Shun (舜) | 24 Histories

Overview

The translated histories identify Shun as a ruler. This record brings together 89 passages from 41 chapters across 14 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Shun	舜	Shun
Personal name	Chong Hua	重華	Chóng Huá
Alternate name	Chonghua	重華	Chonghua
Personal name	Chonghua	重華
Regnal	Emperor Shun	虞帝	Yu Di
Title	Emperor Shun	虞
Title	Emperor Shun	舜	Shùn
Personal name	Emperor Shun	虞舜	Yú Shùn
Title	Emperor Shun	帝舜	Dì Shùn
Title	Emperor Shun	舜
Alternate name	Great Shun	大舜
Personal name	Great Shun	大舜	Dashun
Personal name	Shun	舜	Shùn
Personal name	Shun	舜	Shun
Personal name	Shun	虞舜	Shun
Personal	Shun	有虞	Shun
Personal name	Shun	舜
Personal name	Shun	虞舜	Yú Shùn
Alternate name	Shun		Shùn
Personal	Shun	舜
Personal name	Shun	虞	Yú
Regnal	Shun	舜	Shùn
Personal name	Shun of Yu	虞舜	Yu Shun
Personal name	Shun of Yu	虞舜	Yú Shùn
Alternate	Youyu	有虞	Youyu
Title	Youyu	有虞
Title	Youyu	有虞	Yǒuyú
Regnal	Yu	虞
Personal	Yu	虞	Yu
Alternate name	Yu	虞
Personal name	Yu	虞	Yú
Personal name	Yu	虞	Yu
Clan	Yu	虞	Yu
Alternate name	Yu	虞	Yú
Alternate name	Yu Shun	虞舜
Personal name	Yu Shun	虞舜	Yú Shùn
Personal name	Yu Shun	虞舜	Yu Shun
Title		虞	Yu

Identity

Historicity: Legendary
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:098:s0039, houhanshu:032:s0056, houhanshu:108:s0117, jinshi:035:s0024, liaoshi:044:s0031, liaoshi:058:s0010, nanqishu:060:s0008, shiji:120:s0030, shiji:124:s0009, xinwudaishi:071:s0001, zhoushu:003:s0012
Sex: male
Explicit · hanshu:105:s0228, houhanshu:131:s0008, jinshi:032:s0012, liaoshi:117:s0033, qingshigao:353:s0126, sanguozhi:034:s0073, shiji:061:s0003, shiji:084:s0105, songshi:497:s0041, weishu:027:s0189, xinwudaishi:020:s0009, yuanshi:171:s0110, zhoushu:004:s0059, zhoushu:026:s0101
Value: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:022:s0003, hanshu:070:s0126
Value: male
Explicit · shiji:068:s0133

Roles

Ruler

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 昔者虞舜窘於井廩 · Qualitative: legendary antiquity
Explicit · shiji:124:s0009
Qualitative: legendary antiquity · Source Date: Text: 虞舜
Explicit · shiji:068:s0133
Source Date: Text: 黃帝、堯、舜垂衣裳而天下治 · Qualitative: legendary antiquity
Explicit · houhanshu:131:s0008
Qualitative: legendary antiquity
Explicit · hanshu:022:s0003, hanshu:022:s0013, hanshu:098:s0039, houhanshu:032:s0056, houhanshu:037:s0091, houhanshu:108:s0117, jinshi:032:s0012, jinshi:035:s0024, liaoshi:044:s0031, liaoshi:058:s0010, liaoshi:111:s0070, liaoshi:117:s0033, nanqishu:060:s0008, nanqishu:060:s0009, qingshigao:120:s0014, sanguozhi:034:s0073, shiji:061:s0003, shiji:061:s0032, shiji:084:s0105, shiji:120:s0030, suishu:005:s0049, xinwudaishi:020:s0009, xinwudaishi:071:s0001, yuanshi:171:s0110, zhoushu:003:s0012, zhoushu:004:s0059, zhoushu:026:s0101
Qualitative: legendary antiquity
Explicit event contextual date · qingshigao:353:s0126, songshi:497:s0041, weishu:027:s0189
Source Date: Text: 建武三十二年二月 · Western Year: AD 56
Explicit · houhanshu:108:s0117, houhanshu:108:s0101
Source Date: Text: 泰和三年 · Western Year: AD 1203
Explicit event contextual date · jinshi:035:s0063

