者，放勳。 Emperor Yao's personal name was Fangxun.

堯曰：「誰可順此事？」 Yao asked, “Who can be charged with these affairs?”

堯曰：「吁！ Yao sighed, “Ah!

堯又曰：「誰可者？」 Yao asked again, “Who then is fit?”

堯曰：「共工善言，其用僻，似恭漫天，不可。」 Yao replied, “Gonggong talks fair but acts crooked; he feigns reverence while scorning heaven—he is unfit.”

堯又曰：「嗟，四嶽，湯湯洪水滔天，浩浩懷山襄陵，下民其憂，有能使治者？」 Yao cried, “O Four Peaks, the deluge rolls to the very sky; it swallows hills and clasps ridges, and the people below lament—who can be sent to tame it?”

堯曰：「鯀負命毀族，不可。」 Yao said, “Gun defies orders and shames his clan; he will not do.”

堯於是聽嶽用鯀。 Yao yielded to the Peaks and gave Gun the work.

堯曰：「嗟！ Yao said, “Ah!

堯曰：「悉舉貴戚及疏遠隱匿者。」 Yao said, “Search out everyone, near kin or far, known or hidden.”

眾皆言於堯曰：「有矜在民閒，曰虞舜。」 The assembly told Yao, “Among the commoners there is a bachelor named Shun of Yu.”

堯曰：「然，朕聞之。 Yao said, “I have heard of him.

堯曰：「吾其試哉。」 Yao said, “Then I shall test him.”

於是堯妻之二女，觀其德於二女。 Yao therefore married his two daughters to Shun to see how he treated them.

堯善之，乃使舜慎和五典，五典能從。 Pleased with Shun, Yao set him to put the five relationships in order, and they fell into harmony.

堯使舜入山林川澤，暴風雷雨，舜行不迷。 Yao sent him into hills and marshes in howling wind and driving rain; Shun never lost his way.

堯以為聖，召舜曰：「女謀事至而言可績，三年矣。 Seeing his sagacity, Yao called Shun and said, “For three years you have planned the work of state, and every word you spoke has borne fruit.

文祖者，堯大祖也。 Wenzu was the temple of Yao’s supreme ancestor.

於是帝堯老，命舜攝行天子之政，以觀天命。 Yao had grown old, so he ordered Shun to act as regent and govern as Son of Heaven while Heaven’s mandate was observed.

讙兜進言共工，堯曰不可而試之工師，共工果淫辟。 Huan Dou praised Gonggong; Yao refused the post but still tested him as minister of works, and Gonggong proved wanton and corrupt.

四嶽舉鯀治鴻水，堯以為不可，嶽彊請試之，試之而無功，故百姓不便。 The Four Peaks urged Gun to master the flood; Yao doubted him, yet at their insistence gave him trial; Gun failed, and the people suffered for it.

於是舜歸而言於帝，請流共工於幽陵，以變北狄； Shun then reported to Yao and asked to exile Gonggong to Youling to chasten the northern Di.

堯立七十年得舜，二十年而老，令舜攝行天子之政，薦之於天。 Seventy years Yao reigned before he found Shun; twenty years later, enfeebled, he made Shun regent and commended him to heaven.

堯辟位凡二十八年而崩。 Twenty-eight years after yielding the throne Yao died.

三年，四方莫舉樂，以思堯。 For three years no music sounded within the four seas, so deep was the grief for Yao.

堯知子丹朱之不肖，不足授天下，於是乃權授舜。 Yao knew his son Dan Zhu was unworthy and could not receive the realm, so he weighed the matter and transferred the mandate to Shun.

堯曰：「終不以天下之病而利一人」，而卒授舜以天下。 Yao declared, “I will never harm the myriad people for one man’s sake,” and in the end he ceded the empire to Shun.

堯崩，三年之喪畢，舜讓辟丹朱於南河之南。 After Yao’s death and the three years’ mourning, Shun yielded the throne to Dan Zhu south of the southern river.

三十而帝堯問可用者，四嶽咸薦虞舜，曰可。 At thirty, when Yao asked for worthy men, the Four Peaks together named Shun of Yu.

