Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors

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History of China
ANCIENT
3 Sovereigns and 5 Emperors
Xia Dynasty 2070–1600 B.C.E.
Shang Dynasty 1600–1046 B.C.E.
Zhou Dynasty 1122–256 B.C.E.
Western Zhou
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Spring and Autumn Period
Warring States Period
IMPERIAL
Qin Dynasty 221 B.C.E.–206 B.C.E.
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Xin Dynasty
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Three Kingdoms 220–280 C.E.
Wu, Shu & Wei
Jin Dynasty 265–420 C.E.
Western Jin
Eastern Jin	16 Kingdoms 304–439 C.E.
Southern & Northern Dynasties 420–589 C.E.
Sui Dynasty 581–619 C.E.
Tang Dynasty 618–907 C.E.
5 Dynasties & 10 Kingdoms 907–960 C.E.	Liao Dynasty 907–1125 C.E.

Song Dynasty 960–1279 C.E.
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MODERN
Republic of China 1911–present
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The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors (Chinese: 三皇五帝; pinyin: Sānhuáng wǔdì; Wade-Giles: San-huang wu-ti) were mythological rulers of China during the period from c. 2852 B.C.E. to 2205 B.C.E., which is the time preceding the Xia Dynasty.

(Actually, the translation of 帝 dì/dei⁵ is a problematic one in that it is most often translated using its modern sense, which did not arise until after the advent of an imperial state under 秦始皇 Qínshĭhuáng/Cen⁴héi²wong⁴. Its original meaning, and the most likely translation thereof, is that of supreme being, a kind of Übermann, rather than 'emperor'. The character 帝 originally represented a shaman wearing a liturgical mantel.)

The Three Sovereigns

The Three Sovereigns, sometimes known as the Three August Ones, were said to be god-kings or demigods who used their magical powers to improve the lives of their people. Because of their lofty virtue they lived to a great age and ruled over a period of great peace.

The Three Sovereigns are ascribed various identities in different Chinese historical texts. The Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian states that they were:

The Heavenly Sovereign (天皇) that ruled for 18,000 years;
The Earthly Sovereign (地皇) that ruled for 11,000 years;
The Human Sovereign (泰皇 or 人皇)that ruled for 45,600 years,

The Yundou shu (運斗樞) and Yuanming bao (元命苞) identify them as:

Fuxi (伏羲)
Nüwa (女媧)
Shennong (神農)

Both Fuxi, and also Nüwa, are the god and goddess husband and wife credited with being the ancestors of humankind after a devastating flood. The invention of the Primal Arrangement of the Eight Trigrams (Xian Tian Ba Gua, 先天八卦) is attributed to Fuxi. Shennong invented farming and is the first to use herbs for medical purposes.

The I Ching, starts like this: “In the old times of King Fuxi’s regime, he observed sky and the stars when he looks upwards, and researched the earth when he looks downwards, and watched the birds and beasts to see how they live in their environment. He took examples from nearby and far away, and then made 8 Yin Yang signs to simulate the rules of universe...After Fuxi died, Shennong rises. He made Plow and teach people how to raise crops and fishing. He invented money and market for the exchange of goods."

The Shangshu dazhuan (尚書大傳) and Baihu tongyi (白虎通義) replace Nüwa with Suiren (燧人), the inventor of fire. The Diwang shiji (帝王世紀) replaces Nüwa with the Yellow Emperor (黄帝), the supposed ancestor of all Han Chinese people.

The Five Emperors

The Five Emperors were legendary, morally perfect sage-kings. According to the Records of the Grand Historian they were:

The Yellow Emperor (黄帝)
Zhuanxu (顓頊)
Emperor Ku (帝嚳)
Emperor Yao (堯)
Emperor Shun (舜)

Yao and Shun are also known as the Two Emperors, and, along with Yu the Great (禹), founder of the Xia dynasty, were considered to be model rulers and moral exemplars by Confucians in later Chinese history. The Shangshu Xu (尚書序) and Diwang shiji include Shaohao (少昊) instead of the Yellow Emperor.

The Song of Chu (楚辭) identifies the Five Emperors as directional gods:

Shaohao (east)
Zhuanxu (north)
Yellow Emperor (center)
Shennong (west)
Fuxi (south)

The Book of Rites (禮記) equates the Five Emperors with the Five Lineages (五氏), which comprise:

Youchao-shi (有巢氏)
Suiren-shi (燧人氏)
Fuxi (伏羲氏)
Nüwa (女媧氏)
Shennong (神農氏)

In one sense of the word, the first historical Emperor of China was Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇), who coined a new term for "Emperor" (huangdi 皇帝) by combining the titles of "sovereign" (huang 皇) and "god-king" (di 帝).

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Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors

Contents

The Three Sovereigns

The Five Emperors

See also

Credits