釋氏稽古略 1.83

1.83

He was named Chonghua and addressed as Doujun, an eighth-generation descendant of the Yellow Emperor. The Yellow Emperor fathered Changyi; Changyi fathered Zhuanxu; Zhuanxu fathered Qiongchan; Qiongchan fathered Kangjing; Kangjing fathered Goubang; Goubang fathered Qiaoniu; Qiaoniu fathered Gusou; and Gusou fathered Shun. His surname was Yao. Shun's mother died, and his stepmother gave birth to Xiang. His parents and Xiang frequently wished to kill Shun. Shun fulfilled the ways of filial piety and fraternal duty to serve his parents, and treated his brother with utmost courtesy. He farmed at Mount Li (Hedong), fished at Lake Lei (Yanzhou), and made pottery by the Riverbank (southwest of Dingtao in present-day Jiyin, at Taoqiu Pavilion). Where he dwelt became a village in one year, a town in two years, and a city in three years. At twenty he was renowned for filial piety. At age thirty, Yao gave him two daughters in marriage and intended to abdicate the throne to him. Shun recommended the sons of the Gaoyang and Gaoxin clans, the 'Eight Harmonious Ones' and the 'Eight Primal Ones'. The Harmonious Ones took charge of the Earth, and the Primal Ones spread the Five Teachings across the four quarters. Yao thereupon made Shun regent. The Dihong clan had an unworthy son called Hundun, who was Huandou; the Shaohao clan had an unworthy son called Qiongqi; the Gonggong clan of the Zhuanxu lineage had an unworthy son called Taowu, who was Gun; the Jinyun clan had an unworthy son called Taotie, who was Sanmiao. These were called the Four Evils. They held office under Yao, and Yao had been unable to expel them; Shun cast them all out to the four frontiers. He promoted Yu to regulate the waters. Shun acted as regent to Yao for twenty-eight years. When Yao passed away, Shun ascended the throne of the Son of Heaven, ruling by the virtue of Earth. He established his capital at Puban (present-day Hezhong Prefecture, Jinning Route). He strummed a five-stringed lute and sang 'The Southern Breeze'. He used the armillary sphere and jade transverse to regulate the Seven Governors. He rectified the calendar, using intercalary additions to complete the year, and composed music called the Jiushao. When the Miao people disobeyed his orders, he displayed his virtue, dancing with shields and plumes on the two staircases for seventy days, and the Miao people came to submit. His son Shangjun was unworthy, so Shun recommended Yu to Heaven and made him succeed his throne. He reigned for fifty years. While on an inspection tour in the south, he passed away in the wilderness of Cangwu (present-day Cangwu Commandery, Wuzhou Route, Guangxi Circuit, within the territory of Jingzhou), at the age of one hundred and ten. Yu yielded before Shun's son Shangjun and retired to Yangcheng, but the people of the realm went not to Shangjun but to Yu. Yu then ascended the throne of the Son of Heaven; the name of the state was Xia. Shun once wished to make lacquered utensils, but ceased when remonstrated with (this is also seen under the seventeenth year of the Zhenguan reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang).