Yao (堯) | 24 Histories

Overview

Yao was a Legendary Ruler.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Tang Yao	唐堯	Tang Yao
Posthumous name	Emperor of Tang	唐帝	Tang Di
Regnal name	Tang	唐
Alternate name	Tang	唐

Life and dates

Death

Natural
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 16
When Yao died 堯崩
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 150

Attested activity

堯
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 175, passage 104
黃帝、堯、舜垂衣裳而天下治
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 131, passage 8
legendary antiquity
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 25, passage 205; Book of Northern Qi 30, passage 135; Book of Northern Qi 50, passage 51; Book of Han 22, passages 3, 13; Book of Han 25, passages 21, 289; Book of Han 26, passages 8, 144; Book of Han 67, passage 147; Book of Han 68, passage 26; Book of Han 82, passage 153; Book of Han 99, passage 100; Book of Han 101, passage 39; Book of Later Han 34, passage 26; History of Jin 35, passage 24; Old Book of Tang 27, passage 69; Old Book of Tang 150, passage 97; Old History of the Five Dynasties 10, passage 7; Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 155; Old History of the Five Dynasties 120, passages 96, 118; Old History of the Five Dynasties 140, passages 2, 112; Old History of the Five Dynasties 147, passage 35; Book of Liang 4, passage 22; Book of Liang 38, passages 224, 229; History of Liao 44, passage 29; History of Liao 78, passage 65; History of Liao 117, passage 32; History of Ming 115, passage 53; Book of Southern Qi 47, passage 26; Book of Southern Qi 53, passage 55; Book of Southern Qi 60, passages 8-9; Draft History of Qing 120, passage 14; Draft History of Qing 340, passage 190; Draft History of Qing 443, passage 132; Records of the Grand Historian 2, passages 5, 16; Records of the Grand Historian 13, passages 44, 257; Records of the Grand Historian 23, passage 89; Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 21; Records of the Grand Historian 61, passages 3, 5; Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 11; History of Song 76, passage 2; History of Song 110, passage 56; Book of Song 3, passage 6; Book of Song 62, passage 171; Book of Sui 5, passage 62; New History of the Five Dynasties 59, passage 4; Book of Zhou 3, passage 12; Book of Zhou 23, passage 265; Book of Zhou 46, passage 14
legendary antiquity
Dated from the passage context · History of Song 497, passage 41; New Book of Tang 184, passage 52
AD 1203 泰和三年
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 35, passage 63
AD 1162 紹興三十二年
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passage 166

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Father of Yao (堯父)
father 父
Strongly inferred · History of Ming 115, passage 160
Child of Emperor Ku (帝俈)
fathered 生 · paternal line
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 13, passage 252
Child of Mother of Yao (堯母)
mother 母
Strongly inferred · History of Ming 115, passage 159
Parent of Danzhu (丹朱)
son
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 53, passage 55

Key source chapters

Career and standing

legendary ancient ruler 堯
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 59, passage 4
Held
Ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 3
yielded the throne to Shun 遜於位以禪虞舜
Abdication · To Person Id Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 149

Places and affiliations

Tang 唐
Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 3
At Chengyang Spirit Terrace, Jiyin 济阴成阳灵台 · Relation Cult site
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passage 47

Works and attributed material

Brine Pool 鹹池
Relation Music attributed to · Mode quoted-claim Speaker Yang Shou (楊收)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 184, passage 52
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Addressed to Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 23
Judgment · Exemplar · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 120, passage 118
When the four seas are impoverished, Heaven's mandate is cut off forever. 四海困窮，天祿永終
Speech · Speaker · With Shun (舜) · Direct quotation · Mode named-source-report Speaker Yao (堯)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 120, passage 14

Events and relationships

Abdicated and yielded
Political · Ruler · With Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 3
yielding/abdication 揖讓
Political · Abdicating ruler · Abdicated
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 120, passage 118
Accepted good counsel
Political · Ruler · With Yu (禹), Ji (稷), Xie (禼) · Outcome Good carried out
Directly stated · Book of Han 22, passage 13
Attacked Miao
Military · Attacker
Directly stated · History of Liao 78, passage 65
Charged
Political · Speaker · With Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 120, passage 14
Endured nine years of flood with stores prepared
Disaster · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 144

