Shun （舜）, one of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors （三皇五帝） of China, was an ordinary farmer, but he won the appreciation of Yao, the king of the country, and became the new ruler of the country. What did he do to make Yao look favorably upon him?
It is said that Shun’s father, Gu Sou （瞽叟）, had a strange dream.
Gu Sou dreamed that a phoenix fed him rice, saying that he was a “chicken” and that he would be his descendant in the future.
When he woke up, he was surprised and did not understand the meaning of the dream.
Shortly afterward, Gu Sou’s wife gave birth to a son named Shun.
Shun’s eyes were unusual in that they had two pupils, hence the name Chong Hua.
Shun grew up by the Gui River and was ordinary except for his special eyes.
Shun’s mother died early and his father remarried and gave birth to his younger brother, Xiang.
His stepmother was selfish and favored Xiang, treating Shun badly.
Xiang was influenced by his mother and became selfish and greedy too.
His father believed in his stepmother and thought that Shun was a bad boy, so he always looked at him in a bad light.
Shun was in a difficult situation, but he returned the favor by being filial to his parents and taking care of his younger brother.
Shun’s filial piety and love soon spread, but his stepmother still wanted to harm him.
Shun had no choice but to leave his home and live alone at the foot of Mt.
He built his house with thatched grass and reclaimed the wasteland. Although his life was hard, he was in a good mood.
Shun had the ability to touch people. Farmers, fishermen and potters were all influenced by him and became humble and hardworking.
Everyone was willing to be Shun’s neighbor, and the place where he lived soon became a big city.
Yao was looking for a wise man, and the tribal leaders recommended Shun.
Yao examined Shun and married his daughters, E Huang and Nu Ying, to him, and gave him wealth, cattle and sheep.
Shun became the son-in-law of the king, but he did not forget his family and went back to visit them, bringing gifts.
Shun’s wives were diligent and virtuous, and they took care of the household and served their in-laws.
The stepmother and the Xiang hated Shun and tried to harm him, but both times they were discovered by E Huang and Nu Ying.
Shun remained filial and friendly to his family and did not change.
The Xiang again tried to harm Shun by inviting him to dinner.
Shun asked his wives for their opinion, and they let him go and gave him a medicine powder to protect himself.
When Shun went to the banquet, Xiang and his stepmother tried to kill him after getting him drunk.
But Shun did not get drunk and sat steadily, and finally politely excused himself.
E Huang and Nu Ying told Yao about Shun, and Yao thought Shun was filial and talented, and decided to pass the throne to him.
Yao first asked Shun to study politics and exercise as an official.
Yao assessed Shun and asked him to come out of the mountains and forests in the wind and rain.
Shun had an open heart and was not afraid of wild beasts, so he calmly walked out of the mountains.
People were happy for Shun and Yao passed the throne to him.
After Shun became the king of the country, he was still filial to his family.
The family was moved and apologized to Shun and changed their bad habits.
Shun reigned for several decades and was a wise ruler who was diligent and loved the people.
When Shun abdicated, he did not pass the throne to his son but to Dayu, showing his impartiality.
When Shun wanted to tour the south in his later years, he told his wives and they were worried, but Shun quietly went on his way.
When Shun fell ill and died on the way, the nation grieved and was buried in Jiuyi Mountain.
E Huang and Nu Ying rushed to the funeral, and on the way, their tears fell like rain, and they spilled their tears on the bamboo forests, forming spotted bamboos.
When they arrived at Xiangshui, they met a big wave and drowned, becoming Xiangshui water spirits.
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