5. The Great Benevolent King – Emperor Yao
Chapter 1: Young Yao
Fangxun was the third son of Emperor Ku. He was granted land in Tao, so people called him the Lord of Tao Tang. From childhood, he stood out from others: when playing, while other children fought over toys, he gave his away; when studying, he not only memorized the text but also questioned the meaning behind it.
At the age of thirteen, an epidemic broke out in Tao. Ignoring warnings, Fangxun personally cared for the sick. He noticed the disease was linked to drinking water, so he led the people to dig new wells. This effort controlled the outbreak, earning him the title of the “Prince of Benevolence.”
When Emperor Ku passed away, his eldest son Zhi ascended the throne. But Zhi lacked ability, and his rule soon fell into chaos. Tribal leaders grew dissatisfied and eventually chose Fangxun to succeed. This was the beginning of Emperor Yao’s reign.
Chapter 2: The Pillar of Criticism
After becoming ruler, Yao’s first innovation was to erect “criticism pillars” on major roads—wooden posts where anyone could carve their opinions about government policies.
“Your Majesty, won’t this encourage slander?” some ministers worried.
Yao replied, “Flowing water does not rot, and doors that are used do not decay. In the same way, policies must be constantly corrected. The people’s criticism is like bitter medicine—it may taste unpleasant, but it heals.”
Indeed, the pillars were soon filled with comments. Some complained about heavy taxes, others exposed corrupt officials. Yao read each message carefully, correcting where he was wrong and improving where he could. Once, when someone wrote, “The king’s palace is too luxurious,” Yao immediately ordered all palace construction to stop.
Chapter 3: Creating a Calendar
Yao noticed that different tribes used different calendars, which disrupted farming. He instructed the Xi and He clans, hereditary astronomers, to observe the skies and establish a unified calendar.
“Why put so much effort into this?” a general asked.
Yao explained, “War determines victory for a moment, but the calendar shapes the lives of generations. Only if farmers know the proper seasons can they live in peace and abundance.”
He personally joined the observations and discovered that by watching the positions of certain stars at dusk, one could determine the equinoxes and solstices. With this knowledge, he divided the year into four seasons and twenty-four solar terms, and also introduced leap months to balance the lunar and solar cycles.
Once implemented, farming yields improved greatly. The people even sang songs: “The Yao calendar is precise—sowing and harvest never miss their time.”
Chapter 4: Seeking the Wise
Though the land was peaceful, Yao often worried about finding a worthy successor. After the age of fifty, he began searching for men of virtue.
He once visited Xu You, a recluse on Mount Ji. Hearing Yao was coming, Xu You assumed he would be asked to serve as an official and rushed to the river to wash his ears.
Yao found him and laughed: “You misunderstand. I did not come to make you a minister, but to learn from your wisdom.”
Xu You was surprised: “You are already a wise ruler. Why ask advice from a hermit like me?”
Yao said sincerely, “Wisdom is like a spring—it can appear anywhere. Though I am king, my vision is limited.”
They conversed for three days and nights. As Yao left, Xu You sighed: “I thought rulers always held themselves above others, but I see now some are truly humble learners.”
Chapter 5: The Great Flood
In the sixtieth year of his reign, a catastrophic flood swept across the land. The Yellow River overflowed, drowning the plains and forcing people to flee to the mountains.
Ministers recommended Gun to control the waters. Yao hesitated: “Gun is stubborn. I fear he will fail.” But pressured by others, he gave his approval.
As Yao predicted, Gun chose to block the waters with dikes. The floods burst through, causing even greater disaster. After nine years of failure, the people were desperate.
By then, Yao was nearly ninety. Tormented, he lamented in court: “I have ruled for seventy years—must I watch my people be destroyed by floods?”
Chapter 6: Discovering Shun
While Yao worried about the flood and succession, tribal leaders recommended a man named Shun.
“Who is this Shun?” Yao asked.
“A simple farmer,” they replied, “but his virtue is remarkable. His father is foolish, his stepmother cruel, and his brother arrogant. They all tried to harm him, yet he always responded with kindness and kept the family in harmony.”
Yao decided to investigate. Disguised, he traveled to Mount Li and saw Shun plowing. On his whip hung two sieves.
“Why hang sieves on your whip?” Yao asked, pretending to be a passerby.
Shun replied respectfully, “The ox works hard. I cannot bear to strike it. By shaking these sieves, I make a sound to guide it without pain.”
This small detail moved Yao. He observed further: Shun’s fields were neatly plowed; when fishing, he always left one side of the net open to spare the catch; when making pottery, his work was flawless.
Chapter 7: Preparing for Abdication
Yao decided to test Shun further. He married two of his daughters, Ehuang and Nüying, to Shun, to observe how he managed family life. He also asked his nine sons to live with Shun to see how he treated others.
“Why risk your daughters’ marriages?” the queen asked.
Yao explained, “Ruling a family is like ruling a state. Only one who manages household harmony can govern the world.”
Over three years, Shun proved himself. His wives became gentle and courteous, Yao’s sons grew wiser, and even the local people grew more kindhearted.
Yao then gave Shun tasks of state. Shun promoted moral teachings, and the people followed. He received visiting rulers, who respected him. He handled complex government affairs with order and fairness.
Chapter 8: The Perfect Abdication
At last, Yao was ready. In the ancestral temple, before the nobles, he declared: “I have ruled for seventy years. Now I have found a worthy successor. Shun, though born a commoner, has the virtue to rule all under heaven.”
The court was stunned. Some advised, “Tradition says the throne should pass to your son Dan Zhu. Why not follow it?”
Yao replied calmly: “If I pass the throne to Shun, the whole world prospers while only Dan Zhu suffers. If I pass it to Dan Zhu, the world suffers while only he prospers. How can I harm all people for the sake of one?”
During the ceremony, Yao handed Shun the jade tablet of kingship and reminded him: “The throne is not for enjoyment, but for responsibility; not for glory, but for duty.”
Shun declined three times before accepting. On the first day of the new year, he formally ascended the throne. Yao, though retired, continued to advise him like a father.
Chapter 9: Final Years
After stepping down, Yao lived simply. He often visited the people, listening to their opinions on Shun’s policies.
Someone asked, “Don’t you regret giving the empire to another instead of your son?”
Yao smiled: “Look at this tree. I nurtured it to grow tall. Now that a better gardener tends it, how could I feel regret? I feel joy.”
His greatest happiness came from seeing Shun rule with benevolence: exiling wicked men, appointing the virtuous, and finally taming the floods. Each success made Yao say with satisfaction, “I chose the right man.”
Yao lived to the age of 118. Before his death, he told Shun: “My greatest achievement is not ruling for seventy years, but finding you as my successor.”
Chapter 10: Model for All Ages
When Yao passed away, the people mourned as if losing their parents. For three years, no music was played. Shun and the officials observed mourning for three full years before he formally took the throne.
Yao’s abdication set the model for future sage rulers. His criticism pillars later evolved into ceremonial columns. His calendar guided agriculture for millennia.
Most importantly, he proved that true greatness lies not in conquering lands, but in cultivating talent; not in personal glory, but in the well-being of all people. The era of Emperor Yao became forever remembered as the ideal age—when the great way was practiced and the world belonged to all.