Show 29 more source-backed claims

Established spare commands and complete laws as the foundation of governing
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 60, passage 9
Established offices of Xi and He
Administrative · Ruler · With Xi (羲), He (和)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 21
Executed
Legal · Ruler · With Gun (鮌), Huan Dou (讙兜) · Outcome Evil counsel rejected
Directly stated · Book of Han 22, passage 13
Governed with minimal punishment
Governance · Ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 23, passage 89
Let robes hang down and realm governed
Cultural · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 131, passage 8
Ordered Four Sons to deliver seasons
Administrative · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 8
Ordered instrument making
Administrative · Commander · With Xihe (羲和)
Directly stated · History of Song 76, passage 2
Received tailao sacrifice
AD 85 二月 · Ritual · Recipient · At Chengyang Spirit Terrace in Jiyin 济阴成阳灵台
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passage 47
Restored descendants of Chong and Li
Administrative · Ruler · With Chong (重), Li (黎)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 21
Reverently conformed to heaven
Ritual · Ruler
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 140, passage 112
Said to have had the Four Evils at his court
Legendary allusion · Sage ruler · Mode direct-quotation Speaker Emperor Wu of Liang (梁武帝)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 38, passage 224
Sought flood controller
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 6
Suffered the great flood and charged Yu
Governance · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 68, passage 57
Used arms when unavoidable
Military · Legendary ruler · Mode edict-historical-exemplum Speaker Later Liang Last Emperor (末帝)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 10, passages 5, 7
Yielded realm
Political · Ruler · With Xu You (許由) · Mode hearsay
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 5
Yielded throne
Succession · Abdicator · With Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 23
Relation Listed with · Person Shun (舜) · [object Object]
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 59, passage 4
Relation Superior of · Person Ji (稷)
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 26, passage 8
Relation Co ruler with · Person Shun (舜)
Strongly inferred · Book of Southern Qi 60, passage 8
Relation Instructor of · Person Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 120, passage 14
Relation Legendary predecessor of · Person Shun (舜)
Strongly inferred · History of Liao 44, passages 29, 31
Relation Predecessor of · Person Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 3
Type successor · Person Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passages 149-150
Relation Superior of · Person Xihe (羲和)
Directly stated · History of Song 76, passage 2
Relation Patron of · Person Youchao (巢)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 155
Relation Ruler of · Person He (和)
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 23, passage 265
Relation Ruler of · Person Xi (羲)
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 23, passage 265
Relation Patron of · Person Xu (許)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 119, passage 155
Relation Predecessor of · Person Shun (舜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 23

Assessments and attributes

Assessment highest longevity and sagely virtue among the Five Emperors and hundred kings · Mode named-speaker Speaker Chen Kangbo (陳康伯)
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passage 166
Assessment highest wisdom: can join in good but not in evil · Mode named-source-report Source Work the Tradition 傳
Directly stated · Book of Han 22, passages 13-14
Assessment no lord greater than Yao · Mode quotation Speaker Sima Xiangru (司馬相如)
Directly stated · Book of Han 67, passage 191
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
possessed a divine nature and subtle virtue
Character
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 60, passage 8
Item celestial model 象 · Relation Associated with
Directly stated · History of Liao 44, passage 29

Source notes

Historicity legendary
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 289; Book of Han 26, passage 8; Book of Han 105, passage 228; Book of Later Han 34, passage 26; History of Jin 35, passage 24; Old Book of Tang 27, passage 69; Old History of the Five Dynasties 120, passage 118; Old History of the Five Dynasties 147, passage 35; History of Liao 44, passage 29; History of Liao 117, passage 32; Draft History of Qing 120, passage 14; Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 2; Records of the Grand Historian 23, passage 89; Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 3; Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 11; History of Song 76, passage 2; History of Song 497, passage 41; Book of Sui 5, passage 62; New History of the Five Dynasties 59, passage 4; Book of Zhou 46, passage 14
Historicity legendary
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 109, passage 47
Value legendary
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 2, passages 373, 379
Value legendary
Directly stated · Book of Han 22, passage 3; Book of Han 68, passage 20

References in the histories

Search passages

History

132 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 · 2 passages

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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?

