China's Earliest Emperors - By: Henry KH Fong

Suiren, Fuxi and Shennong are regarded as the Three Sage Kings of ancient China who made personal sacrifices to improve the lives of the people. They are known for one or more unique contribution to mankind.

Suiren who reputedly lived 18,000 years ago discovered how to make fire by drilling wood. This discovering enabled mankind to eat cooked food and use fire to keep warm and ward off wild animals.

Fuxi taught people how to domesticate animals. He also taught them to make nets to catch fish, birds and wild animals and in the process ensure the supply of food all year round. He was also responsible for creating the institution of marriage and the for a 35 string musical instrument. His most important contribution however was the Bagua or Eight Trigram that formed the basis for the all important I Ching or Book of changes.

Shennong alias Yandi was credited with the invention of the rake, spade, plough and sickle. He taught people how to grow five types of cereals and he formulated barter trade. He was also credited for modifying Fuxi's 35 strings musical instrument into a 5 strings one.

Shennong risked his life by tasting hundreds of berries to seek remedies for illnesses. Despite being poisoned on many occasions, he carried on. One of the berries eventually took his life.

After the Three Sage Kings, come the Five Legendary Emperors, Huangdi, Zhuanxu, Diki, Yao and Shun.

Huangdi was a great leader. He understands how to select able men and motivate them to help him rule the country and come out with innovations.

Among Huangdi's achievements was the development of a written language, the compilation of the healing manual, the Yellow Emperor's Medicine Classic?and the 60 years cycle Jia Zi Farmer's Calendar.

Emperor Huangdi preferred peace over war. During his time, the people experience stability and prosperity. It ushered an age of civilization in ancient China.

Zhuanzu was not Huangdi's son but he was chosen over Huangdi's other son because of his ability. He is best remembered for bring law and order to his people and for concentrating power within the central authority.

After Zhuanxu comes Diku who was a great grandson of Huangdi. Diku was a benevolent king who placed the people's welfare above self. He created new official posts and ministries with clearly demarcated duties such as the Ministry of Land, Forestry, Water, Metal Ores and Fire. And he personally conducted inspections frequently to ensure that the country was well run. He also further improved the calendar which contributed to farming.

After Diku come Yao, his son. Yao was very like his father ?industrious and benevolent. He contributed by enhancing the calendar and making changes to planting that yielded bumper harvests.

After Yao come Shun who was his son in law. Shun was ill treated by his step mother and father when he was a child. Despite this he continued to be filial and this earned him a lot of respect and fame. King Yao summoned Shun to his court to assist him. Shun eventually married Yao's daughter.

Shun drafted the five rules of etiquette and others rules and regulations which the dukes and princes had to observed. He also divided the country into 12 states with each having its own administrator. He continued to implement changes at the administrative level and set up the department of rites, music, farming, mulberry planting, works, water and land.

Shun was the last of the Five Legendary Kings. After Shun come Yu who founded the Xia dynasty. Today we remember Yu most for his skills in controlling flooding that wreak havoc on his people.

Chinese history remembers Suiren, Fuxi and Shennong as the Three Sage Kings. While not exactly kings, they are the leaders of their generation and are remembered today for their personal sacrifices and the many unique contributions to mankind.

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