The Book of Yu: The Canon of Yao
Formerly, when Emperor Yao was on the throne, he was intelligent, accomplished, and thoughtful; his glory filled the world. Being about to retire from his throne, he resigned it to Yu Shun, and made the Canon of Yao.
Now, on examining into the ancient Emperor Yao, we must say that he was vastly meritorious, reverential, and intelligent; his external accomplishments and internal reflections were easy and unconstrained; he was sincerely respectful, and capable of yielding, while his fame extended to the four distant quarters, reaching to heaven above and earth beneath. He was able to display his superior virtue, in order to bind closer the nine degrees of kindred; the nine kindreds being rendered harmonious, he equalized and illumined the people of the Imperial domain; his own people having become intelligent, he harmonized the various states of the Empire, and the black-haired people—oh! how were they reformed by this cordial agreement.
He then commanded Xi and He, in reverent accordance with the motions of the expansive heavens, to arrange by numbers and represent by instruments the revolutions of the sun, moon, and stars, with the lunar mansions, and then respectfully to communicate to the people the seasons adapted for labour. He then separately directed Xi's younger brother to reside at Yu-yi, called the Orient Valley, where he might respectfully hail the rising sun, adjust and arrange the eastern undertakings, notice the equalization of the days, and whether the star culminating at nightfall was the middle constellation of the bird, in order to hit the centre of midspring; he might also observe whether the people began to disperse abroad, and whether birds and beasts were beginning to pair and copulate. He further commanded Xi's third brother to reside at the southern border, to adjust and arrange the southern transformations, respectfully to notice the extreme limit of the shadow, when the days attain their utmost length, and the star in the zenith is that denominated Fire; in order to fix the exact period of midsummer, when the people disperse themselves more widely, and birds and beasts begin to moult and cast their skins. He then distinctly commanded He's younger brother to dwell in the west, at a place called the Dark Valley, where he might respectfully attend upon the setting sun, and equalize and adjust the western completions, notice the equalization of the nights, and see whether the culminating star was Emptiness (Aquarius), in order to adjust midautumn, when the people would be more at ease, and the birds and beasts would be sleek and plump. He further directed He's third brother to dwell at the northern region, called the Dismal City, where he might properly examine the reiterations and alterations, and see whether, when the days were at shortest, the culminating star was the Pleiades, in order to adjust midwinter, when the people would remain at home, and birds and beasts get their down and hair. The Emperor said, "Listen! you Xi and He; an entire year consists of three hundred and sixty-six days; do you therefore employ an intercalary month to settle the four seasons and complete the tropical year. Regulate at the same time with exactness the hundred kinds of labour, and your abundant merits will be universally diffused."
The Emperor said, "Who will inquire for one who, complying with these times, may be elevated to employment?" Fangqi said, "Your son and heir, Zhu, is beginning to display intelligence." The Emperor said, "Tush! he is insincere and litigious; can he do?"
The Emperor said, "Who will inquire for someone who can accord with my mode of managing business?" Huandou said, "Excellent! there is the Superintendent of Works, who has just consolidated his affairs and displayed merit." The Emperor said, "Tush! when there is nothing to do, he can talk; but employ him, and he belies his profession, while he has only the resemblance of respect, up to heaven."
The Emperor said, "Oh! you President of the four eminences, the swelling flood occasions hurt; it spreads far and wide, it encompasses the hills, and overtops the mounds; vast and expansive it rises up to heaven; so that the lower people lament and sigh. If there be any persons of ability, I will set them to manage this matter." They all said, "Lo! there is Gun!" The Emperor said, "Tush! nonsense! he disobeys orders, and ruins his companions." The President said, "Notwithstanding, just try if he can manage this matter only."
The Emperor said, "Go; but take care." For nine years he laboured, but did not accomplish anything.
The Emperor said, "Oh! you President of the four eminences, I have now been on the throne seventy years; and since you are able to follow out my regulations, I resign my throne to you." The President said, "With my poor qualities, I should only disgrace the imperial throne." The Emperor replied, "Try to light those who are in brilliant stations, and set forth those of low rank, till we find one of sufficient virtue to succeed me." All the courtiers then addressed the Emperor, saying, "There is a solitary individual, in a mean station, called Yu Shun." The Emperor said, "Good! I have heard of him; but how are his qualities?" The President said, "He is a blind man's son; his father is stupid, and his mother insincere, while Xiang (his brother) is overbearing; but he has been able to harmonize them by his filial piety, so that they have gradually advanced towards self-government, and have not gone to the extreme lengths of wickedness." The Emperor said, "I had better take him on trial! I will marry my daughters to this man, and thus observe his manner of acting with my two daughters." Having thus arranged matters, he sent down his two daughters to Gui Rui, and married them to Yu (or Shun); when the Emperor said to them, "Take care!"
