Yu the Great (大禹) | 24 Histories

Overview

Yu the Great was a Legendary flood controller and founder of the Xia dynasty.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Great Yu of Xia	夏禹	Xia Yu
Temple name	august ancestor	皇祖
Epithet	Xia	夏

Life and dates

Death

At Kuaiji 會稽 · Natural
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 209
died after reckoning merits with the lords 計功而崩 · At Kuaiji 會稽 · Mode hearsay
Textual variant · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 263

Attested activity

夏有天下
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 44, passage 165
舜授禹
Directly stated · History of Song 141, passage 67
legendary antiquity
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 25, passage 205; Book of Northern Qi 30, passage 116; Book of Northern Qi 33, passage 143; Book of Chen 2, passage 10; Book of Chen 27, passage 32; Book of Han 20, passage 12; Book of Han 22, passage 13; Book of Han 25, passages 136, 289; Book of Han 26, passages 9, 130, 144; Book of Han 66, passage 113; Book of Han 68, passage 20; Book of Han 75, passages 179, 216; Book of Han 91, passages 41, 49; Book of Han 98, passage 150; Book of Han 117, passage 110; Book of Later Han 32, passage 96; Book of Later Han 39, passage 204; Book of Later Han 92, passage 94; Book of Later Han 94, passage 316; History of Jin 35, passages 62-63; Book of Jin 101, passages 7, 153; Book of Jin 108, passage 210; Book of Jin 130, passages 89, 204, 249, 251; Old Book of Tang 129, passage 54; Old Book of Tang 153, passage 36; Old Book of Tang 157, passage 64; Old History of the Five Dynasties 3, passage 215; Old History of the Five Dynasties 5, passage 148; Old History of the Five Dynasties 10, passage 68; Old History of the Five Dynasties 58, passage 167; Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 21; Book of Liang 6, passage 131; History of Liao 55, passage 10; History of Ming 57, passage 25; History of Ming 149, passage 102; Draft History of Qing 113, passage 45; Draft History of Qing 120, passage 14; Records of the Three Kingdoms 39, passage 133; Records of the Grand Historian 1, passages 211, 216-217, 256; Records of the Grand Historian 2, passages 1, 5, 27, 205, 209, 260, 263; Records of the Grand Historian 3, passage 6; Records of the Grand Historian 13, passage 67; Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 24; Records of the Grand Historian 29, passage 1; Records of the Grand Historian 30, passages 46, 272; Records of the Grand Historian 34, passage 102; Records of the Grand Historian 36, passages 3, 153; Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 3; Records of the Grand Historian 65, passage 109; Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 27; Records of the Grand Historian 84, passage 107; Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 251; Records of the Grand Historian 114, passage 82; History of Song 2, passage 111; History of Song 96, passage 111; History of Song 141, passage 280; Book of Song 3, passage 39; Book of Song 56, passage 82; Book of Song 62, passage 162; Book of Song 63, passage 78; Book of Sui 5, passage 49; Book of Wei 96, passage 190; New Book of Tang 138, passage 162; New Book of Tang 178, passage 141; New History of the Five Dynasties 35, passage 61; History of Yuan 66, passage 150; History of Yuan 171, passage 114; Book of Zhou 3, passage 12; Book of Zhou 23, passage 409
legendary antiquity
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 49, passage 15; Book of Later Han 28, passage 213; Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 1
legendary antiquity
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 117, passage 105
c. BC 2200 to c. BC 2100 禹之行河水
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 38, passage 251

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c. BC 2200 to c. BC 2100 禹堙洪水十三年
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 38, passage 1

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Descendant of Emperor Zhuanxu Gaoyang (顓頊帝高陽氏)
grandfather 祖 · paternal line · 2 generations
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 3
Descendant of Changyi (昌意)
great-grandfather 曾大父 · paternal line · 3 generations
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 4
Descendant of Yellow Emperor (黃帝)
great-great-grandfather 玄孫之祖 · paternal line · 4 generations
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 3
Ancestor of Goujian (勾踐)
descendant 苗裔 · paternal line · Through Shaokang (少康), Younger son of Emperor Shaokang
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 1
Ancestor of Chunwei (淳維)
ancestor 苗裔之祖
Directly stated · Book of Jin 101, passage 7
Ancestor of Bobo (勃勃)
august ancestor 皇祖 · Claimed parentage
Directly stated · Book of Jin 130, passage 204
Ancestor of Duke Dong Lou (東樓公)
descendant 之後苗裔
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 153
Ancestor of Helian Bobo (赫連勃勃)
descendant 後 · Claimed parentage · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Jin 130, passages 89, 93
Child of Gun (鯀)
father 父
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 2
Parent of Qi (啟)
father 父
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passages 185, 216
Parent of Qi (啟)
son 子
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 34, passages 102, 105
Spouse of Lady of Tushan (涂山氏之女)
wife 妻
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passages 185, 216

Kinship Role descendant-branches · [object Object] · Count 12
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 260
Kinship Role descendants · During Yin times sometimes enfeoffed and sometimes ended · Quantity unknown
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 154
Kinship Role descendants · enfeoffed at Qi by King Wu; line continued until King Hui of Chu · Quantity unknown
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passages 178, 195
Kinship Role royal successors · Quantity twenty generations, four hundred years · Mode inscription Speaker Bobo (勃勃)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 130, passage 205

Key source chapters

Origins and identity

Descent descendant of the Yellow Emperor 黃帝子孫 · Ancestor Person Id Yellow Emperor (黃帝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 13, passage 67
Clan Si 姒氏
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 205
same surname line from Huangdi 同姓
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 273
Si clan 姒氏
took a separate surname
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 275
Lineage Si surname 姒姓
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 260

Career and standing

Minister of Works 司空
Appointed · Authority Emperor Shun (帝舜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passages 214, 216
Minister of Works 司空
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passages 17, 19
minister of works 司空
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 58, passage 167
temple at Kuaiji 禹廟
AD 966 四年九月丙午 · Posthumously commemorated · At Kuaiji 會稽
Dated from the passage context · History of Song 2, passage 111
Xia ruler 夏后
Xia ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 153
mounted the Son of Heaven seat 踐天子位
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 269

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Son of Heaven 天子
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 205

Places and affiliations

Xia 夏
Relation Founded
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 275; Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 205
Xia 夏
Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 205
Polity Xia
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 276
Polity Xia 夏 · Relation Associated with
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 38, passages 1, 251; Old Book of Tang 157, passage 64
Polity Xia 夏 · Relation Associated with
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 29, passage 9
Polity Xia 夏 · Relation Founder associated
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 260

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Polity Xia 夏 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Jin 117, passage 105; Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 251; Book of Song 63, passage 78; New Book of Tang 44, passage 165
Polity Xia 有夏 · Relation Founded
Directly stated · Book of Jin 130, passage 204
At domain of five thousand li to the wild frontier 方五千里，至于荒服 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 257
At Kuaiji 會稽 · Relation Buried at · Mode hearsay
Textual variant · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 263