旭云：「五行遞運，有始有終，齊王聖德欽明，萬方歸仰，臣等昧死聞奏，願陛下則堯禪舜。」 Xu said, "The Five Agents turn in succession — all things have beginning and end. The Prince of Qi's sacred virtue is bright; the ten thousand regions look to him. We risk death to report: we pray Your Majesty will follow Yao in yielding to Shun."

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 50Volume 50 Biographies 42: Favored by Nobles · 1 passage

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至說世祖云：「自古帝王，盡為灰燼，堯、舜、桀、紂，竟復何異？ He even told Shizu, "Every emperor since antiquity ends as ashes—what difference between Yao, Shun, Jie, and Zhou?

Book of Han, Chapter 2Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 2 · 2 passages

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是以頌高祖云：「漢帝本系，出自唐帝。 Hence in praising Gaozu it is said: "The imperial lineage of Han issues from the Emperor of Tang.

由是推之，漢承堯運，德祚已盛，斷蛇著符，旗幟上赤，協于火德，自然之應，得天統矣。 From this it follows that Han inherited Yao's cycle; its virtue and fortune were already flourishing. The severed serpent displayed the sign, the banners above were red, and in accord with the virtue of Fire, as a natural response, Han obtained Heaven's lineal succession.

Book of Han, Chapter 11Volume 10: Annals of Emperor Cheng · 1 passage

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詔曰：「昔在帝堯立羲、和之官，命以四時之事，令不失其序。 An edict declared: 'Formerly Emperor Yao established the officials Xi and He, commanded them with the affairs of the four seasons, causing them not to lose their order.

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 25Volume 23: Treatise on Punishment and Law · 4 passages

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唐虞之際，至治之極，猶流共工，放讙兜，竄三苗，殛鯀，然後天下服。 In the age of Yao and Shun, even at the height of good government, they still exiled Gonggong, banished Huandou, deported the Sanmiao, and executed Gun; only then did all under heaven submit.

以桀詐堯，若卵投石，夫何幸之有！ But trying to defeat true sage rule by trickery is like hurling an egg at rock.

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.

今漢承衰周暴秦極敝之流，俗已薄於三代，而行堯舜之刑，是猶以鞿而御駻突，違救時之宜矣。 Now Han has inherited the utter exhaustion left by declining Zhou and violent Qin. Customs are already less refined than under the Three Dynasties, yet to apply the punishments of Yao and Shun would be like trying to control a savage, bolting horse with a light bridle: it would run contrary to what the times require.

Book of Han, Chapter 26Volume 24a: Treatise on Trade 1 · 2 passages

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堯命四子以「敬授民時」，舜命后稷以「黎民祖飢」，是為政首。 Yao ordered the Four Sons to "reverently give the people the seasons," and Shun charged Houji with the saying that "the common people first suffered hunger"; these matters stood at the head of government.

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.

Book of Han, Chapter 65Volume 56: Dong Zhongshu · 14 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.

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.

其餘盡循堯道，何更為哉！ the rest followed Yao’s path unchanged.

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 67Volume 57b: Sima Xiangru · 2 passages

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歷唐堯於崇山兮，過虞舜於九疑。 He salutes Yao at Mount Chong and Shun among the peaks of Jiuyi.

因斯以談，君莫盛於堯，臣莫賢於後稷。 Judging by that text, no ruler surpassed Yao and no minister equaled Houji.