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Child of Gusou (瞽叟)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father
Kin of Yao (尧)
Kinship Term: yielded to / 让与

Career and standing

Label: tested in office / 試之於位 · Action: held
Explicit · shiji:061:s0003
Text: took the position of Son of Heaven / 即天子之位
Explicit · hanshu:065:s0151

Works and attributed material

Kind: saying · Role: speaker · Quoted: true · Provenance: Mode: named-source-report · Speaker Person Id: Zhao Liang (趙良)
Explicit · shiji:068:s0133
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Other Person Id: Yu (禹) · Quoted: true · Text: When the four seas are impoverished, Heaven's mandate is cut off forever. / 四海困窮，天祿永終 · Provenance: Mode: named-source-report · Speaker Person Id: Shun (舜)
Explicit · qingshigao:120:s0014
Kind: speech · Role: subject-of-speech · Speaker Person Id: Wang Tong (王通)
Explicit · liaoshi:058:s0010

Events and relationships

Kind: political · Role: ruler · Action: accepted-good-counsel · Other Person Ids: Yu (禹), Ji (稷), Xie (禼)
Explicit · hanshu:022:s0013
Kind: political · Role: speaker · Action: charged · Other Person Id: Yu (禹) · Date Context: Qualitative: legendary antiquity
Explicit · qingshigao:120:s0014
Kind: political · Role: ruler · Action: established spare commands and complete laws as the foundation of governing
Explicit · nanqishu:060:s0009
Kind: legal · Role: ruler · Action: executed · Other Person Ids: Gun (鮌), Huan Dou (讙兜)
Explicit · hanshu:022:s0013
Kind: legal · Role: authority · Action: exiled · Other Person Id: Gonggong (共工氏)
Explicit · liaoshi:111:s0070
Kind: political · Role: heir-designate · Action: held-duties-decades-then-received-administration · Other Person Id: Yao (堯)
Explicit · shiji:061:s0003
Kind: cultural · Role: ruler · Action: let-robes-hang-down-and-realm-governed
Explicit · houhanshu:131:s0008
Kind: political · Role: addressee · Action: received-charge · Other Person Id: Yao (堯) · Date Context: Qualitative: legendary antiquity
Explicit · qingshigao:120:s0014
Kind: personal · Role: victim · Action: trapped in well and granary
Explicit · shiji:124:s0009
Relation: successor-of · Person Id: Yao (堯)
Explicit · shiji:061:s0003
Relation: instructor-of · Person Id: Yu (禹)
Explicit · qingshigao:120:s0014
Relation: predecessor-of · Person Id: Yu (禹)
Explicit · shiji:061:s0003

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: highest wisdom: can join in good but not in evil · Provenance: Mode: named-source-report · Source Work: the Tradition / 傳
Explicit · hanshu:022:s0013, hanshu:022:s0014
Kind: character · Statement: possessed a divine nature and subtle virtue
Explicit · nanqishu:060:s0008
Item: sighting instrument / 璣 · Relation: associated-with
Explicit · liaoshi:044:s0031

Source notes

Historicity: legendary
Explicit · hanshu:105:s0228, houhanshu:108:s0117, jinshi:035:s0024, liaoshi:044:s0031, liaoshi:058:s0010, liaoshi:111:s0070, liaoshi:117:s0033, qingshigao:120:s0014, shiji:061:s0003, songshi:497:s0041, suishu:005:s0049, xinwudaishi:020:s0009, xinwudaishi:071:s0001
Value: legendary
Explicit · hanshu:022:s0003

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

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 · 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 65Volume 56: Dong Zhongshu · 16 passages

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故堯、舜行德則民仁壽，桀、紂行暴則民鄙夭。 Under Yao and Shun’s virtue the people grew humane and long-lived; under Jie and Zhou Xin’s cruelty they turned coarse and died young.