於是堯乃以二女妻舜以觀其內，使九男與處以觀其外。 Yao therefore married his two daughters to watch Shun’s inner life and sent nine sons to live with him and watch his outer conduct.

堯二女不敢以貴驕事舜親戚，甚有婦道。 The two princesses never flaunted their rank over Shun’s family but kept every wifely duty.

堯九男皆益篤。 Yao’s nine sons grew steadier under Shun’s influence.

堯乃賜舜絺衣，與琴，為筑倉廩，予牛羊。 Yao then gifted him fine cloth and a zither, built granaries for him, and presented oxen and sheep.

象與其父母分，於是曰：「舜妻堯二女，與琴，象取之。 Xiang divided the booty with his parents, saying, “Shun’s wives, Yao’s daughters, and his zither belong to me.

於是堯乃試舜五典百官，皆治。 Yao then tested Shun with the five relationships and every bureau—everything thrived.

至於堯，堯未能舉。 Yet even under Yao they had not been promoted.

至于堯，堯未能去。 Even Yao could not uproot them.

舜入于大麓，烈風雷雨不迷，堯乃知舜之足授天下。 Shun walked the great moor in gales and thunder and never lost his way; Yao knew he could receive the mandate.

堯老，使舜攝行天子政，巡狩。 When Yao grew feeble he made Shun regent and sent him to tour the realm.

舜得舉用事二十年，而堯使攝政。 Twenty years Shun held office before Yao named him regent.

攝政八年而堯崩。 Eight years as regent, then Yao died.

而禹、皋陶、契、后稷、伯夷、夔、龍、倕、益、彭祖自堯時而皆舉用，未有分職。 Yu, Gao Yao, Qi, Hou Ji, Boyi, Kui, Long, Chui, Yi, and Peng Zu had served since Yao’s day without fixed portfolios.

於是舜乃至於文祖，謀于四嶽，辟四門，明通四方耳目，命十二牧論帝德，行厚德，遠佞人，則蠻夷率服。 Shun entered Wenzu, spoke with the Four Peaks, opened the four gates, sharpened sight and hearing across the realm, ordered the twelve pastors to expound Yao’s virtue, spread deep kindness, drive off sycophants—and the wild tribes submitted.

舜謂四嶽曰：「有能奮庸美堯之事者，使居官相事？」 Shun asked the Four Peaks, “Who can carry on Yao’s work with zeal and serve as minister?”

皆曰：「伯禹為司空，可美帝功。」 All answered, “Lord Yu as Minister of Works can finish what Yao began.”

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 2Annals of Xia · 7 passages

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當帝堯之時，鴻水滔天，浩浩懷山襄陵，下民其憂。 Under Emperor Yao the floodwaters rose to the sky, spread around the peaks, and overtopped the hills, and the people lived in dread of them.

堯求能治水者，群臣四嶽皆曰鯀可。 Yao looked for someone who could manage the flood; the officials and the lords of the Four Peaks all said, "Gun may do it."

堯曰：「鯀為人負命毀族，不可。」 Yao replied, "Gun disobeys orders and harms his own people. I cannot use him."

於是堯聽四嶽，用鯀治水。 Yao yielded and put Gun in charge of the flood works.

於是帝堯乃求人，更得舜。 Emperor Yao began looking again and found Shun.

堯崩，帝舜問四嶽曰：「有能成美堯之事者使居官？」 When Yao died, Emperor Shun asked the Four Peaks, "Is there anyone who can complete Yao's work and take office?"

皆曰：「伯禹為司空，可成美堯之功。」 They said, "Lord Yu, as Minister of Works, could finish what Yao began."

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 3Annals of Yin · 1 passage

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契興於唐、虞、大禹之際，功業著於百姓，百姓以平。 He rose in the age of Yao, Shun, and Yu the Great; his achievements won renown among the people, and the realm was at peace.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 13Genealogical Tables of the Three Dynasties · 9 passages

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堯屬 Line of Yao

蟜極生高辛。高辛生放勛。 Jiaoji fathered Gaoxin. Gaoxin fathered Fangxun.

帝堯。起黃帝，至俈子五世。號唐。 Emperor Yao. From the Yellow Emperor to the sons of Ku: five generations, with the style Tang.

放勛為堯。 Fangxun was Yao.

