Zhuanxu (顓頊) | 24 Histories

Overview

Zhuanxu was an Ancient Ruler.

PeriodAncient China

IdentityLegendary · Male

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Attested activity

legendary antiquity
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 140, passage 7; Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 2; Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 19
AD 1203 泰和三年
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 35, passage 63

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Ancestor of Yu (禹)
grandfather 祖 · paternal line · 2 generations
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 3
Child of Changyi (昌意)
father 父
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 2
Parent of Gun (鯀)
father 父
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 2

Key source chapters

Events and relationships

Restored separation of people and spirits
Administrative · Ruler · With Chong (重), Li (黎)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 19
Used yimao calendar
Scholarly · Adopter
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 140, passage 7
Relation Superior of · Person Li (黎)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 19
Relation Superior of · Person Chong (重)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 19

Source notes

Historicity legendary
Directly stated · History of Jin 35, passage 62; Records of the Grand Historian 2, passage 2

References in the histories

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 · 2 passages

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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.

《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 History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 140Volume 140: Treatises 2 Calendars · 1 passage

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故黃帝始用《辛卯曆》，顓頊次用《乙卯曆》，虞用《戊午曆》，夏用《丙寅曆》，商用《甲寅曆》，周用《丁巳曆》，魯用《庚子曆》，秦用《乙卯曆》。 The Yellow Emperor first adopted the Xinmao Calendar; Zhuanxu next the Yimao; the Yu dynasty the Wuwu; Xia the Bingyin; Shang the Jiayin; Zhou the Dingsi; Lu the Gengzi; and Qin the Yimao.

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

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禹之父曰鯀，鯀之父曰帝顓頊，顓頊之父曰昌意，昌意之父曰黃帝。 Yu's father was Gun; Gun's father was Emperor Zhuanxu; Zhuanxu's father was Changyi; Changyi's father was the Yellow Emperor.

禹者，黃帝之玄孫而帝顓頊之孫也。 Yu was a great-great-grandson of the Yellow Emperor and a grandson of Emperor Zhuanxu.

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

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顓頊受之，乃命南正重司天以屬神，命火正黎司地以屬民，使復舊常，無相侵瀆。 Zhuanxu inherited this situation and ordered Chong, the Southern Corrector, to govern heaven and attend to the spirits, and Li, the Fire Corrector, to govern earth and attend to the people. In this way he restored the old order, so that neither side invaded or profaned the other.