Ancient China · Ruler

Shun 舜

Legendary antiquity

Passages: 5
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Shun was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

legendary antiquity
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 125, 146, 149, 151

Career and standing

Son of Heaven 天子
Assumed
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 151
Son of Heaven 天子
Predecessor Person Id Yao (堯)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 151

Places and affiliations

Polity Yu 虞 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 125, 149

Events and relationships

Acceded as Son of Heaven
Political · Ruler · With Yao (堯)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 151
Reigned in ease
Political · Ruler · At rock gallery 巖郎
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 125, 151
Relation Superior of · Person Yu (禹)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 151

References in the histories

Book of Han, Chapter 65Volume 56: Dong Zhongshu · 5 passages

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.