Yao (堯) | 24 Histories

Overview

Yao was a Legendary sage-king Tang Yao.

IdentityLegendary · Male

Roles

Found in

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Tang Yao	唐	Tang
Alternate name	Tang	唐

Life and dates

Attested activity

legendary antiquity
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 85, passage 224; Draft History of Qing 111, passage 4; Draft History of Qing 445, passage 21; Records of the Grand Historian 3, passage 6; History of Song 144, passage 140; Book of Zhou 4, passage 109

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Shun (舜)
father 父 · Claimed parentage
Directly stated · History of Song 144, passage 140

Key source chapters

Source notes

Historicity legendary
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 111, passage 4; Records of the Grand Historian 3, passage 6; History of Song 144, passage 140

References in the histories

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 85Volume 81 Biographies 31: Cui Dunli, Lu Chengqin, Liu Xiangdao, Li Jingxuan, Li Yiyan, Sun Chuyue, Le Yanwei, Zhao Renben · 2 passages

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天下太平，應用堯、舜之典。 When all under Heaven is at peace, the canon of Yao and Shun should be applied.

今既許議，而加重刑，是與堯、舜相反，不可為萬代法。 Now that deliberation has been permitted, yet heavier punishment is added—this is contrary to Yao and Shun and cannot be law for ten thousand generations.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 111Volume 111 Treatises 86: Selection and Examinations 6, Kao Ji · 1 passage

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三載考績之法，昉自唐、虞。 The practice of reviewing officials every three years began in the age of Yao and Shun.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 445Volume 445 Biographies 232: Wu Kedu, Zhu Yixin, Tu Keshou, An Weijun, Wen Ti, Jiang Chunlin · 1 passage

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危亂而可諱忘，則進苦口於堯舜，為無疾呻吟，陳隱患於聖明，為不祥舉動。 If danger may be hushed up and forgotten, then offering bitter counsel even to Yao and Shun would be called feigned groaning without illness, and warning of hidden perils before a sage ruler would be deemed an ill-omened act.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 3Annals of Yin · 1 passage

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契興於唐、虞、大禹之際，功業著於百姓，百姓以平。 He rose in the age of Yao, Shun, and Yu the Great; his achievements won renown among the people, and the realm was at peace.

History of Song, Chapter 144Volume 144 Treatises 97: Ceremonial Guards 2 · 1 passage

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今父堯子舜，事親典禮，凡往古來今所未備者，當以義起，極其尊崇，為萬世法。” With a filial son like Shun honoring a sage father like Yao, rites not provided for in past or present should be established on principle, carried to the highest honor, and made a model for all time."

Book of Zhou, Chapter 4Volume 4 Annals 4: Emperor Ming · 1 passage

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詔曰：「昔唐咨四嶽，殷告六眚，睹災興懼，咸寘時雍。 An edict read: "In antiquity Yao questioned the Four Peaks and the Yin court reported the six calamities; seeing disaster, rulers grew fearful and restored harmony to the age.