A variety of historical sources tell us that the political power of the Five Emperors period was mostly in the form of Zen concessions. Among them, the Yellow Emperor gave way to the Emperor, the Emperor gave way to the Emperor, the Emperor gave way to Yao, the Yao gave way to Shun, and the Shun gave way to Yu ....... In fact, the process of changing power during that period was also very informative. It is not a "Zen concession" in a broad sense, but a Zen concession that only selects a good person within the family. It is not the intention of those in power, but the transfer of power under special circumstances.
Since the Fuxi era, the mechanism and norms of social management have emerged in China, and the method of electing the head of state has been implemented to produce social leaders. The society has formed a strong management group, and the society has achieved significant development.
During the period of Emperor Yan, there was a formed state power system and state apparatus. The generation of leaders is still mainly based on the formation of elections, and continues the regime of the Yan Emperor of the eight generations (please see the relevant "The Concept of the Yan Emperor is a Collection"). But with this succession, the choice of leaders has become small, mainly in the form of family management, and the beginning of hereditary state management. In order to ensure that its power would not flow out, the Yandi system began to establish a regular army of the state and tribes. It has strengthened the management of the regime and strengthened its ability to crack down on dissidents. Although power began to be concentrated, it increased the management capacity of the central group and effectively promoted the high development of social productive forces.
People have seen the importance of social power and the close relationship between political power and people. When the eighth generation of Emperor Yan Sun Yu was in administration, he committed atrocities, and there was a sudden rebellion in various places, and the world was in chaos. The Yellow Emperor used the army and violence to seize the power of the Yan Emperor, creating a precedent for the armed unification of the land of China.
But after all, the Yellow Emperor was a responsible emperor, after the unification of the country, he made characters for the people, developed arithmetic, Guangxing music, etiquette inheritance, spread medical technology, promoted mulberry zi, and revitalized agricultural economics...... , creating the social civilization and cultural civilization of the ancient Chinese Five Emperors.
During the period of the Five Emperors, most of them implemented the method of combining Zen concession and election to inherit the throne, which objectively evolved social management from primitive to modern. In doing so, the social authority of the leader is strengthened. It seems that the election of the head of state is more democratic and more trusting of the state. However, its essence is the hereditary management style of the family, and it does not depart from the original monopoly thinking.
From the Five Emperors to the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, the successors of state power were all descendants of the Yellow Emperor.
Only the descendants of the Yellow Emperor can succeed to the throne
In the "Historical Records", the personnel relations and main achievements of the five emperors are clearly recorded, especially the affairs of Yu Shun are remembered in great detail. In fact, during the period of the Five Emperors, there were not only five emperors, but many. Among them, there are five who are familiar to us. Relevant historical materials record that the transfer of power after the Yellow Emperor is: Gao Yang (颛顼, grandson of the Yellow Emperor), Gao Yang was followed by Gao Xin (Emperor Yu, the grandson of the eldest son of the Yellow Emperor), Gao Xin was followed by Zhi (Emperor Yuzi), Zhi was followed by Fang Xun (Tang Yao), after Fang Xun was Dan Zhu (Yao Zi), and after Dan Zhu was Chonghua (Yu Shun).
The overlapping situation of the regime during the period of the Five Emperors: Yellow Emperor (Xuanyuan) - Zhuan Xuan (Gaoyang) - Emperor Yu (Gaoxin) - Zhi - Yao (Fangxun) - Danzhu - Shun (Chonghua).
Among the 25 sons of the Yellow Emperor, 14 were valued and had titles. In other words, there are 14 sons of the descendants of the Yellow Emperor who can be independent and self-contained, with ground and tribes. These 14 sons were all divided by the Yellow Emperor outside the scope of the area under his management, which is now called the surrounding area of the Central Plains, and some of the so-called places in later generations: Yi, Di, Rong, Man, Qian, Qi, Qiang and other places.
What is special is that the Yellow Emperor once mined copper at Changyi, the second son, and smelted copper and cast tripods at the eldest son. Obviously, the Yellow Emperor's national heavy weapons must be mastered in the Yellow Emperor's close relatives and relatives.
The Yellow Emperor and Concubine Luozu only gave birth to two sons. The eldest son is Xuanhuan, and the second son is Changyi. Only these two sons were the sons of the Yellow Emperor. Of course, only the descendants of these two people can be called the descendants of the Yellow Emperor. Only among these relatives are the candidates for the Yellow Emperor series to take over the throne.
Among the five emperors, in addition to the Yellow Emperor, Emperor Zhuan is the son of Changyi, Emperor Yu is the grandson of Xuanhuan, and Yao and Shun are also their descendants. On the surface, Xuan Huan and Changyi are not emperors, but they are both masters of each side of the world.
Xuan Huan, in charge of the Jiuli Department in the East and the Yangtze River Basin in the south, is one of the richest places in China. Some of the descendants of Xuanhuan crossed the Yangtze River and went south to become the important ancestors of the ethnic minorities in the south of the country today.
