Chinese Folktale: Hou Ji, God of Agriculture
Hou Ji （后稷）, a descendant of the Huang Di and the founder of the Zhou Dynasty, with the surname Ji and the name Abraham, was honoured as the King of…
Chinese Folklore: The Story of Shun
Historical Background Shun: One of the Five Emperors, recorded in Records of the Grand Historian as “Chonghua” with state name “Youyu”. The painted dragon plates from Taosi ruins (2300-1900 BCE)…
Chinese folktale: Yao and Shun give up their throne
Yao （尧) and Shun (舜） Zengyan （禅让） is an ancient legend about the selection of the leader of a tribal confederation at the end of primitive society, referring to the…
Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors: The Sage-Kings of Chinese Civilization
Introduction The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors are the most influential sage-king group in Chinese mythology, celebrated for establishing ethical governance through “virtue-based rule”. Symbolizing the union of wisdom and…