Shunde Legend

01 · Historical Records

Shun, of the Youyu clan and also called Yu Shun, is one of the three sovereigns and five emperors of myth and legend, said to have been born in Zhufeng, to have moved to Fuxia and to have died in Mingtiao. Famed for his filial piety, diligent and kind and upright in conduct and possessing outstanding ability and noble personal force, he was recommended by the four mountains; Yao gave him his two daughters in marriage and abdicated the throne to him, and Shun in turn gave the empire to Yu.

02 · Core Techniques & Process

Shun, of the Youyu clan and also called Yu Shun, is one of the three sovereigns and five emperors of myth and legend. The Mencius, Lilou, says that Shun was born in Zhufeng, moved to Fuxia and died in Mingtiao, a man of the Eastern Yi. Shun's father Gusou was blind and his mother died early, and the son of his stepmother, Xiang, wished to kill Shun; with the help of Yao's two daughters he overcame his arrogant and cruel younger brother Xiang. Shun was diligent and kind, upright in conduct, famed for his filial piety and possessed outstanding ability and noble personal force. The Mozi, Shangxian, says that in former times Shun ploughed on Mount Li, made pottery on the river bank, fished in Leize and worked at Changyang, and Yao found him north of Fuze and made him Son of Heaven. One legend says Shun was the creator of the flute. Recommended by the four mountains, Yao gave him his two daughters in marriage and abdicated the throne to him; Shun in turn gave the empire to Yu, and later, on a southern tour of inspection, died in the wilds of Cangwu. He was once revered as the god of spring and of agriculture. The Shun legend spreads throughout many places of the country; the people of every place link Shun's birth, undertakings and virtue and the related place names, tombs and shrines and scenery with him, weaving and attaching all kinds of myths and legends and extolling his bright virtue, filial piety and brotherly love, loyalty to the ruler and principles of governing. The Great Shun legends current in Zhufeng village of Zhucheng, Shandong, mainly include his marvellous birth, the origin of the name Great Shun, his mother's dying instruction to her son, his stepmother's three framings of him and Yao's three tests of him. The myths and legends of Shun are much recorded in historical works and, spread by the Confucians, gained new vitality. The Chinese virtues and traditional thought they extol are still precious heritage for building a harmonious society today.

03 · Regional Records & Related Items

The area of Mount Li west of Qinshui county town in Shanxi is regarded as the Mount Li that Shun ploughed; the legends here mainly include the legend of Shun ploughing and governing Mount Li, legends of Shun's life and marriage and legends of the origin of Shun and the local plants and place names. The Shun legends circulate in Qinshui in Shanxi and Zhucheng in Shandong and other places, the various places interpreting them in the light of their own hills, waters and scenery.

Other submitting regions for the same item: Shunde Legend.

04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding

What it reflects of primitive tribal society and agricultural civilisation has value for cultural and historical research. The myths and legends of Shun are much recorded in historical works and, spread by the Confucians, gained new vitality; the Chinese virtues and traditional thought they extol are still precious heritage for building a harmonious society today.

06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography

1. Shunde Legend (Zhucheng, Shandong) · China ICH Official Project Archive

Sources

China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)

Read the official ihchina.cn record ↗