Works and attributed material

Tribute of Yu 禹貢
Relation Attributed author
Strongly inferred · History of Song 96, passage 111
Tribute of Yu 禹貢
Relation Attributed system
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 30, passage 272
Yu Penalties 禹刑
Relation Eponym
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 136
Nine Summons 九招
Relation Performed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 259
Allusion · Exemplar · Mode quotation Speaker the present emperor (今上)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 30, passage 46
Classical exemplum · Mutual admonisher · Source Person Id Lu Pi (魯丕) · Mode quoted-by-memorial Speaker Lu Pi (魯丕)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 28, passage 213

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Literary allusion · Subject of rhyme phrase · Speaker Lu Zhi (盧質)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 21
Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passages 127, 130, 133-137, 148, 153-154, 156-162, 165-168, 180-181, 185-187

Events and relationships

Assembled lords
Ritual · Convener · At south of the Yangtze 江南 · Mode hearsay
Textual variant · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 263
Channeled yangtze at mount min
Engineering · Channeler · At Mount Min 岷山
Directly stated · History of Yuan 66, passage 150
Cited for nine virtues and nine year examination
Administrative · Exemplar
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 153, passage 36
Controlled floods and fixed nine provinces
Disaster · Controller
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 9
Controlled the great flood for thirteen years and established the Nine Rivers
Hydraulic · Flood controller
Directly stated · Book of Han 38, passages 1, 6-7
Controlled flood
Flood control · Leader
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 49

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Controlled floods
Hydraulic · Director · Years 13 · controlled floods for thirteen years; passed home without entering
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 29, passage 1
Cut at dujiangyan
Engineering · Cutter · At Dujiangyan 都江堰
Directly stated · History of Yuan 66, passage 164
Endured nine years of flood with stores prepared
Disaster · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 144
Established capital statutes
Legal policy example
Directly stated · Book of Song 56, passage 82
Experienced famine and abundance cycles
Disaster · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 130
Flood control and survey
Hydraulic · Director
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passages 27-28, 32
Graded fields and collected tithe
Administration · Minister of works · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Li Qi (李琪)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 58, passage 167
Guided Yellow River
Hydraulic · Director · At from Jishi to Dapi 自積石至于大邳
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 29, passages 7-9
His achievement was cited as preserving Shun's canon
Legendary · Ruler · Mode memorial-historical-exemplum
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 10, passages 61, 68
instituted mutilating punishments 制肉刑
Legal · Ruler · Instituted · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Xunzi (孫卿)
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 289
Invoked for metal books associated with Kuaiji lore
Literary allusion · Alluded figure
Directly stated · Book of Chen 27, passage 32
Joined in good
Political · Counselor · With Emperor Yao (帝堯), Emperor Shun (帝舜)
Directly stated · Book of Han 22, passage 13
Joined in good
Political · Minister · With Yao (堯), Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Book of Han 20, passage 12
Kept palaces humble and garments plain
Exemplary · Sage king
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 251
Led forth the Three Rivers
Hydraulic · Culture hero · At Lake Zhen 震澤 · Mode quotation Source Work Tribute of Yu 禹貢
Directly stated · History of Song 96, passage 111
Left realm to
Succession · Bequeather · With Yi (益)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 210
Line at Qi under Zhou
Retrospective · Ancestor
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 195
Opened channels and founded Xia
Legendary · Sage king · At Dragon Gate 龍門 · Mode inscription Speaker Bobo (勃勃)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 130, passage 204
Opened mountains marshes rivers and provinces
Public works · Director
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 256
Opened rivers
Engineering · Director
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 92, passage 94
Ordered the Nine Provinces
Administrative · Organizer
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 27
Performed Nine Summons
Ritual · Performer
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 259
Received charge from Shun
Ritual · Successor · With Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 110
Received charge
Political · Addressee · With Emperor Shun (帝舜)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 120, passage 14
Received the dark jade tablet and the throne by yielding
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Jin 130, passage 251
Received the transfer from Shun
Political · Successor exemplar · With Emperor Shun (帝舜)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 2, passage 10
Recommended and tested in succession
Political · Heir candidate · With Emperor Shun (帝舜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 3
Regulated land, taxes, and interregional exchange
Administrative · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 9
Sent by Yao to govern the flood
Flood control · Controller
Directly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 57
Set apart nine provinces
Administrative · Organizer
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 29, passages 3-4
Set out on campaign
Military · Commander
Directly stated · History of Ming 57, passage 25
Set up drums and bells for remonstrance
Ritual · Actor
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 113, passage 45
Traces invoked in Tang alliance text
Allusion · Legendary exemplar
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 54
Transmitted world to Yi
Political · Transmitter · With Yi (益) · Mode hearsay
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 34, passages 102-103, 105
Tribute by provinces
Administrative · Organizer · At nine provinces 九州
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 30, passage 272
With Yao brought the realm to great order through proper appointments
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 178, passage 141
Wu Yue ordered to erect a temple to him at Kuaiji (Song commemorative act, not his own lifetime)
AD 966 四年九月丙午 · Ritual · Honoree · At Kuaiji 會稽
Dated from the passage context · History of Song 2, passage 111
Yielded to Shun son then accepted throne
Political · Heir designate
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passages 268-269
Yielded to
Succession · Withdrawer · With Shangjun (商均) · At Yangcheng 陽城
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 203
Relation Declined in favor of · Person Qi (契)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 20
Relation Minister of · Person Emperor Yao (帝堯)
Directly stated · Book of Han 22, passage 13
Relation Successor of · Person Emperor Yao (帝堯)
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 289
Relation Declined in favor of · Person Hou Ji (后稷)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 20
Relation Declined in favor of · Person Gao Yao (皋陶)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 20
Relation Minister of · Person Emperor Shun (帝舜)
Directly stated · Book of Han 22, passage 13
Relation Superior of · Person Yi (益)
Directly stated · Book of Han 98, passage 169
Relation Successor of · Person Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 289
Relation Recommended by · Person Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 266
Relation Successor of · Person Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 1, passages 268-269
Relation Successor of · Person Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 24
Relation Paired exemplar with · Person Ji (稷)
Directly stated · History of Song 141, passage 280

Assessments and attributes

Assessment benevolence-spread-to-the-people-virtue-reached-heaven · Mode named-source-report Source Work capital inscription 都邑銘
Directly stated · Book of Jin 130, passage 250
Assessment enduring legacy influenced Yue noble continuity · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 114, passage 82
Assessment exemplary ruler who employed officers by ability · Mode quotation Speaker Liu Fen (劉蕡)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 178, passage 141
Assessment governed by teachings not merely repeated; established virtue by a distinct path · Mode quotation Speaker the present emperor (今上)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 30, passage 46
Assessment his merit regulated the nine rivers and settled the nine provinces · Mode historian-judgment Source Person Id Sima Qian (司馬遷)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 237
Assessment industrious, virtuous, and a standard for others · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passages 23-26

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Assessment one of eleven famous Tang-Yu ministers; descendant line reached emperors/kings · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passages 186-187
Assessment paragon of self-reproaching sovereign virtue · Mode quotation Speaker Li Baozhen (李抱真)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 138, passage 162
Assessment virtue capped the hundred kings yet observed modest restraint · Mode named-person-judgment Speaker Yao Xing (姚興)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 117, passage 105
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
Item black jade scepter 玄圭 · Relation Bestowed · With Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 122
Item humble palaces and plain clothes 卑宫室，恶衣服 · Relation Used
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 251

