釋氏稽古略 1.77

1.77

He was the son of Changyi and grandson of the Yellow Emperor. Ruling by the virtue of Water, he established his capital at Diqiu (present-day Puyang, Dongchang Route, in the territory of Yanzhou). He had eight talented sons, known as the 'Eight Harmonious Ones' (Ba Kai). During the decline of the Shaohao clan, the people were mixed together and defiled the sacrificial rites, offering worship without moderation. The Emperor pacified the rebellion of the Jiuli, ensuring that spirits and mortals did not mingle and did not infringe upon or desecrate one another. He created a calendar taking the first month of spring as the beginning of the year; hence, the Emperor was regarded as the founder of astronomy and calendars. His realm reached Panmu in the east, the Flowing Sands (Liusha) in the west, Jiaozhi in the south, and Youling (present-day Yanjing) in the north. He reigned for seventy-eight years. The Classic of the Seas and Mountains says: 'In the Eastern Sea there is a mountain named Dousuo, upon which stands a great peach tree twisting and coiling for three thousand li.' The Geographic Gazette states: 'The Flowing Sands are in Ganzhou Route, Gansu Province, under the commandery name of Zhangye.'