3. Zhuanxu, Grandson of the Yellow Emperor
Chapter 1: A Gifted Youth
Zhuanxu was born by the Ruo River. He was the son of Changyi and the grandson of the Yellow Emperor. From a very young age, he was different. By three years old, he could point out changes in the stars; by five, he could understand the complex alliance relationships between tribes.
What amazed people most was little Zhuanxu’s extraordinary memory. He could accurately recall the types and quantities of offerings used in a sacrifice held three years earlier, and even remember where each elder had stood.
“This child has a light in his eyes,” the Yellow Emperor said while inspecting the Ruo River region, patting Zhuanxu’s head. “It’s not just ordinary cleverness, but a wisdom that sees the essence of things.”
Zhuanxu’s father, Changyi, was the leader of the Ruo River area. He hired the best teachers for his son. But soon, the teachers all found this student to be exceptionally special.
“I taught him to identify plants, but he asked why the same plants grow differently in different places,” an old shaman marveled. “The questions he thinks about are ones even I cannot answer.”
Chapter 2: Governing the Ruo River
When Zhuanxu was fifteen, his father fell seriously ill, and Zhuanxu began handling tribal affairs. His first task was to resolve disputes between the Ruo River tribe and neighboring tribes.
It turned out that the Ruo River tribe excelled at pottery but lacked salt, while the mountain tribes had abundant salt but needed pottery. Due to a lack of trust, they could only trade through intermediaries, which made prices very high.
Zhuanxu came up with a clever solution. He invited the mountain tribe leader to visit and observe the pottery-making process, while also sending envoys to learn salt-mining techniques. Then he proposed: “Why don’t we trade directly? You exchange your salt for our pottery, cutting out the middlemen. It benefits us both.”
The mountain leader asked suspiciously, “Young man, how can we trust you won’t cheat in the trade?”
Zhuanxu immediately had someone bring clay and a block of salt. He made a vow on the spot: “Let these be our witness. If anyone from my tribe cheats, may they break apart like this clay. If anyone from your tribe breaks the agreement, may they dissolve like this salt.”
This solemn yet novel way of making a vow impressed the mountain leader. The trade proceeded smoothly, and the relationship between the two tribes improved from then on.
Chapter 3: Ascending the Throne
After the Yellow Emperor passed away, the succession became the focus. Normally, one of the Yellow Emperor’s sons should have inherited the throne, but both Xuanxiao and Changyi felt they lacked sufficient ability.
“Although Zhuanxu is young, his insight is exceptional; he can shoulder this great responsibility,” recommended the old minister Limu.
The tribal leaders assembled to discuss. Some questioned: “Since ancient times, the throne passes from father to son. How can a grandson inherit?”
But an elder from the Yandi tribe supported the idea: “The Yellow Emperor said the world belongs to all, and we should select the worthy and capable. Zhuanxu’s talent is obvious to all. Why stick rigidly to convention?”
Finally, with the joint support of Xuanxiao and Changyi, the twenty-year-old Zhuanxu ascended the throne. At the coronation ceremony, he made a vow:
“I will not merely imitate others, but follow the Way of Heaven. I will not cling to old ways, but seek the truth. I will ensure that places touched by sunlight are filled with peace.”
Chapter 4: Observing the Heavens
Zhuanxu found that the calendars of the various tribes were chaos, leading to inaccurate farming seasons. He decided to re-observe the celestial phenomena and create a new calendar.
Outside the capital, he ordered the construction of an observatory. Every night, regardless of heat or cold, he personally went up to observe. One snowy night, his attendants urged him to rest, but Zhuanxu said:
“It is precisely in special weather that we can see unusual changes in the stars.”
After three years of observation, Zhuanxu discovered many astronomical patterns previously unnoticed. He noted the relationship between the changing position of the Big Dipper and the succession of seasons, and accordingly divided the year into twenty-four solar terms.
“The calendar is not created out of thin air,” he explained to his ministers. “It is about discovering the patterns of Heaven and Earth, and aligning human affairs with nature.”