Source notes

Some hold that Yu met the lords south of the Yangtze, settled the tally of merits, died, and was buried there—hence Kuaiji. 或言禹會諸侯江南，計功而崩，因葬焉，命曰會稽。
Field death-place · Witness some say 或言
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passages 263-264
Historicity legendary
Directly stated · Book of Chen 2, passage 10; Book of Chen 27, passage 32; Book of Han 25, passage 289; Book of Han 26, passage 9; Book of Han 75, passage 179; Book of Han 117, passage 110; History of Jin 35, passage 62; Book of Jin 101, passages 7, 153; Book of Jin 130, passages 89, 204, 249; Old Book of Tang 129, passage 54; Old Book of Tang 153, passage 36; Old History of the Five Dynasties 3, passage 215; Old History of the Five Dynasties 58, passage 167; Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 21; History of Liao 55, passage 10; Draft History of Qing 113, passage 45; Draft History of Qing 120, passage 14; Records of the Three Kingdoms 39, passage 133; Records of the Grand Historian 1, passage 211; Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 1; Records of the Grand Historian 3, passage 6; Records of the Grand Historian 29, passage 1; Records of the Grand Historian 30, passages 46, 272; Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 3; Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 251; History of Song 2, passage 111; History of Song 96, passage 111; History of Song 141, passages 67, 280; Book of Sui 5, passage 49; New Book of Tang 44, passage 165; New Book of Tang 138, passage 162; New Book of Tang 178, passage 141; New History of the Five Dynasties 35, passage 61
Historicity legendary
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 260
Value legendary
Directly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 20; Old Book of Tang 157, passage 64; Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 27
The Ministry of Works judged that the Three Rivers then proposed might not be Yu's original traces.
Mode named-office-report
Directly stated · History of Song 96, passage 119

References in the histories

Search passages

History

183 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 · 1 passage

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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?

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 33Volume 33 Biographies 25: Xiao Yuanming; Xiao Zhi (Liang); Xiao Tui; Xiao Fang (Liang); Xu Zhicai · 1 passage

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尋左僕射闕，之才曰：「自可復禹之績。」 Soon the left vice directorship fell vacant. Zhicai said, "Surely I can repeat Yu's achievement."

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 49Volume 49 Biographies 41: Arts · 1 passage

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是人乃臨水禹步，以一符投水中，流便絕。 He paced the Yu steps at the bank and threw a talisman into the water; the current halted.

Book of Chen, Chapter 2Volume 2: Emperor Wu 2 · 1 passage

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既而煙雲表色，日月呈瑞，緯聚東井，龍見譙邦，除舊布新，既彰玄象，遷虞事夏，且協謳訟，[2]九域八荒，同布衷款，百神群祀，皆有誠願。 Then clouds and mist took auspicious hues; sun and moon showed signs; stars clustered at the Eastern Well; a dragon was seen in Qiao. The old order gave way to the new, and Heaven's signs were plain; as in the transfer from Shun to Yu, the people's acclaim agreed. [2] Within the nine provinces and beyond the eight directions, loyal petitions poured in; every spirit and rite was offered in earnest devotion.

Book of Chen, Chapter 27Volume 27: Jiang Zong; Yao Cha · 1 passage

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嘉南斗之分次，肇東越之靈祕，表檜風於韓什，著鎮山於周記，蘊大禹之金書，鐫暴秦之石字，〔三〕太史來而探穴，鍾離去而開笥，信竹箭之為珍，何珷玞之罕值。 Favored by the asterism of the Southern Dipper, commencing the spirit-secrets of Eastern Yue; the cypress-wind praised in Han verse, Mount Zhen recorded in Zhou annals; holding Great Yu's metal books, engraved the (stone) records of violent Qin; [3] when the grand astrologer came to probe the crypt and Zhongli went away and opened the casket—truly bamboo and arrow-shafts are treasures; how could jade fragments be rare finds?

Book of Han, Chapter 20Table of Ancient and Modern Persons · 1 passage

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傳曰：譬如堯舜，禹、稷、镨與之為善則行，鯀、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, those policies were put into effect; when Gun and Huan Dou sought to join them in wrongdoing, they were punished to death.

Book of Han, Chapter 22Volume 20: Prominent People from the Past Until the Present · 1 passage

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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 · 2 passages

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夏有亂政而作禹刑，商有亂政而作湯刑，周有亂政而作九刑。 Major penal codifications historically arose in periods of political disorder.

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.

Book of Han, Chapter 26Volume 24a: Treatise on Trade 1 · 4 passages

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禹平洪水，定九州，制土田，各因所生遠近，賦入貢棐，楙遷有無，萬國作乂。 After flood control, Yu built a territorial-fiscal system that matched local ecology and enabled interregional balancing.

世之有飢穰，天之行也，禹、湯被之矣。 Famine and abundance are Heaven's recurrent course; Yu and Tang experienced them too.

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.

今海內為一，土地人民之眾不避湯、禹，加以亡天災數年之水旱，而畜積未及者，何也？ Now with the realm unified, land and population no less than under Tang or Yu, and without multi-year flood or drought, why have accumulations still not reached their level?

Book of Han, Chapter 38Volume 29: Treatise on Rivers and Canals · 12 passages

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夏書：禹堙洪水十三年，過家不入門。 The Book of Xia says that Yu spent thirteen years controlling the great flood, even passing his own home without going inside.

唯是為務，故道河自積石，歷龍門，南到華陰，東下底柱，及盟津、雒內，至于大伾。 So Yu focused on this above all: he redirected the Yellow River from Jishi through Longmen, south to Huayin, east past Dizhu, through Mengjin and the Luo region, and on to Dapi.

於是禹以為河所從來者高，水湍悍，難以行平地，數為敗，乃釃二渠以引其河，北載之高地，過洚水，至於大陸，播為九河，同為迎河，入于勃海。 Yu recognized that the river descended from great height with ferocious current, impossible to tame on open plain and repeatedly breaching control. He therefore cut two diversion channels, led the flow north over higher terrain, past the Hong waters to the Dalu plain, where it dispersed into the Nine Rivers, rejoined as the Ying River system, and emptied into the Bohai.

而道河北行二渠，復禹舊跡，而梁、楚之地復寧，無水災。 Two channels were also opened on the north side, restoring Yu's ancient alignment. Liang and Chu regained stability, free again from major floods.

然河乃大禹之所道也，聖人作事，為萬世功，通於神明，恐難改更。」 But this river course was established by Yu himself. The works of sages serve ages and accord with the numinous order; changing them is no light matter."

禹非不愛民力，以地形有勢，故穿九河，今既滅難明，屯氏河不流行七十餘年，新絕未久，其處易浚。 Yu did not ignore labor burdens; he worked with topographic force, which is why he opened nine distributaries. Their traces are now obscure. Tunshi has been inactive for over seventy years, but because the closure is recent, the channel can still be dredged.

昔大禹治水，山陵當路者毀之，故鑿龍門，辟伊闕，析底柱，破碣石，墮斷天地之性。 But when Yu governed the flood, he cut through mountains that blocked the course: he opened Longmen, cleft Yique, split Dizhu, and broke Jieshi - reshaping even the natural frame of heaven and earth.