堯知契、稷皆賢人，天之所生，故封之契七十里，後十餘世至湯，王天下。 Yao knew that Qi and Ji were both worthy men born of Heaven, and therefore enfeoffed Qi with a domain of seventy li. More than ten generations later, his line reached Tang, who ruled all under Heaven.

堯知后稷子孫之後王也，故益封之百里，其後世且千歲，至文王而有天下。 Yao knew that Hou Ji's descendants would later become kings, and therefore enlarged his fief by a hundred li. His descendants endured for nearly a thousand years, down to King Wen, who came to possess all under Heaven.

契生而賢，堯立為司徒，姓之曰子氏。 Qi was born wise, Yao established him as Minister of the Multitudes (Situ), and gave him the surname Zi.

堯知其賢才，立以為大農，姓之曰姬氏。 Yao knew his worthy talents, established him as Great Farmer, and gave him the surname Ji.

孔子曰：『昔者堯命契為子氏，為有湯也。 Confucius said, 'In former times Yao commanded Qi to be of the Zi clan, because there would be Tang.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 23Treatise on Ritual · 1 passage

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古者帝堯之治天下也，蓋殺一人刑二人而天下治。 When the ancient Emperor Yao governed the realm, he probably killed one person and punished two persons, and the realm was governed.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 26Treatise on the Calendar · 1 passage

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堯復遂重黎之後，不忘舊者，使復典之，而立羲和之官。 Yao in turn restored the descendants of Chong and Li, not forgetting the old order, and again made them administer it, establishing the offices of Xi and He.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 61Biographies: Biography of Bo Yi · 2 passages

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堯將遜位，讓於虞舜，舜禹之閒，岳牧咸薦，乃試之於位，典職數十年，功用既興，然後授政。 When Yao was about to abdicate the throne and yield it to Yu Shun—and in the interval between Shun and Yu—the mountain lords and pastors all recommended him. They tested him in office; he held his duties for several decades, and when his merits and achievements had flourished, they transferred the administration to him.

而說者曰堯讓天下於許由，許由不受，恥之逃隱。 Yet storytellers say that Yao yielded the realm to Xu You, that Xu You did not accept, and that, ashamed, he fled into seclusion.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 74Biographies of Mengzi and Xun Qing · 1 passage

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天下方務於合從連衡，以攻伐為賢，而孟軻乃述唐、虞、三代之德，是以所如者不合。 The world was just striving for vertical alliances and horizontal connections, considering conquest and invasion worthy pursuits, while Meng Ke expounded the virtues of Tang, Yu, and the Three Dynasties. This is why wherever he went, he did not find agreement.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 99Biographies of Liu Jing and Shusun Tong · 1 passage

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周之先自后稷，堯封之邰，積德累善十有餘世。 The Zhou ancestors began with Hou Ji, whom Yao enfeoffed at Tai, accumulating virtue and goodness for more than ten generations.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 120Biographies of Ji and Zheng · 1 passage

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天子方招文學儒者，上曰吾欲云云，黯對曰：「陛下內多欲而外施仁義，柰何欲效唐虞之治乎！」 The Emperor was at that time actively courting men of letters and Confucian scholars. When the Emperor spoke of his grand ambitions, Ji An replied: 'Your Majesty harbors boundless desires within, yet makes an outward show of benevolence and righteousness—how can you hope to emulate the governance of Yao and Shun!'

History of Song, Chapter 76Volume 76 Treatises 29: Measures and Calendar 9 · 1 passage

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堯敕羲和制橫簫以考察星度，其機衡用玉，欲其燥濕不變，運動有常，堅久而不能廢也。 Yao charged Xihe with fashioning transverse sight-tubes to measure the stars, and had the mechanisms and pivots made of jade so they would not warp with damp or dryness, would move evenly, and would endure firm and unchanging for long use.

History of Song, Chapter 110Volume 110 Treatises 63: Rites 13 · 3 passages

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今陛下超然獨斷，高蹈堯、舜之舉，臣等心實欽仰。 Now Your Majesty has acted with transcendent resolve, loftily following the example of Yao and Shun, and we are filled with admiration.