制曰：蓋聞虞舜之時，游於巖郎之上，垂拱無為，而天下太平。 The rescript ran: They say Shun of Yu strolled the cliff galleries with folded hands and all beneath Heaven stayed at peace.

臣聞堯受命，以天下為憂，而未以位為樂也，故誅逐亂臣，務求賢聖，是以得舜、禹、稷、□、咎繇。 I have heard that Yao, once charged with the realm, worried for the world rather than rejoiced in the throne—so he purged corrupt ministers and sought sages, gaining Shun, Yu, Lord Millet, Xie, and Gaoyao.

堯在位七十載，乃遜於位以禪虞舜。 Yao reigned seventy years, then ceded the throne to Shun.

堯崩，天下不歸堯子丹硃而歸舜。 When Yao died, the realm did not pass to his son Dan Zhu but rallied to Shun.

舜知不可辟，乃即天子之位，以禹為相，因堯之輔佐，繼其統業，是以垂拱無為而天下治。 Shun saw he could not refuse, mounted the throne, made Yu his minister, kept Yao’s counselors, and carried on the work—so he could fold his hands while the empire ran itself.

陛下親耕籍田以為農先，夙寤晨興，憂勞萬民，思維往古，而務以求賢，此亦堯、舜之用心也，然而未雲獲者，士素不厲也。 You plow the sacred field, rise before dawn, fret for the people, study antiquity, and hunt for worthies—this is the mind of Yao and Shun; what still fails is that talent is not schooled beforehand.

遍得天下之賢人，則三王之盛易為，而堯、舜之名可及也。 Gather the realm’s worthies and the glory of the Three Kings is within reach, the fame of Yao and Shun no longer a distant echo.

故朕垂問乎天人之應，上嘉唐虞，下悼桀、紂，浸微浸滅浸明浸昌之道，虛心以改。 So I ask how Heaven answers man, praising Yao and Shun above, mourning Jie and Zhou below, tracing how states fade or flourish—hoping to mend my ways with an open heart.

冊曰：「上嘉唐、虞，下悼桀、紂，浸微浸滅浸明浸昌之道，虛心以改。」 Your rescript asked me to praise Yao and Shun, mourn Jie and Zhou, and trace how kingdoms wither or wax—so you may reform with an open heart.”

是以堯發於諸侯，舜興乎深山，非一日而顯也，蓋有漸以致之矣。 Yao rose from a fief, Shun from the wildwood—neither leaped to fame in a day; both climbed by slow degrees.

胡堯兢兢日行其道，而舜業業日致其孝，善積而名顯，德章而身尊，以其浸明浸昌之道也。 So Yao trod the Way with trembling care, Shun piled up filial deeds day by day—goodness stacked until their names shone, virtue plain until all honored them: the path of slow, sure growth.

此唐、虞之所以得令名，而桀、紂之可為悼懼者也。 That is how Yao and Shun won praise, and how Jie and Zhou became warnings.

故孔子曰：「亡為而治者，其舜乎！」 Confucius said, “To rule without fuss—perhaps only Shun managed it.”

改正朔，易服色，以順天命而已； Shun merely fixed the calendar and court dress to answer Heaven;

道之大原出於天，天不變，道亦不變，是以禹繼舜，舜繼堯，三聖相受而守一道，亡救弊之政也，故不言其所損益也。 The Way springs from Heaven; Heaven is changeless, so the Way is changeless—Yao, Shun, and Yu handed on one thread with no “repair” edicts, hence silence on additions or cuts.