聞禹治河時，本空此地，以為水猥，盛則放溢，少稍自索，雖時易處，猶不能離此。 He said Yu had intentionally left this area open as flood-retention space: high water could spread there and later recede naturally. Though channels shifted, they remained within this zone.

禹之行河水，本隨西山下東北去。 Yu's original river line ran northeast beneath the western mountain front.

周譜云定王五年河徙，則今所行非禹之所穿也。 Zhou records say the river migrated in King Ding's fifth year, so the current line is no longer Yu's original channel.

衣食縣官，而為之作，乃兩便，可以上繼禹功，下除民疾。」 If the state feeds and clothes them while employing them in works, both sides benefit - continuing Yu's legacy above and relieving popular hardship below."

贊曰：古人有言：「微禹之功，吾其魚乎！」 The appraisal concludes with the old saying: "Without Yu's achievement, would we all not have become fish?"

Book of Han, Chapter 58Volume 49: Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo · 4 passages

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惟十有五年九月壬子，皇帝曰：「昔者大禹勤求賢士，施及方外，四極之內，舟車所至，人跡所及，靡不聞命，以輔其不逮； On renzi, in the ninth month of the fifteenth year, the emperor said, "In former times, Great Yu diligently sought out worthy men, extending his search even beyond the settled lands. Within the four extremities, wherever boats and carts could reach and wherever human footprints went, all heard his command, so that they might aid him where he fell short;

是以大禹能亡失德，夏以長□。 and so Yu never slipped from the Way, and the house of Xia endured—though the tablet here is damaged.

平陽侯臣窋、汝陰侯臣灶、潁陰侯臣何、廷尉臣宜昌、隴西太守臣昆邪所選賢良太子家令臣錯昧死再拜言：臣竊聞古之賢主莫不求賢以為輔翼，故黃帝得力牧而為五帝先，大禹得咎繇而為三王祖，齊桓得管子而為五伯長。 The men who recommended me as Worthy and Good were your servants the Marquis of Pingyang, Cao Zhu; the Marquis of Ruyin, Xiahou Zao; the Marquis of Yingyin, Guan He; the Commandant of Justice, Yichang; and the Administrator of Longxi, Kunxie. Your servant Chao Cuo bows twice and, risking death, states: I have heard that every worthy ruler of antiquity sought worthy men as his wings and helpers. Thus the Yellow Emperor obtained Limu and became foremost of the Five Thearchs; Great Yu obtained Gao Yao and became progenitor of the Three Kings; and Duke Huan of Qi obtained Guan Zhong and became leader of the Five Hegemons.

今陛下講於大禹及高皇帝之建豪英也，退托於不明，以求賢良，讓之至也。 You rehearse the deeds of Yu and Gaozu, then call yourself dim while summoning talent—that is humility carried almost too far.

Book of Han, Chapter 66Volume 57a: Sima Xiangru · 1 passage

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若乃□倘瑰瑋，異方殊類，珍怪鳥獸，萬端鱗崒，充仞其中者，不可勝記，禹不能名，□不能計。 Rare creatures and curiosities from every quarter teem there beyond count or naming—several words are lost in the manuscript, including one verb paired with Yu.

Book of Han, Chapter 68Volume 58: Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan · 3 passages

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禹、湯水旱，厥咎何由？ When Yu and Tang suffered flood and drought, what fault brought it on?

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.

禹、湯積德，以王天下。 Yu and Tang piled up virtue and so won the empire.

Book of Han, Chapter 74Volume 64a: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 1 · 1 passage

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名何必夏、子，俗何必成、康！ You need not yet rival Yu and Tang in fame, nor Cheng and Kang in the purity of your age.

Book of Han, Chapter 75Volume 64b: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 2 · 2 passages

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故世平主聖，俊艾將自至，若堯、舜、禹、湯、文、武之君，獲稷、契、皋陶、伊尹、呂望，明明在朝，穆穆列布，聚精會神，相得益章。 Thus, in an age of peace under a sage ruler, outstanding elders come of their own accord. Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Kings Wen and Wu obtained the service of Hou Ji, Xie, Gao Yao, Yi Yin, and Lü Wang. Brilliant at court and solemn in their ranks, they joined their finest insights and magnified the glory of ruler and minister alike.

臣聞堯舜，聖之盛也，禹入聖域而不優，故孔子稱堯曰「大哉」，韶曰「盡善」，禹曰「無間」。 Yao and Shun stood at the summit of sagehood; Yu entered that company yet did not surpass them—which is why Confucius called Yao 'magnificent,' the Shao music 'perfect in goodness,' and Yu 'without blemish.'

Book of Han, Chapter 76Volume 65: Dongfang Shuo · 1 passage

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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.

Book of Han, Chapter 91Volume 80: The Six Sons of Emperors Xuan and Yuan · 3 passages

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大王誠賜咳唾，使得盡死，湯、禹所以成大功也。 If my lord will only breathe a word of consent, I will spend my last breath as Tang and Yu did to build great deeds.

昔禹治鴻水，百姓罷勞，成功既立，萬世賴之。 When Yu tamed the flood, the people wore themselves to the bone, yet once the work was done, countless ages lived by it.

今聞陛下春秋未滿四十，發齒墮落，太子幼弱，佞人用事，陰陽不調，百姓疾疫饑饉死者且半，鴻水之害殆不過此。 They say you are not yet forty, yet your hair and teeth fail, the heir is a child, favorites run the court, heaven and earth are out of tune, and plague and famine have carried off perhaps half the realm—no less dire than Yu’s deluge.

Book of Han, Chapter 98Volume 87a: Yang Xiong 1 · 2 passages

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嗟文公而愍推兮，勤大禹於龍門，灑沈災於豁瀆兮，播九河於東瀕。 They sigh for Duke Wen and pity Jie Tui; they praise Yu at Dragon Gate, drown old flood sorrow in dredged channels, and spread the nine rivers toward the eastern sea.

昔者禹任益虞而上下和，草木茂； When Yu put Yi in charge of the wilds, harmony reigned and vegetation flourished.

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

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舜亦以命禹。 Shun passed the same charge to Yu.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 28Volume 25: Biography of Zhuo, Lu, Wei, Liu · 1 passage

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覽詩人之旨意，察《雅》、《頌》之終始，明舜、禹、臯陶之相戒，顯周公、箕子之所陳，觀乎人文，化成天下。 Survey the Odes for intent, trace Hymns and Eulogia through to their lessons from Shun, Yu, Gao Yao, the Duke of Zhou, and Jizi—therein lies the pattern that civilizes the world.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 32Volume 28b: Biography of Feng Yan · 1 passage

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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.

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

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昔舜、禹相戒無若丹朱，周公戒成王無如殷王紂，願除誹謗之罪，以開天下之口。 He cites ancient warnings against wicked kings and begs repeal of the anti-slander statutes so truth can be spoken.

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

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昔大禹決江疏河，以利天下。 Great Yu cut channels for the rivers to benefit the world.

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

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良曰：“我若仲尼长东鲁，大禹出西羌，独步天下，谁与为偶！” Dai answered, "Were I Confucius in eastern Lu or Yu rising from the western Qiang, I would walk the world alone—who could pair with me!"

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 · 3 passages

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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.