After the new calendar was implemented, agricultural production became more orderly. The people arranged their farming according to the solar terms, and harvests improved significantly. Tribes sent envoys to learn the new calendar, and Zhuanxu taught them selflessly.
Chapter 5: Reforming Sacrificial Practices
At that time, sacrificial practices among the tribes were chaos, with some even practicing human sacrifice. Zhuanxu was determined to reform this.
He started with the royal sacrifices, abolishing extravagant displays and emphasizing sincere devotion. During one sacrifice, the official in charge prepared to slaughter a hundred oxen, but Zhuanxu stopped him.
“The sincerity of a sacrifice lies not in the quantity of offerings,” he declared. He ordered that only necessary offerings be used, and the saved cattle and sheep were distributed to the poor.
For tribes stubbornly adhering to human sacrifice, Zhuanxu did not forcibly prohibit it but went personally to persuade them. He brought ritual instruments and musicians and lived with the tribe for three months, influencing them with music and rites.
“You wish for your ancestors’ blessings, yet you kill your own descendants. Is this what your ancestors would want?” Zhuanxu’s words moved the tribal leader, and the practice of human sacrifice was finally abolished.
Chapter 6: Defining Territories
As the population grew, territorial disputes between tribes increased. Zhuanxu decided to define the boundaries of each tribe clearly.
He sent out multiple survey teams to travel across the land and create maps. This process was dangerous; one team went missing in southern swamps, and Zhuanxu personally led a search party.
“Your Majesty, your person is invaluable; you must not take this risk!” ministers dissuade.
“Every life is precious,” Zhuanxu insisted. “I cannot let our brave men face danger alone.”
They finally found the survivors in the miasma-filled swamps. This experience helped Zhuanxu better understand the unique characteristics of different regions. When setting boundaries, he fully considered geographical features and tribal traditions, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach.
“Governing the world is like a gardener tending plants,” he said. “Different flowers need different soil. One must guide according to circumstances, not force uniformity.”
Chapter 7: Promoting Education
After defining the territories, Zhuanxu vigorously promoted education. He established schools in various places to teach writing, arithmetic, and etiquette. Most notably, he insisted that these schools should not only teach the children of nobles but also be open to commoners.
“Wisdom is like a seed; it can sprout in any soil,” Zhuanxu said.
He also organized musicians to travel and perform, using music to convey the idea of harmony. Once, in a northern nomadic tribe, the rugged herdsmen were initially uninterested in the gentle music. When the musicians became discouraged, Zhuanxu identified the problem.
“Music must adapt to local customs.” He had the musicians learn the horse-head fiddle of the herdsmen and blend the Central Plains musical scales with grassland melodies. The new music became very popular, serving as a bridge for communication.
Chapter 8: Achievements in Later Years
Zhuanxu ruled for seventy-eight years, during which the land was well-governed. In his later years, he focused on three major tasks:
First, he compiled the laws and systems of previous reigns into the “Code of Zhuanxu,” providing a basis for future legislation. He emphasized: “Laws should be like the movement of the stars, having predictable patterns, but also like the change of seasons, able to adapt.”
Second, he trained a successor. Among his many descendants, he chose the virtuous Qiongchan for focused training, but made it clear: “The throne is not family property; it must be passed to the most virtuous.”
Finally, he inspected the borders. Even at seventy years of age, he insisted on traveling to the most remote tribes to understand their conditions. In the far north, seeing people suffering from the harsh cold, he immediately ordered supplies to be sent for relief.
“The Son of Heaven guards the nation’s gates; the ruler dies for the altars of soil and grain,” Zhuanxu said. “We cannot neglect a place because it is remote. The more distant the land, the more it needs care.”
When Zhuanxu passed away, the whole land mourned. Although he did not have the dramatic military achievements of the Yellow Emperor, his meticulous governance allowed the roots of civilization to sink deeper. The systems he established and the education he promoted were like a silent spring rain, nourishing the growth of Chinese civilization.