Book of Han, Chapter 68Volume 58: Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan · 2 passages

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臣聞上古堯、舜之時，不貴爵常而民勸善，不重刑罰而民不犯，躬率以正而遇民信也； I have heard that under Yao and Shun, rank and salary were not lavishly prized, yet the people strove toward goodness; punishments were not heavy, yet no one broke the law—the rulers corrected themselves first, and trust ran both ways;

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.

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 82Volume 71: Jun, Shu, Yu, Xue, Ping and Peng · 1 passage

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昔者帝堯南面而治，先『克膽俊德，以親九族』，而化及萬國《孝經》曰『天地之性人為貴，人之行莫大於孝，孝莫大於嚴父，嚴父莫大於配天，則周公其人也。』 Emperor Yao faced his court and began by illumining matchless virtue and bringing harmony to his nine clans, until his influence spread to every state. The Classic of Filial Piety says that among heaven and earth's gifts none ranks above man, that among human deeds none ranks above filial piety, that honoring the father is filial piety's height, and that joining the father to heaven is its summit—and the Duke of Zhou is the model.

Book of Han, Chapter 89Volume 78: Xiao Wangzhi · 4 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.

堯在上，不能去民欲利之心，而能令其欲利不勝其好義也； Under Yao you could not erase the thirst for gain, yet gain never overcame the love of right;

故堯、桀之分，在於義利而已，道民不可不慎也。 The gulf between Yao and Jie is simply righteousness against profit—governing the people demands care.

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 · 1 passage

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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 · 2 passages

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堯遭洪水之災，天下分絕為十二州，制遠之道微而無乖畔之難者，德厚恩深，無怨於下也。 Under Yao the world was shattered by flood and carved into twelve regions; control of the periphery grew weak, yet the people did not revolt—such was the depth of his virtue that none nursed a grudge.

誠放退殘賊酷暴之吏錮廢勿用，益選溫良上德之士以親萬勝，平刑釋冤以理民命，務省繇役，毋奪民時，薄收賦稅，毋殫民財，使天下黎元咸安家樂業，不苦逾時之役，不患苛暴之政，不疾酷烈之吏，雖有唐堯之大災，民無離上之心。 Truly dismiss and retire every cruel, predatory, harsh, and violent official, bar them forever from office, and select more gentle men of high virtue to draw close to the myriad households. Make punishments fair, release the wronged, and order the people’s lives; reduce corvée so as not to steal the farming seasons, and lighten taxes so as not to exhaust the people’s wealth. Then the common people throughout the realm will settle their households and delight in their work, not suffering from labor that runs past the proper season, not fearing harsh and violent government, and not hating cruel officials; even if there were a disaster as great as Yao’s flood, the people would have no heart to leave their ruler.

Book of Han, Chapter 99Volume 87b: Yang Xiong 2 · 2 passages

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故有造蕭何律於唐、虞之世，則悖矣； Had someone drafted Xiao He’s Han code in the age of Yao and Shun, it would have been absurd.

《典》、《謨》之篇，《雅》、《頌》之聲，不溫純深潤，則不足以揚鴻烈而章緝熙。 The documents of Yao and Shun, the hymns of the 《Odes》, must be warm, dense, and deep or they cannot trumpet great merit and spread the light of good rule.

Book of Han, Chapter 101Volume 89: Upright Officials · 2 passages

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宣帝最先褒之，地節三年下詔曰：「蓋聞有功不賞，有罪不誅，雖唐、虞不能以化天下。 Emperor Xuan singled him out for praise early on. In the third year of Dijie an edict declared: "They say that where merit goes unrewarded and guilt unpunished, not even the sage-kings Yao and Shun could civilize the realm.

曰：「臣聞膠西王有諛臣侯得，王所為擬於桀、紂也，得以為堯、舜也。 Gong Sui explained: "He kept a flatterer named Hou De who masked conduct worthy of Jie and Zhou with praise fit for Yao and Shun.

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 · 5 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."

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.

是故劉氏承堯之祚，氏族之世，著乎春秋。 The Liu lineage thus continued Yao's mandate, a pedigree the Spring and Autumn Annals already recorded.