'參知政事即康及鉉以為三皇、五帝、禹、湯、文、武皆垂世立教之君，唐、宋致祭皆禦署，而今降祝版不署，恐於禮未盡。 Vice Grand Councilors Jikang and Quan held that the Three August Ones, Five Emperors, Yu, Tang, and Kings Wen and Wu were all rulers who handed down teaching for the ages; Tang and Song sacrifices all received imperial endorsement, and now to issue prayer boards without endorsement may fall short of ritual propriety.

Book of Jin, Chapter 101Volume 101 Records 1: Liu Yuanhai and Liu Xuan · 2 passages

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古者帝王，乃生奇類、淳維，伯禹之苗裔，豈異類哉？ Ancient emperors counted even alien lines like Chunwei among the descendants of Great Yu—hardly a separate species.

夫帝王豈有常哉，大禹出於西戎，文王生於東夷，顧惟德所授耳。 Thrones never stay fixed: Yu rose from western tribes, Wen from eastern barbarians—virtue alone decides who rules.

Book of Jin, Chapter 108Volume 108 Records 8: Murong Hui · 1 passage

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且大禹出於西羌，文王生於東夷，但問志略何如耳，豈以殊俗不可降心乎！」 Moreover Yu the Great rose from western Qiang; King Wen was born among eastern Yi—only ambition matters—must foreign customs block sincere hearts!"

Book of Jin, Chapter 117Volume 117 Records 17: Yao Xing Part One · 1 passage

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興曰：「殷湯、夏禹德冠百王，然猶順守謙沖，未居崇極，況朕寡昧，安可以處之哉！」 Yao Xing answered, "Even Tang of Yin and Yu of Xia capped the hundred kings in virtue, yet still observed modest restraint and did not occupy the supreme height—how can I, dull and dim, dwell there!"

Book of Jin, Chapter 130Volume 130 Records 30: Helian Bobo · 5 passages

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勃勃謂買德曰：「朕大禹之後，世居幽、朔。 Bobo told Wang Maide, "I am descended from Yu the Great. My forebears have long held the northern lands.

今將應運而興，復大禹之業，卿以為何如？」 Now I mean to rise with fortune and renew the work of Yu the Great. What do you say to that?"

昔在陶唐，數鐘厄運，我皇祖大禹以至聖之姿，當經綸之會，鑿龍門面辟伊闕，疏三江而決九河，夷一元之窮災，拯六合之沈溺，鴻績侔於天地，神功邁於造化，故二儀降祉，三靈葉贊，揖讓受終，光啟有夏。 Under Yao, fortune turned adverse; our ancestor Yu with sage bearing ordered the realm, opened Dragon Gate, cleared the rivers, and saved the world—his merit matched heaven and earth, the two regulators blessed him, and he founded Xia.

爰始逮今，二千餘載，雖三統迭制於崤、函，五德革運于伊、洛，秦、雍成篡殺之墟，周、豫為爭奪之藪，而幽朔謐爾，主有常尊於上； For more than two thousand years, though the three successions in turn ruled at Xiao and Hangu, the five virtues changed fortune at Yi and Luo, Qin and Yong became battlegrounds, and Zhou and Yu arenas of strife, You and Shuo stayed calm and the lord kept constant honor.

巍巍大禹，堂堂聖功。 Towering Great Yu, hall of sage achievement.

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 129Volume 125 Biographies 75: Zhang Yi, Liu Congyi, Xiao Fu, Liu Hun · 1 passage

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唐有天下，恢奄禹跡，舟車所至，莫不率俾。 Tang possesses All Under Heaven, broadly covering the traces of Yu; wherever boat and carriage reach, none fail to submit and serve.

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 157Volume 153 Biographies 103: Yao Nanzhong, Liu Nai, Yuan Gao, Duan Pingzhong, Xue Cuncheng, Lu Tan · 1 passage

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昔在禹、稷、臯陶之眾聖，猶曰載采有九德，考績以九載。 Of old, even among sages such as Yu, Ji, and Gao Yao, it was said that one must gather and test the nine virtues and examine achievement over nine years.

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

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皇帝方議裁詔，行舜、禹之事，臣安敢違。」 The emperor is drafting the edict to follow Shun and Yu—I dare not refuse."

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 5Volume 5 Book of Later Liang 5: Taizu Annals 5 · 1 passage

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為人父母，孰比禹、湯。 and as fathers and mothers of the people, none match Yu and Tang.

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

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而且周德見乎殷紀，舜典存乎禹功，非唯十世可知，庶成一朝大典。 As Zhou virtue appears in Yin records and Shun’s canon in Yu’s deeds, ten generations may be known and our dynasty’s great history completed.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 58Volume 58 Book of Later Tang 34: Biographies 10: Zhao Guangfeng, Zheng Jue, Cui Xie, Li Qi, Xiao Qing · 1 passage

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自堯湮洪水，禹作司空，於時辨九等之田，收什一之稅，其時戶一千三百餘萬，定墾地約九百二十萬頃，最為太平之盛。 From the time Yao controlled the great flood and Yu became minister of works, the fields were graded in nine classes and a tithe was collected. Household registers then numbered more than thirteen million, and reclaimed land was fixed at about nine million two hundred thousand qing—the greatest flourishing of the age of peace.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 93Volume 93 Book of Later Jin 19: Biographies 8: Lu Zhi, Li Zhuanmei, Lu Zhan, Cui Zhuo, Xue Rong, Cao Guozhen, Zhang Renyuan, Zhao Xi, Li Xia, Yin Yuyu, Zheng Yunsou · 1 passage

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會覆試進士，質以「後從諫則聖」為賦題，以「堯、舜、禹、湯傾心求過」為韻，舊例賦韻四平四側，質所出韻乃五平三側，由是大為識者所誚。 When the repeat examination for presented scholars was held, Zhi set the fu topic "He who later follows remonstrance is sage" with the rhyme phrase "Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang bent their hearts to seek their faults." By precedent fu rhymes required four level tones and four oblique tones, but Zhi's set had five level and three oblique, and learned opinion mocked him roundly for it.

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!

Book of Liang, Chapter 6Volume 6: Emperor Jing · 1 passage

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雖大功在舜，盛績維禹，巍巍蕩蕩，無得而稱。 Though his merit matched Shun and his achievement only Yu, he was vast beyond naming.

History of Liao, Chapter 55Volume 55 Treatises 25: Ceremonial Guards 1 · 1 passage

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禹乘四載作小車，商人得桑根之瑞為大輅，周人加金玉，象飾益備。 Yu employed the four transport modes and devised small carts; the Shang, receiving the auspicious sign of mulberry root, fashioned the great state chariot; the Zhou added gold and jade until elephant ornamentation was fully arrayed.

History of Ming, Chapter 57Volume 57 Treatises 33: Rites 11 · 1 passage

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《書》稱大禹徂徵，《詩》美南仲薄伐。 The Book of Documents speaks of Yu the Great setting out on campaign; the Book of Odes praises Nan Zhong's expedition.

