Compiled from The Great Chinese Emperors
Yao was known as
Tang Yao in history. Named Fangxun, he was Diku’s son and was as industrious
and benevolent as his father. Under his rule, the four seasons were further
divided into 24 seasonal divisional points, and crops and vegetables were grown
according to these divisional points. As a result, the people enjoyed bumper
harvests.
There
had been flooding then in the Central Plains for 22 continuous years. At the
people’s recommendation, Yao
appointed Gun to solve the problem even though he had perceived that Gun was
self-opinionated. Gun attempted to control the waters by blocking the water
flow, but that resulted in more severe floodings. Yao then implored Heaven’s mercy to curb the
floods.
Yao loved a simple life,
and after 70 years of rule, he became the first ruler to practice abdication in
favour of a younger and more capable ruler, Yao Shun. However, that didn’t take
place before Yao
bypassed his own son, Danzhu, whom he deemed unfit to rule. He proceeded to
test Yu Shun for his virtue and character. Eventually, he gave his two
daughters’ hand in marriage to the young man and invited him to be regent.
Twenty years later, Yu Shun became the king.
When
Tang Yao passed away at the age of 118, the people mourned his passing as if
they had lost their own parents. No music was played for three years while they
mourned their king for 98 years.
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