唐據火德，而漢紹之，始起沛澤，則神母夜號，以章赤帝之符。 Emperor Yao held the virtue of Fire, and Han succeeded it; when it first arose in the Pei marshes, the divine mother cried out in the night to manifest the token of the Red Emperor.

蓋在高祖，其興也有五：一曰帝堯之苗裔，二曰體貌多奇異，三曰神武有徵應，四曰寬明而仁恕，五曰知人善任使。 Gaozu's ascent rested on five signs: Yao's bloodline, a singular physique, omens that blessed his arms, a generous humane temper, and a gift for placing the right men.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 34Volume 30a: Biographies of Su Jing; Yang Hou · 1 passage

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且火德承堯，雖昧必亮，承積世之祚，握無窮之符，王氏雖乘間偷篡，而終嬰大戮，支分體解，宗氏屠滅，非其效歟？ Han’s fire virtue follows Yao’s line; even in gloom it must flare; it carries forward ages of fortune and holds inexhaustible tokens. The Wangs may have usurped in a moment of weakness, yet they ended in hideous execution—dismemberment and clan extinction—is that not demonstration enough?

Book of Later Han, Chapter 109Volume 98: Rituals and Worship Part Two · 1 passage

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二月，上东巡狩，将至泰山，道使使者奉一太牢祠帝尧于济阴成阳灵台。 In the second month the emperor set out on an eastern tour; before reaching Mount Tai he dispatched envoys with a full tailao offering to honor Emperor Yao at the Spirit Terrace in Chengyang, Jiyin.

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 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 · 4 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.

《開寶禮》犧、軒、顓頊、帝嚳、陶唐、女媧、成湯、文、武請禦署，自漢高祖以下二十七帝不署。 The Kaibao Rites require imperial endorsement for Fu Xi, the Yellow Emperor, Zhuanxu, Di Ku, Emperor Yao, Nüwa, Tang, and Kings Wen and Wu; from Han Gaozu downward twenty-seven emperors are not endorsed.

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 27Volume 23 Treatises 3: Rites 3 · 1 passage

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羲、農、堯、舜，莫之易也； Xi, Nong, Yao, and Shun never altered it;

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 150Volume 146 Biographies 96: Xue Bo, Bao Fang, Li Ziliang, Li Shuo, Yan Shou, Xiao Xin, Du Ya, Wang Wei, Li Ruochu, Yu Qi, Lu Zheng, Yan Ping, Zheng Yuan, Du Jian, Pei Bin, Xue Pi · 1 passage

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昔唐堯降嬪，帝乙歸妹。 In antiquity, Tang Yao sent down a consort in marriage, and Di Yi gave his younger sister in marriage.

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

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而炎、黃有戰伐之師，堯、舜有干戈之用，諒不獲已，其猶病諸。 Even the Yellow and Flame emperors and Yao and Shun resorted to arms when they had no choice, though war grieved them.

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!

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 119Volume 119 Book of Later Zhou 21: Shizong Annals 6 · 1 passage

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昔唐堯之至聖，有巢、許為外臣，朕雖寡薄，庶遵前鑒。 Of old the sage Yao had Youchao and Xu as ministers beyond the court; We, though meager, would follow that example.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 120Volume 120 Book of Later Zhou 22: Emperor Gong Annals · 3 passages

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是日，詔曰：「天生蒸民，樹之司牧，二帝推公而禪位，三王乘時以革命，其極一也。 That day an edict read: "Heaven bred the people and set rulers over them; Yao and Shun yielded the realm in the public interest, and the Three Kings changed the mandate when the time came—the principle is the same.

天地鬼神享於有德，謳謠獄訟附於至仁，應天順民，法堯禪舜，如釋重負，予其作賓，嗚呼欽哉！ Heaven, earth, and the spirits accept the offerings of the virtuous; the people's songs and lawsuits turn to supreme benevolence; answer Heaven and follow the people, yield as Yao did to Shun, cast off this heavy burden, and let me be your guest. Reverently!