左仆射陳康伯等言：“五帝之壽，惟堯最高，百王之聖，惟堯獨冠。 Left Vice Director Chen Kangbo and others said: "Among the Five Emperors, only Yao lived longest; among the hundred kings, only Yao stood supreme in sagely virtue.

今茲高世之舉，視堯有光，恭請上太上皇帝尊號曰光堯壽聖太上皇帝，太上皇后尊號曰壽聖太上皇后。” Now this exalted act surpassing the age shines when compared with Yao. We respectfully request conferring on the Supreme Emperor the honorific title Guangyao Shousheng Supreme Emperor and on the Supreme Empress the honorific title Shousheng Supreme Empress."

History of Song, Chapter 141Volume 141 Treatises 94: Music 16 · 9 passages

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望雲霄，降福與唐堯。 Gazing toward the clouds, blessings descend as they did for Tang Yao.

萬姓齊祝，壽同天地，事超唐、虞。 All the people bless together, wishing long life equal to heaven and earth, achievements surpassing Tang and Yu.

徽音顯號自堯門，德行已該存。 Fine repute and manifest title from Yao's gate—virtue and conduct already fully preserved.

愛民利物，德邁陶唐，躋俗盡淳厖。 Loving the people, nurturing all things—virtue surpassing Yao and Tang; customs rise to pure abundance.

堯傳舜，盛事千古難並。 Yao passed the throne to Shun—a grand event unmatched through the ages.

上皇天大，華旦煥堯文，鴻福浩無垠，羽龍俄駕靈盾去，空鎖鼎湖雲。 The retired emperor vast as heaven—glorious dawn restored Yao's ways, fortune boundless; the feathered dragon soon bore the spirit bier away, leaving only Ding Lake's clouds locked empty.

巍巍堯父告神功，追慕孝誠通。 Towering as Yao's father, divine merit is proclaimed—remembrance and filial sincerity reach through.

柔儀懿範與堯同，飆馭儼相從。 Gentle bearing and worthy example matched Yao's; the whirlwind escort solemnly follows in train.

日親廣廈論唐、虞，講求政治想都俞，君臣一德誌交孚。 Daily in the broad hall he discussed Tang and Yu—seeking good governance, thinking of that ancient harmony; ruler and ministers one in virtue, mutual trust fulfilled.

History of Song, Chapter 144Volume 144 Treatises 97: Ceremonial Guards 2 · 1 passage

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今父堯子舜，事親典禮，凡往古來今所未備者，當以義起，極其尊崇，為萬世法。” With a filial son like Shun honoring a sage father like Yao, rites not provided for in past or present should be established on principle, carried to the highest honor, and made a model for all time."

History of Song, Chapter 497Volume 497: Appendix: History of Song Table Revision of Official Titles · 1 passage

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曰若帝堯，曰若帝舜，惟聖心稽古之功； "Oh, how like Emperor Yao! Oh, how like Emperor Shun!"—such is the sage's achievement in examining antiquity;

Book of Song, Chapter 3Volume 3 Annals 3: Emperor Wu 3 · 1 passage

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越俶唐、虞，降暨漢、魏，靡不以上哲格文祖，元勳陟帝位，故能大拯黔首，垂訓無窮。 From Yao and Shun down through Han and Wei, none failed to have a supreme sage align with the founding ancestor of civilization and a chief merit-holder ascend the throne, thereby greatly rescuing the common people and handing down instruction without end.

Book of Song, Chapter 62Volume 62 Biographies 22: Yang Xin, Zhang Fu, Wang Wei · 1 passage

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夫奇士必龍居深藏，與蛙蝦為伍，放勳其猶難之，林宗輩不足識也。 Extraordinary men must dwell hidden like dragons, keeping company with frogs and shrimp; even Emperor Yao found it hard; men like Guo Linzong are not enough to recognize them.

Book of Sui, Chapter 5Volume 5 Annals 5: Emperor Gong · 1 passage

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既鍾百六之期，躬踐數終之運，謳歌有屬，笙鍾變響，雖欲不遵堯舜之迹，其庸可得乎！ Having entered the era of cosmic calamity and personally tread the fortune of an exhausted mandate—the song of praise already had its object, the bells and flutes had changed their tune. Even had he wished not to follow in the footsteps of Yao and Shun, how could he have done otherwise!

