帝

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Emperor Shun帝舜

Archaic BeingsHistory × Fiction

He gave birth to Xi, and Xi gave birth to Yaomin.

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DIRECT FIGURES
21
RELATION RECORDS
22
SOURCE WORKS
13

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Emperor Shun, and the people around them.

Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.

01
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

7 figures · 7 records
3 more in the complete record
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

8 figures · 8 records
4 more in the complete record
03
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

7 figures · 7 records
3 more in the complete record
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12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.

In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms · Records of the Grand Historian · History of Song · Old Book of Tang

He ordered Qi to sow all grains and enfeoffed Qi at Tai. He was a sage king of antiquity, whose words were quoted by Zhao Liang. He ordered Xie to be Minister of Education and enfeoffed him at Shang.

In fiction · Book of the Later Han · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era · Classic of Mountains and Seas · Researches into Lost Records · In Search of the Supernatural · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition · Songs of Chu · Book of Han

He gave birth to Xi, and Xi gave birth to Yaomin. He was buried on the sunny side of Mount Cangwu. He plowed at Mount Li, obtained a jade calendar, and knew that the Mandate of Heaven was with him.

Across source works

How this figure changes across texts

Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.

  1. Literature / legend

    Songs of Chu

    1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  2. Official history

    Book of Han

    7 profile notes
    2 relations2 verified quotations
    • Emperor Wu of Han→ sacrifice →Emperor Shun
    • Emperor Yao→ cede empire →Emperor Shun
    Verified original text · 2
    1. 望祀虞舜于九嶷

      sacrifice · Book of Han, 武帝纪

    2. 让天下于虞

      cede empire · Book of Han, 律历志

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  3. Official history

    Book of the Later Han

    5 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  4. Official history

    Old Book of Tang

    2 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  5. 2 profile notes
    1 relations1 verified quotations
    • Emperor Shun→ abdicate →Yu the Great
    Verified original text · 1
    1. 虞禅夏

      abdicate · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·锺繇华歆王朗传

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  6. 2 profile notes
    2 relations2 verified quotations
    • Emperor Shun→ buried together →Emperor Danzhu
    • Emperor Shun→ father-son →Wuyin
    Verified original text · 2
    1. 帝舜葬于阳，帝丹朱葬于阴

      buried together · Classic of Mountains and Seas, 海內南經

    2. 帝舜生无淫

      father-son · Classic of Mountains and Seas, 大荒南經

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  7. 11 profile notes
    14 relations12 verified quotations
    • Qin Shi Huang→ worship from afar →Emperor Shun
    • Emperor Shun→ appointment →Houji
    • Sima Xiangru→ mentioned in poem →Emperor Shun
    • Emperor Yao→ cede empire →Emperor Shun
    Verified original text · 12
    1. 望祀虞舜于九疑山

      worship from afar · Records of the Grand Historian, 秦始皇本纪

    2. 汝后稷

      appointment · Records of the Grand Historian, 五帝本纪

    10 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  8. Literature / legend

    Researches into Lost Records

    1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  9. Official history

    History of Song

    2 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  10. 1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  11. 2 profile notes
    2 relations2 verified quotations
    • Taishang Laojun→ teach classics →Emperor Shun
    • Queen Mother of the West→ give ring →Emperor Shun
    Verified original text · 2
    1. 吾昔遇太上老君，示以《道德真经》

      teach classics · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙六

    2. 王母遣使授舜白玉环

      give ring · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙一

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  12. Official history

    Yi Zhou Shu

    2 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  13. Official history

    Bamboo Annals

    2 profile notes
    2 relations2 verified quotations
    • Emperor Yao (Tang)→ abdicate →Emperor Shun
    • Emperor Shun→ spouse →Er Nü
    Verified original text · 2
    1. 归功于舜，将以天下禅之

      abdicate · Bamboo Annals, 今本-五帝纪

    2. 帝命二女嫔于舜

      spouse · Bamboo Annals, 今本-五帝纪

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  14. 5 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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History vs. fiction

Plowing at Mount Li has clear records, while Ehuang and Nüying throwing themselves into the river has no basis.

  • attestedPlowing at Mount Li and fishing at Leize

    The Records of the Grand Historian, Annals of the Five Emperors, records Shun's early hardships: 'Shun plowed at Mount Li, and the people of Mount Li all yielded their fields; he fished at Leize, and the people of Leize all yielded their dwellings.' This depicts his noble virtue of transforming others by virtue. Regarding Shun's trials before his rise, all orthodox historical records are completely consistent.

  • novel inventionEhuang and Nüying throwing themselves into the Xiang River out of love

    According to folk legend, Emperor Shun died in Cangwu, and his consorts Ehuang and Nüying's tears formed 'speckled bamboo' as they wept, before they threw themselves into the Xiang River and became goddesses of the Xiang River. Although the 'Xiang Lady' was already eulogized in the 'Songs of Chu', the 'Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of the Five Emperors' only records: 「践帝位三十九年，南巡狩，崩于苍梧之野。」 and does not mention the two women throwing themselves into the river. The claim of their suicide for love finds no basis in early classical texts and was gradually fabricated by later literature.

Relationship network

22 figures · 26 links
Emperor ShunEmperor ShunQin Shi HuangQin Shi HuangTaishang LaojunTaishang LaojunEmperor Wu of HanEmperor Wu of HanQueen Mother of the WestQueen Mother of the WestHoujiHoujiSima XiangruSima XiangruYu the GreatYu the GreatEmperor YaoEmperor YaoGao YaoGao YaoEmperor Yao (Tang)Emperor Yao (Tang)QiongqiEr NüShang JunBa YuanEight Talented Men of GaoyangTwo Daughters of YaoEmperor DanzhuWuyinTaowuHundunGusou
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·董二袁刘传; Records of the Grand Historian, 三代世表; Book of the Later Han, 张衡列传; Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙一; History of Song, 乐四志; Classic of Mountains and Seas, 大荒東經; Researches into Lost Records, 卷一; In Search of the Supernatural, ch. 8

This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →

Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.