故堯、舜之揖讓，漢、魏之傳禪，皆知其數而順乎人也。 Thus Yao and Shun's abdications and the Han and Wei transfers of the mandate all followed this pattern and answered to the people's will.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 140Volume 140: Treatises 2 Calendars · 3 passages

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故虞舜之紹唐堯，先齊七政； Thus when Shun succeeded Yao, his first act was to align the seven luminaries;

昔在唐堯，欽若昊天。 Of old, Yao of Tang reverently conformed to august Heaven.

唐堯之道也，其曆謹以「顯德欽天」為名。 This is the Way of Yao of Tang; the calendar is respectfully named "Xiande Qintian."

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 147Volume 147: Treatises 9 Punishment and Law · 1 passage

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伏以刑法者御人之銜勒，救弊之斧斤，故鞭撲不可一日弛之於家，刑法不可一日廢之於國，雖堯、舜淳古之代，亦不能舍此而致理矣。 Penal law is the bridle by which people are governed and the tool by which abuses are cut away. Flogging cannot be relaxed for a day in the household, nor penal law abandoned for a day in the state—even the pure antiquity of Yao and Shun could not achieve good order without it.

Book of Liang, Chapter 4Volume 4: Emperor Jianwen · 1 passage

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所以堯舜克讓，惟德是與； Therefore Yao and Shun yielded the throne, giving it only to the virtuous;

Book of Liang, Chapter 38Volume 38: Zhu Yi; He Chen · 2 passages

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堯爲聖主，四凶在朝； Yao was a sage, and still the Four Evils sat in court;

向令舜但聽公車上書，四凶終自不知，堯亦永爲暗主。 If Shun had listened only to anonymous memorials, the Four Evils would never have been exposed and Yao would have remained a blind ruler forever.

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

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天道之常，尋尺之中可以俯窺，陶唐之象是矣。 The regularities of heaven could be inspected within a few feet—such was the celestial model of the age of Yao.

History of Liao, Chapter 78Volume 78 Biographies 8: Yelu Yilage, Xiao Haili, Xiao Husi, Xiao Siwen, Xiao Jixian · 1 passage

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堯之伐苗民也，呂侯追數其罪曰「殺戮無辜」。 when Yao attacked the Miao, Marquis Lü pursued the charge: "Slaughtering the innocent."

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

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臣脫脫誠惶誠恐頓首：欽惟皇帝陛下，如堯稽古，而簡寬容眾； Your subject Toqto'a, in deepest reverence and fear, bows his head and reports: I respectfully observe that Your Majesty, like Yao in studying antiquity, is concise in manner yet magnanimous toward all;

History of Ming, Chapter 115Volume 115 Biographies 3: Emperor Xingzong Xiaokang, Emperor Ruizong Xingxian · 2 passages

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河東地勢高，控制西北，堯嘗都之，然其地苦寒。 The Shanxi plateau commands the northwest and Yao once ruled there, but it is bitterly cold.

帝曰：「帝堯父母異陵，可知合葬非古。」 Jiajing replied: "Emperor Yao's parents lie in separate tombs—joint burial is not ancient practice."

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 47Volume 47 Biographies 28: Wang Rong, Xie Tiao · 2 passages

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抑又唐堯在上，不參二八，管夷吾恥之，臣亦恥之。 Moreover, when Emperor Yao sat above, he did not consult his Eight and his Two; Guan Zhong found that shameful, and so do I.

臣亦遭逢，生此嘉運，鑿飲耕食，自幸唐年。 I too have met with fortune, born in this excellent age, drinking from the plow and eating from the soil, counting myself blessed to live in an age like Tang Yao's.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 53Volume 53 Biographies 34: Virtuous Officials · 1 passage

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愿又曰：「堯以此教丹朱，非人主所宜好也。」 Yuan added, 'Yao used this game to teach his son Danzhu—it is not a pastime fit for a sovereign.'

