Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
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| ANCIENT | |||||||
| 3 Sovereigns and 5 Emperors | |||||||
| Xia Dynasty 2100–1600 BCE | |||||||
| Shang Dynasty 1600–1046 BCE | |||||||
| Zhou Dynasty 1045–256 BCE | |||||||
| Western Zhou | |||||||
| Eastern Zhou | |||||||
| Spring and Autumn Period | |||||||
| Warring States Period | |||||||
| IMPERIAL | |||||||
| Qin Dynasty 221 BCE–206 BCE | |||||||
| Han Dynasty 206 BCE–220 CE | |||||||
| Western Han | |||||||
| Xin Dynasty | |||||||
| Eastern Han | |||||||
| Three Kingdoms 220–280 | |||||||
| Wei, Shu & Wu | |||||||
| Jin Dynasty 265–420 | |||||||
| Western Jin | 16 Kingdoms 304–439 |
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| Eastern Jin | |||||||
| Southern & Northern Dynasties 420–589 |
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| Sui Dynasty 581–618 | |||||||
| Tang Dynasty 618–907 | |||||||
| ( Second Zhou 690–705 ) | |||||||
| 5 Dynasties & 10 Kingdoms 907–960 |
Liao Dynasty 907–1125 |
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| Song Dynasty 960–1279 |
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| Northern Song | W. Xia | ||||||
| Southern Song | Jin | ||||||
| Yuan Dynasty 1271–1368 | |||||||
| Ming Dynasty 1368–1644 | |||||||
| Qing Dynasty 1644–1911 | |||||||
| MODERN | |||||||
| Republic of China 1912–1949 | |||||||
| People's Republic of China 1949–present |
Republic of China (Taiwan) 1945–present |
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Related articles
Chinese historiography |
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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 partially mythological rulers and a mix of culture heroes from ancient China during the period from circa 3500 BC to 2000 BC.[1] This period preceded the Xia Dynasty.[2]
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Variations
Depending on the source, there are many variation of who classify as the three sovereigns or the five emperors. There are six to seven known variations.[3] Many of the sources listed below were written from much later dynasties.
Three sovereigns variation
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 Yellow Emperor is supposedly the ancestor of all Huaxia race of people.[4] The Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor was established in Shaanxi Province to commemorate the ancestry legend.[4]
| According to source | Three sovereigns |
|---|---|
| The book of Lineages (世本) | Fu Xi (伏羲), Shennong (神農), Yellow Emperor (黃帝)[3] |
| Sovereign series (帝王世系) | Fu Xi (伏羲), Shennong (神農), Yellow Emperor (黃帝)[3] |
| Records of the Grand Historian (史記), addition by Sima Zhen | Heavenly Sovereign (天皇), Earthly Sovereign (地皇); Tai Sovereign (泰皇)[3] |
| Baihu Tongyi (白虎通義) | (1st variation) Fu Xi (伏羲), Shennong (神農), Zhurong (祝融)[3] (2nd variation) Fu Xi (伏羲), Shennong (神農), Suiren (燧人)[3] |
| Fengsu TongYi (風俗通皇霸) | Fu Xi (伏羲), Nüwa (女媧), Shennong (神農)[3] |
| Yiwen Leiju (藝文類聚) | Heavenly Sovereign (天皇), Earthly Sovereign (地皇); Human Sovereign (人皇)[3] |
| Tongjian Waiji (通鑑外紀) | Fu Xi (伏羲), Shennong (神農), Gong Gong (共工) |
| Chunqiu yundou shu (春秋運斗樞) Chunqiu yuanming bao (春秋元命苞) |
Fu Xi (伏羲), Nüwa (女媧), Shennong (神農) |
| Shangshu dazhuan (尚書大傳) | Fu Xi (伏羲), Shennong (神農), Suiren (燧人) |
| Diwang shiji (帝王世紀) | Fu Xi (伏羲), Shennong (神農), Yellow Emperor (黃帝) |
Five emperors variation
| According to source | Five emperors |
|---|---|
| Changes of Zhou (周易) | Taihao (太昊), Yan Emperor (炎帝), Yellow Emperor (黃帝), Emperor Yao (堯), Shun (舜)[3] |
| Records of the Grand Historian (史記) | Yellow Emperor (黃帝), Zhuanxu (顓頊), Emperor Ku (帝嚳), Emperor Yao (堯), Shun (舜)[3] |
| Sovereign series (帝王世系) | Shaohao (少昊), Zhuanxu (顓頊), Gaoxin (高辛), Emperor Yao (堯), Shun (舜)[3] |
Other new creation
The first universe creator generally include Pangu in the mythology. After his death his left eye became the sun, while the right eye became the moon. Different parts of his body basically became the world.[5] There is also the legend of the Four shi (四氏) who took part in creating the world. The four members are Youchao-shi (有巢氏), Suiren-shi (燧人氏), Fu Xi-shi (伏羲氏), and Shennong-shi (神農氏).[5]
Legacy
These mythical kings contributed to the gift of fire, building of houses, invention of farming, and the Yellow emperor's wife brought the invention of silk culture. Also is the discovery of medicine, invention of calendar and the Chinese script. After this era, Yu the Great founded the Xia dynasty.[2]
See also
- List of Neolithic cultures of China
- Emperor of China
External links
References
- ↑ 劉煒/著. [2002] (2002) Chinese civilization in a new light 中華文明傳真#1 原始社會：東方的曙光. Commercial press publishing company. ISBN 9620753143. Timetable.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Morton, W. Scott Morton. Morton, William Scott. Lewis Charlton M. [2005] (2005). China: its history and culture. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0071412794, 9780071412797. pg 14.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 劉煒/著. [2002] (2002) Chinese civilization in a new light 中華文明傳真#1 原始社會：東方的曙光. Commercial press publishing company. ISBN 9620753143. pg 142.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 王恆偉. (2005) (2006) 中國歷史講堂 #1 遠古至春秋. 中華書局. ISBN 962-8885-24-3. p 13.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 王恆偉. (2005) (2006) 中國歷史講堂 #1 遠古至春秋. 中華書局. ISBN 962-8885-24-3. p 4-7.
Gallery
 Historian's depiction of the Yellow Emperor |
| Preceded by New creation |
Dynasties in Chinese history 2852 BC - 2205 BC |
Succeeded by Xia Dynasty |
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