8. Emperor Shun Governs the World
Chapter 1: A New Beginning
When Shun took the throne, he faced both internal and external troubles: the Four Evils were causing chaos, floods were not yet under control, and officials were lazy. His first move was to set up the Drum of Remonstration and the Board of Criticism in court, encouraging everyone to speak freely. On the very first day, he received more than three hundred petitions of criticism, and he carefully read each one late into the night.
At the next morning assembly, he publicly praised a woodsman who criticized palace waste, and richly rewarded a scholar who pointed out flaws in government policies. When ministers warned, “This may weaken the emperor’s authority,” Shun replied: “Opening the way for honest speech is the true foundation of lasting peace.”
Chapter 2: Reforming the Officials
Shun divided the realm into twelve provinces, each governed by a regional overseer. He created the system of “Three Examinations and Three Dismissals”: first examining achievements, second judging public reputation, and third testing personal virtue. When one governor who had ruled well was found guilty of accepting a single jade bribe, Shun dismissed him without hesitation.
He also pioneered the Inspection Tour System: every five years he traveled through the provinces, not with pomp but in disguise, to learn the people’s real condition. In Xu Province, when he discovered officials faking farmland reports, he called in elderly farmers, measured the fields himself, and immediately dismissed the corrupt local officials.
Chapter 3: Judicial Reform
At a time when punishments were excessively harsh, Shun ordered Gao Yao to create the system of Symbolic Punishments: instead of brutal corporal penalties, criminals wore distinctive clothing as a sign of shame, but were given the chance to reform. Even exiled criminals could bring their families, showing humanity and care.
One famous case involved two brothers who quarreled over inheritance, leading to a death. Shun did not simply execute them. Instead, he ordered them to care for an elderly orphan together for three years. By the end, the brothers were reconciled, gave up their wealth, and built a community granary. This style of moral education through justice was soon adopted by neighboring states.
Chapter 4: Economic Innovation
Shun unified weights and measures, introducing the Yellow Bell Standard: using the length of a standard pitch pipe to define the ruler, the volume of millet grains to define the measure, and their weight to define the scale. To promote the reform, he set up “Fair Scales” in markets, where common people could check trades for themselves.
Even more advanced was his grain policy: in years of abundance, the state purchased surplus harvests; in famine years, it resold them cheaply. He also built roadside inns for travelers, boosting trade and communication. As a result, people said, “In the markets, prices are fair; on the roads, nothing is stolen.”
Chapter 5: Culture and Education
Shun appointed Kui as Minister of Music, who composed the great piece Xiao Shao. But Shun emphasized: “The essence of music is not sound, but harmony.” He had melodies adapted into local dialects and even composed horseback songs for frontier tribes.
When establishing schools, he broke the monopoly of nobles, declaring that “all children, from the age of eight, shall study.” Besides the traditional Six Arts, the curriculum included farming, medicine, and practical skills. The poorest students could pay tuition through labor, making Shun the first to create a system like financial aid.
Chapter 6: The Great Flood Control
Faced with devastating floods, Shun chose Yu—the very man whom Emperor Yao had once rejected. Shun gave him full authority, even dismantling palace timber to supply wood for flood control. When ministers complained of the expense, Shun said: “If the people are drowning, how could I value gold and jade?”
For thirteen years, Yu worked tirelessly, and Shun’s unwavering trust never faltered. When the waters finally receded, Shun presented Yu with the Black Jade Tablet, a symbol of authority, saying: “Your achievements will last for generations. I am not your equal.” This generosity of spirit won the loyalty of all tribes.
Chapter 7: Integrating the Tribes
When dealing with minority tribes such as the Sanmiao, Shun did not use conquest. Instead, he applied the policy of “Three Years of Education and the Dance of the Shield and Axe”: sending teachers to share advanced skills, encouraging trade, and arranging marriages.
When generals asked to attack resistant groups, Shun asked: “If we answer killing with killing, how are we different from tyrants?” He personally swore oaths with tribal leaders, blending Huaxia rituals with local customs.
Chapter 8: Technology and Innovation
Shun encouraged craftsmen to invent, personally testing new farming tools. When the plow was improved, doubling efficiency, he rewarded the inventor but refused to grant exclusive rights: “Techniques that benefit the people must be shared with all.”
By observing the stars with jade instruments, he discovered their link with seasonal changes. He ordered the creation of the Agricultural Star Calendar to guide farmers. He also established relay stations, creating the world’s earliest postal service.
Chapter 9: The Great Abdication
In his later years, Shun insisted on passing the throne to Yu rather than to his son Shang Jun. Some nobles urged him to keep succession within the family. Shun sighed: “When Yao passed the throne to me, it was for the good of the world. If I pass it only to my son, how could I face Emperor Yao?”
At the abdication ceremony, he condensed his wisdom of rulership into the Nine Virtues:
- Broad yet reverent – generous but serious.
- Gentle yet firm – kind yet steadfast.
- Humble yet dignified – modest yet respectful.
- Capable yet cautious – talented yet careful.
- Compliant yet resolute – open-minded yet decisive.
- Upright yet warm – honest yet approachable.
- Simple yet frugal – broad-minded yet attentive to detail.
- Strong yet measured – firm but not reckless.
- Brave yet righteous – courageous and morally upright.
These became guiding principles for future generations of officials.
Chapter 10: An Immortal Final Journey
At the age of one hundred, Shun still toured the south, climbing Mount Cangwu to see the people. Before his death, he asked that his body be made into preserved meat (rouhai) and shared among all tribes, symbolizing his unity with the people.
Such a vision, far ahead of his time, led Confucius to sigh: “Truly, Shun was a man of great wisdom!”
For fifty years, Shun’s reign became the model of governing without force: not inaction, but ruling through systems and moral influence. His principle of “cultivating oneself to bring peace to others” has flowed like a warm southern wind, forever nourishing Chinese civilization.