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 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 · 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 88Volume 77: Gai, Zhuge, Liu, Zheng, Sun, Wujiang and He · 1 passage

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公卿以下見陛下進用輔亟，而折傷之暴，人有懼心，精銳銷耎，莫敢盡節正言，非所以昭有虞之聽，廣德美之風也。 They warned that silencing Liu Fu would teach every official to hold his tongue.

Book of Han, Chapter 89Volume 78: Xiao Wangzhi · 2 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.

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 · 2 passages

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虞帝之明，在茲一舉，可不致詳！ Even Shun's wisdom turned on a single appointment—how can you be less than meticulous?

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 · 1 passage

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昔舜飭正二女，以崇至德； Shun disciplined his two royal brides to perfect his virtue;

Book of Han, Chapter 98Volume 87a: Yang Xiong 1 · 8 passages

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橫江、湘以南水往兮，雲走乎彼蒼吾，馳江潭之泛溢兮，將折衷乎重華。 South of the Yangzi and Xiang I ride the flood; clouds race under the blue vault; I speed the river's swells to seek judgment from Shun the double-pupiled.

舒中情之煩或兮，恐重華之不累與，陵陽侯之素波兮，豈吾累之獨見許？ I pour out my troubled heart, yet fear Shun will not heed me; I ride the pale waves of the river god— would he single me out for trust?

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.

樂往昔之遺風兮，喜虞氏之所耕。 They savor the ancient wind; they joy in the soil Shun once tilled.

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.

浮彭蠡，目有虞，方椎夜光之流離，剖明月之珠胎，鞭洛水之虙妃，餉屈原與彭胥。 They drift Pengli, gaze toward Shun's land, tally night-shining pearls, split moon-pearls, whip Lady Fu of the Luo, and feast Qu Yuan and Peng-Xu.

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 105Volume 93: Flatterers · 2 passages

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閎為賢弟駙馬都尉寬信求咸女為婦，咸惶恐不敢當，私謂閎曰：「董公為大司馬，冊文言『允執其中』，此乃堯禪舜之文，非三公故事，長老見者，莫不心懼。 Wang Hong asked Xiao Xian for his daughter as wife for Dong Kuanxin; Xiao Xian panicked and whispered back, "The grand marshal's patent cited 'hold the mean'—words from the Yao-Shun abdication, not a normal appointment for one of the three excellencies. Elders who read it were inwardly afraid.

上有酒所，從容視賢笑，曰「吾欲法堯禪舜，何如？」 When he had drunk, Ai turned to Dong Xian and smiled. "I wish to follow Yao and yield the throne to Shun—what do you think?"

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 4 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."

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

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.

虞韶美而儀鳳兮，孔忘味於千載。 The Shao dance of Emperor Shun so moved nature that phoenixes flocked; Confucius forgot his meal for ages after hearing it.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 32Volume 28b: Biography of Feng Yan · 4 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;

臯陶釣於雷澤兮，賴虞舜而後親。 Gao Yao angled in Lei Marsh until Shun raised him up.

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 37Volume 32: Biographies of Fan Hong; Yin Shi · 1 passage

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故雖大舜聖德，孳孳為善； Even Shun, for all his sagely virtue, strove endlessly for goodness;

Book of Later Han, Chapter 108Volume 97: Rituals and Worship Part One · 1 passage

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昔在帝尧，聪明密微，让与舜庶，后裔握机。 Formerly under Emperor Yao, intelligence was subtle and profound; he yielded to Shun the common people, and his descendants grasped the pivot.

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 32Volume 32 Treatises 13: Rites 5: Conferring of Posthumous Titles · 1 passage

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虞舜生馮，遷于負夏，太王避狄，邑此岐山，聖姥來歸，天原肇發。 As when Shun was born at Feng and moved to Fuxia, or when King Tai fled the Di and settled at Mount Qi—when the Holy Matriarch came into the clan, the heavenly origin of the house first unfolded.

