Emperor Yao of Ancient Times

Emperor Yao, one of the Five Emperors. His given name was Fangxun, while "Yao" is his posthumous title. Yao was enfeoffed successively in the regions of Tao and Tang, earning him the title Tao Tang Shi. He became the Son of Heaven at the age of 18.

According to the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Yao’s benevolence was as vast as the heavens, and his wisdom was like that of a deity. Being near him was as comforting as basking in the warmth of the sun, and looking up to him was as refreshing as being under clouds that nourish the earth. Despite his wealth, he remained humble; despite his exalted status, he was never indulgent. He honored those of virtue, fostering harmony and love among nine generations of his kin. Once his clan was united, he turned his attention to inspecting officials. Under his leadership, officials performed their duties admirably, and regional lords coexisted peacefully.

Yao also made significant contributions to science and agriculture. He commissioned the Xi and He clans to study celestial phenomena, developing a calendar to guide agricultural activities. This effort established the solar terms of the equinoxes and solstices, including spring equinox, summer solstice, autumn equinox and winter solstice.

During Yao's reign, catastrophic floods ravaged the land. After nine years of failed flood control efforts by Gun, Yao appointed Yu, whose measures finally tamed the waters. Yao also established mechanisms for public accountability, such as a drum for citizens to voice their opinions and a post where they could express criticisms of his governance.

Emperor Yao pioneered the practice of abdication, setting a precedent for transferring power to a worthy successor. After ruling for 70 years, he decided against passing the throne to his son, Danzhu, whom he deemed unsuitable. Instead, he chose Shun, a virtuous man from among the people, and handed the reins of power to him.