History of Ming, Chapter 149Volume 149 Biographies 37: Jian Yi, Xia Yuanji · 1 passage

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原吉請循禹三江入海故跡，浚吳淞下流，上接太湖，而度地為閘，以時蓄泄。 Yuanji proposed following the ancient course by which Yu the Great's three rivers had reached the sea, dredging the lower Wusong River to connect with Lake Tai, and building sluices at suitable points to store and release water according to the season.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 113Volume 113 Treatises 88: Selection and Examinations 8, Xin Xuan Ju · 1 passage

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不知虞廷之明目達聰，大禹之建鞀設鐸，洪範之謀及庶人，周官之詢於外朝，古昔盛時，無不廣采與論，以為行政之準則，特未有議院之制度耳。 They forget that the court of Yu sought clear sight and keen hearing, that Yu the Great set up drums and bells for public remonstrance, that the Great Plan enjoined consulting the common people, and that the Rites of Zhou required inquiry in the outer court—in every golden age antiquity gathered opinion broadly as the standard of rule; only the institution of a parliament was lacking.

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."

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 39Volume 39: Book of Shu 9: Biographies of Dong, Liu, Ma, Chen, Dong, and Lü · 1 passage

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〈襄陽記曰：謖臨終與亮書曰：「明公視謖猶子，謖視明公猶父，原深惟殛鯀興禹之義，使平生之交不虧於此，謖雖死無恨於黃壤也。」〈The Xiangyang ji records Ma Su’s dying letter: “You have treated me as a son and I have honored you as a father. Remember how Yu rose though Gun was punished—do not let our bond end in bitterness; then I can rest easy beneath the sod.”

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 1Annals of the Five Emperors · 12 passages

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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.

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

禹，汝平水土，維是勉哉。」 Yu—you must tame the flood; bend every effort to it.”

禹拜稽首，讓於稷、契與皋陶。 Yu kowtowed and tried to yield to Ji, Qi, and Gao Yao.

唯禹之功為大，披九山，通九澤，決九河，定九州，各以其職來貢，不失厥宜。 Yet Yu’s work towered above the rest—he cut passes through nine ranges, channeled nine swamps, dredged nine rivers, and settled nine provinces, each paying tribute in kind without fault.

於是禹乃興九招之樂，致異物，鳳皇來翔。 Yu then performed the Nine Summons; prodigies appeared and phoenixes wheeled overhead.

舜子商均亦不肖，舜乃豫薦禹於天。 His son Shangjun proved unworthy, so Shun long before had commended Yu to heaven.

三年喪畢，禹亦乃讓舜子，如舜讓堯子。 After mourning Yu yielded to Shun’s son as Shun had once yielded to Yao’s son.

諸侯歸之，然後禹踐天子位。 The lords rallied to Yu, and he then took the throne.

以客見天子，天子弗臣，示不敢專也。 The reigning king received them as guests, not vassals, to show the throne was never a private possession.

自黃帝至舜、禹，皆同姓而異其國號，以章明德。 From Huangdi through Shun and Yu the line shared one surname yet changed dynastic titles to mark their shining virtue.

帝禹為夏后而別氏，姓姒氏。 Emperor Yu founded Xia and took the clan name Si.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 2Annals of Xia · 43 passages

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夏禹，名曰文命。 Yu of Xia bore the name Wenming.

禹之父曰鯀，鯀之父曰帝顓頊，顓頊之父曰昌意，昌意之父曰黃帝。 Yu's father was Gun; Gun's father was Emperor Zhuanxu; Zhuanxu's father was Changyi; Changyi's father was the Yellow Emperor.

禹者，黃帝之玄孫而帝顓頊之孫也。 Yu was a great-great-grandson of the Yellow Emperor and a grandson of Emperor Zhuanxu.

禹之曾大父昌意及父鯀皆不得在帝位，為人臣。 Neither Yu's great-grandfather Changyi nor his father Gun ever held the throne; both served merely as ministers.

於是舜舉鯀子禹，而使續鯀之業。 Shun then promoted Gun's son Yu to carry on his father's work.

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."

命禹：「女平水土，維是勉之。」 He ordered Yu: "You shall bring the land and waters to order; give it your whole strength."

禹拜稽首，讓於契、后稷、皋陶。 Yu kowtowed and declined in favor of Xie, Hou Ji, and Gao Yao.

禹為人敏給克勤； Yu was quick-witted, responsive, and tirelessly industrious.

禹乃遂與益、后稷奉帝命，命諸侯百姓興人徒以傅土，行山表木，定高山大川。 Yu, with Yi and Hou Ji, carried out the Son of Heaven's orders, mobilized nobles and commoners to shift soil, blazed trails along ridges and marked timbers, and charted every major height and watercourse.

禹傷先人父鯀功之不成受誅，乃勞身焦思，居外十三年，過家門不敢入。 He mourned that Gun had died unfinished yet under sentence of death, so he drove himself until body and mind were spent, spent thirteen years away from home, and even passed his own door without stopping.

禹乃行相地宜所有以貢，及山川之便利。 He then assessed what each region could yield in tribute and how mountains and rivers could serve transport.

禹行自冀州始。 Yu began his survey in Jizhou.

貢維土五色，羽畎夏狄，嶧陽孤桐，泗濱浮磬，淮夷蠙珠臮魚，其篚玄纖縞。 It sent five-colored clays, pheasant tails from the Yu valley, lone paulownia from Yiyang, floating lithophones from the Si, pearls and fish from the Huai tribes, and baskets of fine dark silk.

於是帝錫禹玄圭，以告成功于天下。 The Emperor gave Yu a black scepter to proclaim the work finished to the realm.

帝舜朝，禹、伯夷、皋陶相與語帝前。 At Shun's audience Yu, Boyi, and Gao Yao debated policy before the throne.

禹曰：「然，如何？」 Yu asked, "Agreed—but how do we put that into practice?"

禹拜美言，曰：「然。」 Yu bowed and said, "Well spoken—it is so."

禹曰：「吁！ Yu cried, "Oh—

禹曰：「女言致可績行。」 Yu said, "What you say can be carried out and will show results."

帝舜謂禹曰：「女亦昌言。」 Emperor Shun said to Yu, "You speak plainly in your turn."

禹拜曰； Yu bowed to speak.

「於，予何言！ Yu said, "Ah—what more is there for me to say!

皋陶難禹曰：「何謂孳孳？」 Gao Yao pressed him: "What do you mean by striving without ceasing?"

禹曰：「鴻水滔天，浩浩懷山襄陵，下民皆服於水。 Yu answered, "When the flood rose to the sky, wrapped the hills, and overtopped the valleys, the people were trapped in the waters.

禹曰：「於，帝！ Yu said, "Ah, my lord!

禹曰：「然。 Yu said, "It is so.

禹曰：「予（辛壬）娶涂山，［辛壬］癸甲，生啟予不子，以故能成水土功。 Yu said, "I wed a woman of Tushan after four days away; when our son Qi was born I did not dote on him—thus I finished the flood work.

皋陶於是敬禹之德，令民皆則禹。 Gao Yao then honored Yu's example and told the people to imitate him.

於是天下皆宗禹之明度數聲樂，為山川神主。 Then all under Heaven took Yu's calendrics, measures, and music as their model and made him lord of mountains and rivers.

帝舜薦禹於天，為嗣。 Emperor Shun presented Yu to Heaven as successor.