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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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.

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

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天文之變，六合之表可以仰觀，有虞之璣是矣。 The shifting heavens across the four quarters could be viewed directly—such was the sighting instrument of the age of Shun.

History of Liao, Chapter 58Volume 58 Treatises 28: Ceremonial Guards 4 · 1 passage

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王通氏言，舜歲遍四嶽，民不告勞，營衛省、征求寡耳。 Wang Tong observed that even when Emperor Shun toured the four sacred peaks every year, the people did not complain of exhaustion, because his camp guards were few and his levies light.

History of Liao, Chapter 111Volume 111 Biographies 41: Treacherous Ministers 2 · 1 passage

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論曰：舜流共工，孔子誅少正卯，治奸之法嚴矣。 The commentary says: Shun exiled Gong Gong, and Confucius executed Shaozheng Mao—the standards for dealing with traitors were severe indeed.

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

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若舜好問，而浚哲冠倫。 like Shun in his love of inquiry, yet profound in wisdom and unmatched among men.

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 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 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?

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 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.

神農、虞、夏忽焉沒兮，我安適歸矣？ Shennong, Yu, and Xia have suddenly perished—where shall I return?

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 68Biography of Lord Shang · 2 passages

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虞舜有言曰：『自卑也尚矣。』 Yu Shun said, "To lower oneself remains the highest course."

君不若道虞舜之道，無為問仆矣。」 Your Lordship would do better to follow Yu Shun's way. There is no need to ask this servant.'

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

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重華不可牾兮，孰知余之從容！ Even Emperor Shun could not fault me — yet who knows the composure in my heart!

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!'

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 124Biographies of Knight-errants · 1 passage

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太史公曰：昔者虞舜窘於井廩，伊尹負於鼎俎，傅說匿於傅險，呂尚困於棘津，夷吾桎梏，百里飯牛，仲尼畏匡，菜色陳、蔡。 The Grand Historian remarks: In the old days, Emperor Shun was nearly killed in a well and a granary. Yi Yin labored among the pots and cutting boards. Fu Yue hid himself at the cliffs of Fu. Lu Shang was reduced to desperate straits at Jijin. Guan Zhong wore fetters. Baili Xi fed cattle for a living. Confucius was besieged at Kuang and went hungry until his face turned sallow between Chen and Cai.

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 Sui, Chapter 5Volume 5 Annals 5: Emperor Gong · 2 passages

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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!

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 History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 20Volume 20: Shizong of Later Zhou's Family · 3 passages

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孟子言：舜為天子，而瞽叟殺人，則棄天下，竊負之而逃。 Mencius said that if Shun were emperor and his father Gusou killed a man, Shun would abandon the realm, secretly carry his father on his back, and flee.

以謂天下可無舜，不可無至公，舜可棄天下，不可刑其父，此為世立言之說也。 The point is that the realm might do without Shun but not without supreme justice; Shun might abandon the throne but not punish his father. That is the teaching offered for the world.

然則為舜與世宗者，宜如何無使瞽叟、守禮至於殺人，則可謂孝矣！ For men like Shun and Shizong, true filial piety would mean keeping Gusou and Shouli from ever killing in the first place.

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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虞舜烝烝，來茲異趾； Yu Shun, utterly filial, here received the strange foot;

Book of Zhou, Chapter 26Volume 26 Biographies 18: Zhang Sunjian; Zhangsun Shaoyuan; Younger Brother Cheng; Elder Brother Si; Hu Sizheng · 1 passage

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故梁黃門侍郎裴正上書，以為昔者大舜欲聞七始，下洎周武，爰創七音。 Pei Zheng, former Attendant Secretary of the Yellow Gate of Liang, submitted a memorial arguing that in antiquity Great Shun had wished to hear the Seven Beginnings and that, down to King Wu of Zhou, the seven tones were first established.