Changyi, in charge of the current Tohoku, is also a rich and vast place. He has been living in the northeast of the Central Plains of China, and has become the ancestor of the Xianbei, Chen, Han, and Juryo and Goryeo ethnic groups, as well as the ancestor of the management of the Xishen, Huiqian, and the ancient ethnic groups in the Northeast. Emperor Zhuan is the son of Changyi, and was sent to the Yellow Emperor by Changyi when he was very young, and was very appreciated by the Yellow Emperor, so he became the successor of the Yellow Emperor.
Therefore, both of them have also been called emperors or Shaohao by some descendants. In fact, only the descendants of the two of them became the masters and rulers of the land of China. The other 12 people with surnames are mostly in the north, west or southwest of the Yellow River, with limited territories, each continuing their own descendants and passing on their own Xi customs.
The power between the Five Emperors and the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties was produced among the Yellow Emperor's concubines
Among the five emperors, the Yellow Emperor gave power to his grandson Gao Yang, who should have sat on the throne for many years. Gao Yang's acquisition of the throne should be the Yellow Emperor's own will. If it is recommended by everyone, it should only be the son of the Yellow Emperor to take over. After the death of the Gao Yang clan, the passing of the imperial throne to the cousin's son Gao Xin should be the result of the election of everyone. Therefore, the succession before the emperor has the element of Zen, but it is mainly the result of hereditary.
In our legend: Zhi gave way to Yao, Yao gave way to Shun, and Shun gave way to Yu. In fact, Zhi was the son of Emperor Yu, and he was the first to succeed him after Emperor Yu's death. But because of his limited ability, everyone was not convinced, and in desperation, he gave up the throne to Yao, who was elected by everyone. It should be under the situation that everyone is forcing the palace to give way to Yao. It should be said that this is also a kind of Zen concession. The two are brothers, and they are also a matter between families.
This incident is contained in the "Historical Records, Volume 1": "The emperor collapsed, and the emperor was established, the emperor was established, and the country was not good, and the younger brother was released for the emperor Yao", Yao's ascendancy should be the result of Zen.
Both, Yao's life experience: Yellow Emperor - Xuanhuan - Ji Ji - Emperor Yu (Gaoxin) - Zhi - Yao (Fangxun), Yao is the fourth grandson of the Yellow Emperor.
The Zen concession between Yao, Shun and Yu has been strictly screened and has certain conditions. Although it has also been tested for a long time, this abdication can only be carried out under certain conditions.
Yao gave way to Shun, there were some thresholds and twists and turns, but Shun really lived up to Yao's hard work. However, after Yao's death, Shun still ceded power to Yao's son Danzhu. However, the princes of the world only recognize Shun, not Danzhu. Shun had to take over the throne and restore Yao's original intention.
Shun's life experience: Yellow Emperor - Changyi - Zhuan Xuan - Poor Cicada - Jingkang - Juwang - Qiaoniu - Sui Su - Shun (Chonghua), is the eighth grandson of the Yellow Emperor.
It should be noted that in the greatness of the Five Emperors, there is also traditional selfishness.
The Yellow Emperor passed the throne to Changyi's son Gao Yang, and Gao Yang passed the throne to Gao Xin, the grandson of his uncle Xuanhuan. Gao Xin passed on the throne to his son Zhi, Zhi "is not good at the country", so Zhi's younger brother Fangxun got the throne for Yao. Yao wanted to pass on the throne, so Changyi's descendant, Chonghua (Shun, see below for a diagram of kinship) was taken first. In this way, the throne returned to the descendants of Changyi.
Later, Shun Chan gave the emperor the throne to Yu.
It is recorded in the "Historical Records: Xia Benji II". Yu is also a descendant of Changyi. Not only that, but even the regimes of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties were carried out among the descendants of the Yellow Emperor's concubines and Changyi.
"Historical Records: Xia Benji II" contains: "The father of Yu is called Kun, the father of Kun is called the emperor, and the father of the emperor is called Changyi. ”
- Under Shun's arrangement, the regime continued to be in the hands of Changyi's descendants.
Xia was followed by Yin Shang, and the eight generations of ancestors of Cheng Tang, the founder of Yin Shang, were Yin Qi.
"Historical Records: Yin Benji III" contains: "Yin Qi, the mother is called Jian Di, the daughter of the Ju family, and the second concubine of the emperor. The three of them took a bath, saw the Xuanniao fall its eggs, Jian Di swallowed it, because of pregnancy, the birth contract". Deed, is the ancestor of Yin Shang.
Emperor Yu is the grandson of Xuanhuan, and his second concubine gave birth to a deed. Among the descendants of Qi, the 13th Chengtang established the Yin regime. Even if it is obtained by violence, it means that it is impossible for others to do it. In any case, the power has passed into the hands of the descendants of Xuanhuan.
Shang was followed by Zhou, and the founders of Zhou were Ji Chang and Ji Fa father and son. The first fifteen generations of ancestors of Ji's father and son were abandoned, and the history called Houji.
"Historical Records of Zhou Benji Fourth" contains: Zhou's ancestors and later Ji are: "Zhou Houji, name abandoned." His mother has a Tai daughter, called Jiang Yuan. Jiang Yuan is the emperor's concubine and a descendant of Xuanhuan. Legend has it that Jiang Yuan went out of the wilderness, and when he saw the footprints of the giants, he was excited, and he wanted to practice it, and he was like a pregnant person. and give birth to a child", the name is abandoned (Houji).