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 340Volume 340 Biographies 127: Wang Jie, Dong Gao, Zhu Gui · 1 passage

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惟原皇上無忘堯、舜自任之心，臣敢不勉行義事君之道。」 I only pray Your Majesty not forget the heart that takes Yao and Shun upon oneself; how dare your servant not strive to serve the ruler with righteousness."

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 390Volume 390 Biographies 177: Jia Zhen, Zhou Zupei, Zhu Fengbiao, Dan Maoqian · 1 passage

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至如宋之章獻劉皇后，有今世任姒之稱，宣仁高太后有女中堯舜之譽。 Empress Liu Zhangxian of Song was hailed as a Ren Ji for her age, and Empress Gao Xuanyi was praised as a Yao or Shun among women.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 443Volume 443 Biographies 230: Sun Jianai, Zhang Baixi, Tang Jingchong, Yu Shimei, Shen Jiaben · 1 passage

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惟人心趣向各異，告以堯、舜、周、孔之道，則以爲不足法； Only people's inclinations differ: tell them the ways of Yao, Shun, the Zhou, and Confucius, and they deem them unworthy of imitation;

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 2Annals of Xia · 7 passages

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當帝堯之時，鴻水滔天，浩浩懷山襄陵，下民其憂。 Under Emperor Yao the floodwaters rose to the sky, spread around the peaks, and overtopped the hills, and the people lived in dread of them.

堯求能治水者，群臣四嶽皆曰鯀可。 Yao looked for someone who could manage the flood; the officials and the lords of the Four Peaks all said, "Gun may do it."

堯曰：「鯀為人負命毀族，不可。」 Yao replied, "Gun disobeys orders and harms his own people. I cannot use him."

於是堯聽四嶽，用鯀治水。 Yao yielded and put Gun in charge of the flood works.

於是帝堯乃求人，更得舜。 Emperor Yao began looking again and found Shun.

堯崩，帝舜問四嶽曰：「有能成美堯之事者使居官？」 When Yao died, Emperor Shun asked the Four Peaks, "Is there anyone who can complete Yao's work and take office?"

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."

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 13Genealogical Tables of the Three Dynasties · 9 passages

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堯屬 Line of Yao

蟜極生高辛。高辛生放勛。 Jiaoji fathered Gaoxin. Gaoxin fathered Fangxun.

帝堯。起黃帝，至俈子五世。號唐。 Emperor Yao. From the Yellow Emperor to the sons of Ku: five generations, with the style Tang.

放勛為堯。 Fangxun was Yao.

堯知契、稷皆賢人，天之所生，故封之契七十里，後十餘世至湯，王天下。 Yao knew that Qi and Ji were both worthy men born of Heaven, and therefore enfeoffed Qi with a domain of seventy li. More than ten generations later, his line reached Tang, who ruled all under Heaven.

堯知后稷子孫之後王也，故益封之百里，其後世且千歲，至文王而有天下。 Yao knew that Hou Ji's descendants would later become kings, and therefore enlarged his fief by a hundred li. His descendants endured for nearly a thousand years, down to King Wen, who came to possess all under Heaven.

契生而賢，堯立為司徒，姓之曰子氏。 Qi was born wise, Yao established him as Minister of the Multitudes (Situ), and gave him the surname Zi.

堯知其賢才，立以為大農，姓之曰姬氏。 Yao knew his worthy talents, established him as Great Farmer, and gave him the surname Ji.

孔子曰：『昔者堯命契為子氏，為有湯也。 Confucius said, 'In former times Yao commanded Qi to be of the Zi clan, because there would be Tang.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 23Treatise on Ritual · 1 passage

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古者帝堯之治天下也，蓋殺一人刑二人而天下治。 When the ancient Emperor Yao governed the realm, he probably killed one person and punished two persons, and the realm was governed.

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

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堯復遂重黎之後，不忘舊者，使復典之，而立羲和之官。 Yao in turn restored the descendants of Chong and Li, not forgetting the old order, and again made them administer it, establishing the offices of Xi and He.

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.

