13. Shun Passes the Throne to Yu — From a “Public Realm” to a “Family Realm”
When the nine provinces were finally at peace and the principles of governance firmly established, the empire entered a period of prosperity. But time spares no one. Emperor Shun grew old, and the question of who would succeed him became the most pressing issue of the age. What followed was a series of subtle but decisive events that marked the end of the old system of abdication to the worthy and the birth of hereditary monarchy — one of the greatest turning points in early Chinese history.
Shun Recommends Yu to Heaven: A Silent Approval of Succession
Because Yu had saved the world from devastating floods and brought peace to the people, his prestige was unmatched. Shun, a wise ruler, understood the will of the people and recognized Yu’s ability and virtue. He therefore performed an important ritual: he “recommended Yu to Heaven.”
This was not an immediate abdication. Rather, it was a prayer and announcement, telling the gods and the people that Yu was Heaven’s chosen successor.
For the next seventeen years, Yu governed alongside Shun, gaining experience and preparing for leadership. This period can be seen as Shun’s final test and careful grooming of Yu.
The Death of Shun and Yu’s Humble Retreat
Seventeen years later, while on a southern inspection tour, Emperor Shun passed away at Cangwu. The entire realm mourned, and Yu, like everyone else, observed three years of mourning.
When the mourning period ended, the question arose: who would inherit the throne? By tradition, the chosen heir was expected to show humility and step aside at first — especially if the late ruler had children. This demonstrated that the heir was not grasping for power, but was acting for the good of the realm.
Yu followed this tradition carefully. Although Shun had already designated him, Yu still yielded the throne to Shun’s son, Shangjun, and withdrew to Yangcheng (in modern Henan). This was a test of public opinion — would the people support Shangjun or Yu?
The Will of the People: Everyone Follows Yu
But history repeated itself. Just as in the past, when Shun was chosen over Emperor Yao’s son Dan Zhu, this time too the outcome was clear.
The record says: “All the lords abandoned Shangjun and went to Yu.”
No one went to pay respects to Shangjun in the capital. Instead, all the tribal chiefs and nobles traveled to Yangcheng to honor Yu.
The reason was simple: Yu had saved them from the floods. He was the true hero of the age, the one they trusted. Shangjun, although Shun’s son, had done nothing to inspire loyalty.
Yu understood. Heaven’s mandate and the people’s will were both clear. He accepted the throne, became the Son of Heaven, and founded the Xia dynasty — the first hereditary dynasty in Chinese history.
Yu’s Rule: A Careful Balance Between Tradition and Change
As ruler, Yu still tried to honor the old tradition of passing power to the most capable, not just one’s own child. He nominated Gao Yao, the minister of justice, as his successor. But Gao Yao died shortly afterward, so Yu appointed Gao Yao’s son, Yi, to high office, hoping he could grow into the role of heir.
But fate intervened. Yu himself died during an eastern tour at Mount Kuaiji (in modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang). Following tradition, Yu designated Yi to succeed him.
Yi Yields to Qi: The Turning Point
After Yu’s death, Yi observed three years of mourning. Then, imitating Yu’s earlier humility, he declined the throne and offered it to Yu’s son, Qi, while retreating to live in the mountains.
But this time, things unfolded differently.
The historian Sima Qian summed it up in a few lines:
“Yu’s son Qi was virtuous, and the people favored him. When Yu died, although Yi was appointed, Yi’s service to Yu was brief, and the people were not convinced. So the lords abandoned Yi and went to Qi, saying, ‘He is the son of our lord Yu.’”
The reasons were threefold:
- Qi’s virtue — Qi himself was known for good character.
- Yu’s immense prestige — People felt Qi was the natural continuation of Yu’s legacy.
- Yi’s weak position — He had not served long enough to build trust or reputation.
Thus, the lords chose Qi, declaring: “He is the son of Emperor Yu.” Bloodline now outweighed merit. Qi took the throne, becoming King Qi of Xia.
The Birth of Hereditary Monarchy
Qi’s succession was not entirely peaceful. The Youhu clan refused to acknowledge him, insisting on the old alliance system. Qi responded with war, fighting the famous Battle of Gan.
Before the battle, Qi issued the Oath of Gan, condemning the rebels as betrayers of Heaven’s order and declaring his war to be Heaven’s punishment. With strict military discipline, Qi crushed the Youhu clan and secured his rule.
This victory was more than just a military triumph — it legitimized hereditary monarchy through force. From then on, China entered the age of dynasties where rule passed from father to son.
Conclusion
Yu’s life was legendary. He conquered the floods, mapped the land, and stabilized the realm. But his greatest unintended legacy was political: his prestige made it possible for his son to inherit power, marking the end of the age of abdication and the beginning of hereditary kingship.
Standing at the crossroads of “a realm for the public” (gong tianxia) and “a realm for the family” (jia tianxia), Yu’s story marked the dawn of China’s dynastic tradition — one that would shape its history for millennia to come.