This is the historical record of Hou Ji, the founder of Zhou. -- The political power is still in the hands of the descendants of Xuanhuan.
The imperial throne was passed back and forth, and it was not transferred out of the two families of the Yellow Emperor, Changyi and Xuanhuan. This kind of Zen concession system is actually a hereditary system, which is a family-style hereditary. Since then, hereditary has become a unique Xi in the continuation of the Chinese regime.
The successors of the future emperors often talk about their origins very glorious. If you can hang up with the emperor's family, you must make a big noise. If you can't hang on to it, you must also say that you are the reincarnation of the gods or the descendants of the gods...... And the honest and ignorant people are relish the legend of the Son of Heaven.
Yu Shun married his great-grandmother
Shun is a descendant of Changyi, a descendant of the Yellow Emperor, and has a clear generational relationship.
"Historical Records Volume 1: The First Book of the Five Emperors" contains: "Yu Shun's name is Chonghua. Chonghua's father said Qiaosuo, Qiaosuo's father said Qiaoniu, Qiaoniu's father said Juwang, Juwang's father said Jingkang, Jingkang's father said Poor Cicada, Poor Cicada's father said Emperor Zhuan, Emperor Zhuan's father said Changyi". The relationship between the generations is down:
Yellow Emperor - Changyi - Gaoyang (颛顼) - Poor Cicada - Jingkang - Juwang - Qiaoniu - Gazer - Chonghua (Yu Shun)
Yu Shun Chonghua is the descendant of Changyi, the second son of the Yellow Emperor, the sixth grandson of Emperor Gaoyang, and the eighth grandson of the Yellow Emperor.
Yu Shun's two wives, Empress E and Nuying, were Yao's daughters. Yao is the grandson of Xuan Huan and the son of Emperor Yu.
"Historical Records Volume 1: Five Emperors Benji No. 1" says: "Emperor Gaoxin, the great-grandson of the Yellow Emperor." Also remembered: "Emperor Yu married Chen Feng's daughter, and gave birth to Xun". Tang Yao Fangxun is the great-great-grandson of the Yellow Emperor and the descendant of the Yellow Emperor's eldest son-in-law, Xuan Huan. Tang Yao is the great-grandson of the Yellow Emperor and the youngest son of Emperor Gaoxin. The order of its generations is:
Yellow Emperor - Xuanhuan - Qiaoji - Gaoxin (Emperor Yu) - Fangxun (Emperor Yao) - Empress E, Nuying.
Yao is the son of Emperor Yu, the great-grandson of Xuanhuan, and the great-grandson of the Yellow Emperor. Then, Yao's two daughters, Empress E and Nuying, are the fifth granddaughters of the Yellow Emperor.
Yao married his two daughters, Empress E and Nuying, to Shun, as if he did not consider the generational relationship between them. Empress E and Nu Ying married Shun, and they have always been diligent, filial piety to their in-laws, kindness to their uncles, friendly to their families, and happy to their families. It seems that the ancients had nothing to say about marriage with the same surname and between generations.
There is a question to be asked: Empress E, Nuying and Shun are four generations apart, a difference of three generations. How can it be on the same time period?
It is also possible to look at the marriage method of early marriage in ancient times. Suppose a person grows a child at the age of 20, has a second son at the age of 40, and has a third son at the age of 60....... His eldest son gave birth to a grandson at the age of 20, and a great-grandson ...... at the age of 20. Obviously, the grandson was the same age as the second son, and the great-grandson was the same age as the third son. If it's a few generations, it's even more common. - In this way, it is not surprising that Empress E and Nuying are of the same age as Shun.
Besides, Shun's fifth ancestor was poor and all the way to Shun, all of them were ordinary people. Although they are highly valued, they may not know each other with the high-ranking Yao. Although Empress E, Nuying and Shun are cousins, their kinship gap has exceeded three generations, and according to the current marriage law, they should also be able to get married.
It is really a strange thing for Yao to marry his two daughters to Shun at the same time for the sake of his successor, so it has been widely circulated in the annals of Chinese history.
In any case, it is also an indisputable fact that Shun and the two women he married are great-grandmothers and aunts who are related by blood.
Ancient legend, "four saints" - Yao, Shun, Yu, Gaotao. It was the former who agreed that the latter would be his successor before giving way to the latter. Among them, Gaotao died early and did not take over the work, which made Yu's family establish the rule of the "Xia" Dynasty. Everyone else has been famous for governing the country and Zen for centuries.
Obviously, the Zen concession at this time is the Zen concession within a certain range. It should be said that in the process of selecting its successor, there is a certain degree of "democracy," and the elements of "democracy" also play a certain role. However, it is a principle that cannot be crossed by the successor among the descendants of the Yellow Emperor's family. It can be said that this kind of Zen concession was formed in the form of a political transfer that was deified in the social consciousness. It is the "Zen concession" formed by "writing" under the transfer of traditional political power.
The aura of the Five Emperors did not highlight the primitive feudal tradition.