Book of Wei, Chapter 27Volume 22: Emperor Xiaowen's Five Princes · 1 passage

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斯乃硃、均之性，堯、舜不能訓也。 Such was the nature of Zhu and Jun; Yao and Shun could not instruct it.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 70Volume 70 Tables 10A: Imperial Clan Lineages 1A · 1 passage

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帝顓頊高陽氏生大業，大業生女華，女華生皐陶，字庭堅，為堯大理。 Emperor Zhuanxu of the Gaoyang line had Daye; Daye had Nühua; and Nühua had Gao Yao, styled Tingjian, who served Emperor Yao as Minister of Justice.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 175Volume 175 Biographies 100: Dou, Liu, Two Zhangs, Yang, Xiong, Bai · 1 passage

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臣聞堯、舜以天下為憂，不以位為樂。 I have heard that Yao and Shun worried for the realm rather than rejoiced in their rank.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 178Volume 178 Biographies 103: Liu Fen · 1 passage

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元凱之所先，不若唐堯考績； what Yuan Kai puts first cannot match Tang Yao's performance review;

New Book of Tang, Chapter 184Volume 184 Biographies 109: Ma, Yang, Lu, Lu · 2 passages

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《鹹池》，堯樂也。 the Brine Pool is Yao's music.

今輟西南屯士往耕，則姚、巂兵少，賊得乘間。 If we now divert southwestern garrison troops to farming, Yao and Xi will be understrength and bandits can seize their chance.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 59Volume 59: Examination on Astronomy · 1 passage

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自堯、舜、三代以來，莫不稱天以舉事，孔子刪《詩》、《書》不去也。 From the age of Yao and Shun through the Three Dynasties, no one failed to cite Heaven in justifying their deeds; Confucius, in editing the Odes and Documents, left such passages intact.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 71Volume 71: Timeline for the Hereditary Houses of the Ten Kingdoms · 1 passage

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嗚呼，堯、舜盛矣！ Alas, how magnificent were Yao and Shun!

History of Yuan, Chapter 171Volume 171 Biographies 58: Liu Yin, Wu Cheng · 3 passages

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弱冠時，嘗著說曰：「道之大原出於天，神聖繼之，堯、舜而上，道之元也； In his youth he once wrote a treatise, saying, "The great origin of the Way comes forth from Heaven, and the sages continue it. Above Yao and Shun lies the Origin of the Way;

堯、舜而下，其亨也； Below Yao and Shun comes its Flourishing;

分而言之，上古則羲、黃其元，堯、舜其亨，禹、湯其利，文、武、周公其貞乎！ Speaking in detail: in high antiquity Fuxi and the Yellow Emperor are the Origin, Yao and Shun the Flourishing, Yu and Tang the Advantage, and King Wen, King Wu, and the Duke of Zhou the Steadfastness!

Book of Zhou, Chapter 3Volume 3 Annals 3: Emperor Xiaomin · 3 passages

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故堯授舜，舜授禹，時其宜也。 Yao yielded to Shun, and Shun to Yu, each in season with Heaven’s intent.

今踵唐虞舊典，禪位於周，庸佈告遐邇焉。」 We therefore follow the ancient precedent of Tang and Yu and yield the throne to Zhou—let this be proclaimed throughout the realm.”

予式時庸，荒求于唐虞之彝踵。 At this time We earnestly seek to follow the models left by Tang and Yu.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 4Volume 4 Annals 4: Emperor Ming · 1 passage

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詔曰：「昔唐咨四嶽，殷告六眚，睹災興懼，咸寘時雍。 An edict read: "In antiquity Yao questioned the Four Peaks and the Yin court reported the six calamities; seeing disaster, rulers grew fearful and restored harmony to the age.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 23Volume 23 Biographies 15: Su Chuo · 1 passage

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皇帝曰：「昔堯命羲和，允厘百工。 The Emperor said: "In antiquity Yao charged Xi and He to regulate the hundred offices.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 46Volume 46 Biographies 38: Filial Piety · 1 passage

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是以堯舜湯武居帝王之位，垂至德以敦其風； That is why Yao, Shun, Tang, and Wu sat as emperors and kings, extending supreme virtue to deepen the customs of their age;