We often hear of the "Three Emperors and Five Emperors", so who are they referring to? In fact, there is no definite and unified conclusion on the "Three Emperors and Five Emperors" so far. However, the following three statements are common:
1. Ancient records
There are records of the "Three Emperors and Five Emperors" in ancient Chinese books, which refer to Fuxi, Nüwa, and Shennong as the "Three Emperors", and taihao, Yandi, Yellow Emperor, Shaohao, and Zhuān xū as the "Five Emperors".
2. Ancient history system
According to the earliest ancient history system of the mainland, it is recorded in the "Shang Shu Da Biography", which refers to the Furen, Fuxi, and Shennong as the "Three Emperors". In another book, the Five Emperors, the Yellow Emperor, Emperor Huan, Emperor Zhao, Yao, and Shun are referred to as the "Five Emperors".
According to this system, the "three emperors" are the symbols of the three stages of the ancient prehistory of the mainland, and the "five emperors" refer to the period of paternalism, or the tribal chieftains at the end of the primitive society, or the military leaders of the period of military democracy.
3. Myths and legends
There are also many people who hold this view, they believe that the "Three Emperors and Five Emperors" are derived from myths and legends, and they are all characters in myths and stories. According to this theory, the "Three Emperors" refers to Fuxi, Shennong, and the Yellow Emperor, and the "Five Emperors" refer to Shaohao, Zhao, Di, Yao, and Shun.
Although the statement of "three emperors and five emperors" has not yet been conclusive in the academic community, I personally believe that this statement must not be empty, and in history, they must have really existed people, or the unity of several people. In any case, the origin and development of our Chinese nation is inseparable from the merits of the "Three Emperors and Five Emperors." Perhaps in the near future, with more archaeological work or the progress of ancient book research, the "Three Emperors and Five Emperors" will have a conclusion.