三年喪畢，禹辭辟舜之子商均於陽城。 When the three years' mourning ended, Yu withdrew to Yangcheng to yield to Shun's son Shangjun.

天下諸侯皆去商均而朝禹。 The lords of the realm forsook Shangjun and turned to Yu.

禹於是遂即天子位，南面朝天下，國號曰夏后，姓姒氏。 Yu then took the throne, faced south over the realm, styled his dynasty Xia, and took the clan name Si.

帝禹立而舉皋陶薦之，且授政焉，而皋陶卒。 When Emperor Yu came to power he promoted Gao Yao and meant to hand him the government, but Gao Yao died.

十年，帝禹東巡狩，至于會稽而崩。 In the tenth year of his reign Yu toured east to Kuaiji and died there.

三年之喪畢，益讓帝禹之子啟，而辟居箕山之陽。 After the mourning Yi yielded to Yu's son Qi and withdrew south of Mount Ji.

禹子啟賢，天下屬意焉。 Yu's son Qi was worthy, and the realm's hopes settled on him.

及禹崩，雖授益，益之佐禹日淺，天下未洽。 Though Yu had named Yi, Yi had served at Yu's side too briefly to win the people's trust.

故諸侯皆去益而朝啟，曰：「吾君帝禹之子也」。 So the lords left Yi and went to court with Qi, saying, "Our lord is the son of Emperor Yu."

夏后帝啟，禹之子，其母涂山氏之女也。 Emperor Qi of Xia was Yu's son; his mother was a lady of Tushan.

太史公曰：禹為姒姓，其後分封，用國為姓，故有夏后氏、有扈氏、有男氏、斟尋氏、彤城氏、褒氏、費氏、杞氏、繒氏、辛氏、冥氏、斟（氏）戈氏。 The Grand Historian says: Yu bore the surname Si; later branches took their states as clan names, producing houses such as Xiahou, Youhu, Younan, Zhenxun, Tongcheng, Bao, Fei, Qi, Zeng, Xin, Ming, Zhen, and Ge.

或言禹會諸侯江南，計功而崩，因葬焉，命曰會稽。 Some hold that Yu met the lords south of the Yangtze, settled the tally of merits, and died there—hence the name Kuaiji, "gathering of tallies."

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 3Annals of Yin · 3 passages

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契長而佐禹治水有功。 When Xie came of age he helped Yu manage the flood and earned distinction.

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.

曰：『古禹、皋陶久勞于外，其有功乎民，民乃有安。 He said: Long ago Yu and Gao Yao worked far from court; they served the people, and the people found peace.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 13Genealogical Tables of the Three Dynasties · 1 passage

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舜、禹、契、后稷皆黃帝子孫也。 Shun, Yu, Qi, and Hou Ji were all descendants of the Yellow Emperor.

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

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舜亦以命禹。 Shun likewise passed this command to Yu.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 29Treatise on Rivers and Canals · 4 passages

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《夏書》曰：禹抑洪水十三年，過家不入門。 The Xia Shu says that Yu controlled the floods for thirteen years and passed his home without entering.

於是禹以為河所從來者高，水湍悍，難以行平地，數為敗，乃二渠以引其河。 Believing the river’s source was high and its current swift and violent, he found it hard to channel across level ground and often failed, so he split it into two channels to divert it.

而道河北行二渠，復禹舊跡，而梁、楚之地復寧，無水災。 Thereafter, they diverted the Yellow River into two channels to the north, restored Yu’s old traces, and the lands of Liang and Chu again became peaceful and free of flood disaster.

太史公曰：余南登廬山，觀禹疏九江，遂至于會稽太湟，上姑蘇，望五湖； The Grand Historian says: I myself climbed the south face of Mount Lu, observed Yu’s diversion of the Nine Rivers, then went on to Kuaiji and Taihuang, ascended Gusu, and looked out over the Five Lakes;

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 30Treatise on the Balanced Standard · 2 passages

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有司言：「天子曰『朕聞五帝之教不相復而治，禹湯之法不同道而王，所由殊路，而建德一也。 The officials said: “The Son of Heaven has said, ‘I have heard that the teachings of the Five Emperors were not repeated, yet they governed; the laws of Yu and Tang were different, yet they both became kings. What they came from was different, but the virtue they established was the same.

禹貢九州，各因其土地所宜，人民所多少而納職焉。 In Yu's tribute system, the nine provinces paid their levies according to what their lands produced and the size of their populations.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 34House of Yan Shaogong · 2 passages

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或曰：「禹薦益，已而以啟人為吏。 Someone said: "Yu recommended Yi, but then made Qi's followers into the officials.

天下謂禹名傳天下於益，已而實令啟自取之。 The world says that Yu in name transmitted the world to Yi, but in reality had Qi take it for himself.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 36Houses of Chen and Qi · 6 passages

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舜已崩，傳禹天下，而舜子商均為封國。 After Shun died and transmitted the realm to Yu, Shun's son Shang Jun was given a fief.

杞東樓公者，夏后禹之後苗裔也。 Qi Dong Lou Gong was a descendant of Yu of the Xia rulers.

周武王克殷紂，求禹之後，得東樓公，封之於杞，以奉夏后氏祀。 King Wu of Zhou conquered Yin Zhou and sought Yu's descendants. He obtained Duke Dong Lou and enfeoffed him at Qi to continue the Xiahou clan's sacrifices.

禹之後，周武王封之杞，楚惠王滅之，有世家言。 Yu's descendants were enfeoffed by King Wu of Zhou in the state of Qi, until King Hui of Chu destroyed them. Their story is told in the hereditary houses.

右十一人者，皆唐虞之際名有功德臣也； The eleven people above were all famous ministers with merit and virtue during the time of Tang and Yu;

至禹，於周則杞，微甚，不足數也。 As for Yu's line, under the Zhou it survived as Qi, but it was so diminished that it scarcely counted.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 41House of King Goujian of Yue · 4 passages

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越王句踐，其先禹之苗裔，而夏后帝少康之庶子也。 King Goujian of Yue descended from Yu, through a younger son of Emperor Shaokang of the Xia royal house.

封於會稽，以奉守禹之祀。 He was enfeoffed at Kuaiji so that he could maintain Yu’s sacrifices.

太史公曰：禹之功大矣，漸九川，定九州，至于今諸夏艾安。 The Grand Historian said: Yu's merit was great. He regulated the nine rivers and settled the nine provinces. Down to the present, the Xia lands have remained peaceful.

蓋有禹之遺烈焉。 Indeed, he has Yu's remaining illustrious deeds.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 61Biographies: Biography of Bo Yi · 1 passage

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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.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 65Biographies of Sun Tzu and Wu Qi · 1 passage

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昔三苗氏左洞庭，右彭蠡，德義不修，禹滅之。 In ancient times the Three Miao tribes had Dongting Lake on the left and Pengli Lake on the right. They did not cultivate virtue and righteousness, so Yu destroyed them.