而說者曰堯讓天下於許由，許由不受，恥之逃隱。 Yet storytellers say that Yao yielded the realm to Xu You, that Xu You did not accept, and that, ashamed, he fled into seclusion.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 99Biographies of Liu Jing and Shusun Tong · 1 passage

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周之先自后稷，堯封之邰，積德累善十有餘世。 The Zhou ancestors began with Hou Ji, whom Yao enfeoffed at Tai, accumulating virtue and goodness for more than ten generations.

History of Song, Chapter 76Volume 76 Treatises 29: Measures and Calendar 9 · 1 passage

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堯敕羲和制橫簫以考察星度，其機衡用玉，欲其燥濕不變，運動有常，堅久而不能廢也。 Yao charged Xihe with fashioning transverse sight-tubes to measure the stars, and had the mechanisms and pivots made of jade so they would not warp with damp or dryness, would move evenly, and would endure firm and unchanging for long use.

History of Song, Chapter 110Volume 110 Treatises 63: Rites 13 · 3 passages

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今陛下超然獨斷，高蹈堯、舜之舉，臣等心實欽仰。 Now Your Majesty has acted with transcendent resolve, loftily following the example of Yao and Shun, and we are filled with admiration.

左仆射陳康伯等言：“五帝之壽，惟堯最高，百王之聖，惟堯獨冠。 Left Vice Director Chen Kangbo and others said: "Among the Five Emperors, only Yao lived longest; among the hundred kings, only Yao stood supreme in sagely virtue.

今茲高世之舉，視堯有光，恭請上太上皇帝尊號曰光堯壽聖太上皇帝，太上皇后尊號曰壽聖太上皇后。” Now this exalted act surpassing the age shines when compared with Yao. We respectfully request conferring on the Supreme Emperor the honorific title Guangyao Shousheng Supreme Emperor and on the Supreme Empress the honorific title Shousheng Supreme Empress."

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

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越俶唐、虞，降暨漢、魏，靡不以上哲格文祖，元勳陟帝位，故能大拯黔首，垂訓無窮。 From Yao and Shun down through Han and Wei, none failed to have a supreme sage align with the founding ancestor of civilization and a chief merit-holder ascend the throne, thereby greatly rescuing the common people and handing down instruction without end.

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

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夫奇士必龍居深藏，與蛙蝦為伍，放勳其猶難之，林宗輩不足識也。 Extraordinary men must dwell hidden like dragons, keeping company with frogs and shrimp; even Emperor Yao found it hard; men like Guo Linzong are not enough to recognize them.

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

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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!

New Book of Tang, Chapter 175Volume 175 Biographies 100: Dou, Liu, Two Zhangs, Yang, Xiong, Bai · 1 passage

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臣聞堯、舜以天下為憂，不以位為樂。 I have heard that Yao and Shun worried for the realm rather than rejoiced in their rank.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 184Volume 184 Biographies 109: Ma, Yang, Lu, Lu · 2 passages

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《鹹池》，堯樂也。 the Brine Pool is Yao's music.

今輟西南屯士往耕，則姚、巂兵少，賊得乘間。 If we now divert southwestern garrison troops to farming, Yao and Xi will be understrength and bandits can seize their chance.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 59Volume 59: Examination on Astronomy · 1 passage

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自堯、舜、三代以來，莫不稱天以舉事，孔子刪《詩》、《書》不去也。 From the age of Yao and Shun through the Three Dynasties, no one failed to cite Heaven in justifying their deeds; Confucius, in editing the Odes and Documents, left such passages intact.

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 23Volume 23 Biographies 15: Su Chuo · 1 passage

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皇帝曰：「昔堯命羲和，允厘百工。 The Emperor said: "In antiquity Yao charged Xi and He to regulate the hundred offices.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 46Volume 46 Biographies 38: Filial Piety · 1 passage

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是以堯舜湯武居帝王之位，垂至德以敦其風； That is why Yao, Shun, Tang, and Wu sat as emperors and kings, extending supreme virtue to deepen the customs of their age;