Compiled from The Great Chinese Emperors
Huangdi,
better known as the Yellow Emperor, was named Gongsun Xuanyuan. As he had
settled down by the waters of Ji, he changed his surname to Ji and gave his
reign the title of Xiong. Many achievements were attributed to him:
- He invited capable men to help him innovate and
rule the country.
- He commissioned Changjie to develop the written
word, which contributed greatly to the growth of Chinese culture.
- With Qibo, he studied the art of healing and
compiled The Yellow Emperor’s
Medicine Classic.
- He divided the year into its four seasons, and
called every 60-year cycle a jiazi. The
calendar served to guide the people in the timing of ploughing and
harvesting.
- Huangdi’s wife, Leizu, was instructed to turn
silk into fabric so that the people could be protected from the cold
during winter.
- He taught the people to build houses to cope with
the annual floodwaters, and designed carriages and boats for better
transport. Under his rule, buffaloes were used or ploughing, and horses
for drawing carriages.
- He advocated peace and avoided war at all times.
However, there was one instance where he dealt a hard blow on Chiyou from
the south in order to subdue the rebel who was a threat to peace.
During his reign, the people enjoyed peace and
prosperity. With his extensive travels and influence, he ushered in the age of
civilization for the Chinese people. Huangdi was 111 years old when he died and
was buried in Huangling County in Shaanxi
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