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

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赤縣神州內自有九州，禹之序九州是也，不得為州數。 Within Chixian Shenzhou itself there are nine provinces: the Nine Provinces ordered by Yu. These are not counted among the outer zhou.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 84Biographies of Qu Yuan and Master Jia · 1 passage

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湯禹久遠兮，邈不可慕也。 Tang and Yu are far away in the distant past, too remote to serve as models.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 112Biographies of the Marquis of Pingjin and Zhufu · 1 passage

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夏禹卑宮室，惡衣服，后聖不循。 The Great Yu of Xia kept his palaces humble and his garments plain—a standard that later sages failed to uphold.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 114Treatise on the Eastern Yue · 1 passage

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蓋禹之餘烈也。 Surely this was the enduring legacy of the Great Yu.

History of Song, Chapter 2Volume 2 Annals 2: Taizu 2 · 1 passage

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丙午，詔吳越立禹廟於會稽。 On bingwu he commanded Wu-Yue to build a temple to Yu the Great at Kuaiji.

History of Song, Chapter 96Volume 96 Treatises 49: Rivers and Canals 6 · 2 passages

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十一月，詔曰：「《禹貢》：'三江既導，震澤底定。 In the eleventh month an edict declared: "The Tribute of Yu states: 'When the Three Rivers were led forth, Lake Zhen was settled.

章下工部，工部謂：「今所具三江，或非禹跡； The memorial went to the Ministry of Works, which replied: "The Three Rivers now proposed may not be Yu's original waterways;

History of Song, Chapter 141Volume 141 Treatises 94: Music 16 · 4 passages

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舜授禹，盛事光前，稱壽玉卮邊。 Shun passes the throne to Yu; the grand affair outshines the past, and longevity is toasted beside the jade cup.

盛禮興行先百姓，崇本業，憂勤如禹、稷，播在聲詩。 Grand rites rise before the people—root occupations honored, diligence like Yu and Ji—spread in song and ode.

當年禹宅，萬古蔥蔥。 Once the home of Yu—green through the ages.

因山祗事，崔嵬禹穴，此日重逢。 Mountain rites reverently performed—lofty Yu's cavern; on this day we meet again.

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

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詔曰：「夫微禹之感，歎深後昆，盛德必祀，道隆百世。 An edict stated: "The regret at slighting Yu runs deep for later generations; great virtue must receive sacrifice, and the Way is honored for a hundred generations.

Book of Song, Chapter 56Volume 56 Biographies 16: Xie Zhan, Kong Linzhi · 1 passage

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玄又議複肉刑，琳之以為：「唐、虞象刑，夏禹立辟，蓋淳薄既異，致化實同，寬猛相濟，惟變所適。 Xuan also proposed restoring corporal mutilation. Linzhi argued: "Tang and Yu used symbolic punishments, while Yu of Xia established capital statutes—because simplicity and decadence differed, yet the goal of transforming society was the same. Leniency and severity complement each other; each must change as circumstances require.

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

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又前年優旨，自弟所宣，雖夏后撫辜人，周宣及鰥寡，不足過也。 Moreover the favorable edict of two years ago was proclaimed by you; though Yu comforted the guilty and King Xuan of Zhou reached widows and orphans, they could not surpass it.

Book of Song, Chapter 63Volume 63 Biographies 23: Wang Hua, Wang Tanshou, Yin Jingren, Shen Yanzhi · 1 passage

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既下在道，有黃龍出負上所乘舟，左右皆失色，上謂曇首曰：「此乃夏禹所以受天命，我何堪之。」 After the abdication, on the road a yellow dragon appeared and bore up the boat in which the new emperor rode. His attendants turned pale. The emperor said to Tanshou, "This is how Yu of Xia received Heaven's mandate—how am I worthy of such a thing?"

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

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在昔虞、夏，揖讓相推，苟非重華，誰堪命禹！ In ancient times Yu and Xia yielded the throne to one another—if not for Emperor Shun (Chonghua), who could have entrusted the mandate to Yu!

Book of Wei, Chapter 96Volume 90: Retired Officals: Sui Kua, Feng Liang, Li Mi, Zheng Xiu · 2 passages

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又復以世代檢之，即虞夏尚朴，殷周稍文，制造之差，每加崇飾。 By generations: Yu and Xia prized simplicity, Yin and Zhou added ornament—each age grew more elaborate.

而夏后世室，堂修二七，周人之制，反更促狹，豈是夏禹卑宮之意，周監郁郁之美哉？ Xia's later chambers were seven by two mats; Zhou's rule is narrower—this is neither Yu's low palaces nor Zhou's rich beauty.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 44Volume 44 Treatises 39: Selecting and Appointing Officials 1 · 1 passage

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且夏有天下四百載，禹之道喪而商始興； Xia ruled for four hundred years before Yu's way was lost and Shang rose;

New Book of Tang, Chapter 138Volume 138 Biographies 63: · 1 passage

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且詔書罪己，禹、湯之心也。 The emperor's edict of self-reproach is the spirit of Yu and Tang.

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

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臣聞堯、禹之為君而天下大治者，以能任九官、四嶽、十二牧，不失其舉，不貳其業，不侵其職，居官唯其能，左右唯其賢，元凱在下雖微而必舉，四兇在朝雖強而必誅，考其安危，明其取舍。 I have heard that Yao and Yu brought the realm to great order because they could employ the Nine Officers, the Four Peaks, and the Twelve Pastors — never missing the right appointment, never duplicating tasks, never encroaching on duties; in office only by ability, at their side only the worthy; worthy men below though slight were always raised, the Four Evils in court though strong were always executed; they examined security and danger and clarified what to take and what to discard.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 35Volume 35 Biographies 15: Zhan Wenyu, Yang She, Zhang Ce, Zhao Guangfeng, Xue Yiju, Su Xun · 1 passage

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天祐三年，太祖自長蘆還軍，哀帝遣貽矩來勞，貽矩以臣禮見，太祖揖之升階，貽矩曰：「殿下功德及人，三靈改卜，皇帝方行舜、禹之事，臣安敢違？」 In Tianyou’s third year Taizu returned from Changlu; Emperor Ai sent Yiju to comfort the army; Yiju used minister’s rites; Taizu bowed him up the steps; Yiju said, “Your merit reaches the people; Heaven has turned; the emperor will do as Shun and Yu—how dare I disobey?”

History of Yuan, Chapter 66Volume 66 Treatises 19: Rivers and Canals 3 · 2 passages

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江水出蜀西南徼外，東至於岷山，而禹導之。 The Yangtze rises in the far southwest of Shu, flows east to Mount Min, and Yu the Great channeled it there.

於是征工發徒，以仍改至元元年十有一月朔日，肇事於都江堰，即禹鑿之處，分水之源也。 Labor was then mobilized. On the first day of the eleventh month of Zhiyuan 1 work began at Dujiangyan—the place Yu cut the river, source of the water division.

History of Yuan, Chapter 171Volume 171 Biographies 58: Liu Yin, Wu Cheng · 1 passage

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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 · 1 passage

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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.

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

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誠能監前事之得喪，勞虛己於吐握，其知賢也必用，其授爵也勿疑，則舜禹湯武之德可連衡矣，稷契伊呂之流可比肩矣。 If rulers could truly weigh past success and failure, humble themselves as Duke of Zhou did when he "spit out his food and released his hair grip" to receive men, employ the worthy without fail, and grant office without hesitation, then the virtue of Shun, Yu, Tang, and Wu would stand in one line and men like Hou Ji, Xie, Yi Yin, and Lü Shang could walk shoulder to shoulder.