12 Chonghua

A1.17|18|19

Yu Shun, his name was Chonghua. Chonghua's father was called Gusou, Gusou's father was Qiaoniu, Qiaoniu's father was Juwang, Juwang's father was Jingkang, and Jingkang's father was Qiongchan. Qiongchan's father was Emperor Zhuanxu, and Zhuanxu's father was Changyi: from Changyi to Shun it was seven generations. From Qiongchan to Emperor Shun, the intervening generations were all low as commoners.

Shun's father, Gusou, was blind. After Shun's biological mother died, Gusou married another wife and gave birth to Xiang, who was arrogant. Gusou liked his second wife's son and often wanted to kill Shun, but Shun escaped. If he made a little mistake, he would be severely punished. Shun served his father, his stepmother and his half brother reverently, becoming more loyal and prudent day by day, without slacking off at all.

Shun was from Jizhou. Shun plowed fields in Lishan, fished in Leize, made pottery on the bank of the Yellow River, made various household utensils in Shouqiu, and did business in Fuxia. Shun's father Gusou was stubborn, his mother was viscous, and his younger brother Xiang was arrogant. They all wanted to kill Shun. Shun, however, behaved respectfully and never violated the principles of being a son, loving his brothers and being filial to his parents. When they wanted to kill him, they couldn't find him; and when they needed him, he was always there.

虞舜者，名曰重华。重华父曰瞽叟，瞽叟父曰桥牛，桥牛父曰句望，句望父曰敬康，敬康父曰穷蝉，穷蝉父曰帝颛顼，颛顼父曰昌意：以至舜七世矣。自从穷蝉以至帝舜，皆微为庶人。

舜父瞽叟盲，而舜母死，瞽叟更娶妻而生象，象傲。瞽叟爱后妻子，常欲杀舜，舜避逃；及有小过，则受罪。顺事父及后母与弟，日以笃谨，匪有解。

舜，冀州之人也。舜耕历山，渔雷泽，陶河滨，作什器于寿丘，就时于负夏。舜父瞽叟顽，母嚚，弟象傲，皆欲杀舜。舜顺適不失子道，兄弟孝慈。欲杀，不可得；即求，尝在侧。

11 Yao got Shun

A1.15|16

Huandou once recommended Gonggong, and Yao said "no", but Huandou still tried him as a master craftsman. As expected, Gonggong turned out to be debauchery, evil and unfair. And Siyue once recommended Gun to be in charge of flood control, Yao said "no", but Siyue insisted on giving it a try, and it resulted in that nothing could be done, and all the people thought it inexpedient. In the basins between the Yangtze and Huaihe rivers, Sanmiao had caused many rebellions. At that time, Shun returned from his inspection, and reported to the Emperor Yao, requesting that Gonggong be exiled to Youling in the north in order to change the customs of northern Beidi; and Huandou be exiled to Chongshan in the south in order to change that of the southern Barbarians; and Sanmiao to Sanwei in the west to change the western Xirong, and Gun to Yushan in the east to change the eastern Dongyi. After punishing all those four villains, every one in the world was all convinced and obedient.

After seventy years of his reign, Yao got Shun, and another twenty years later he resigned due to old age, and Shun was made taking charge of the emperor's duty and was recommended to the Heaven. Yao died twenty-eight years after abdicating his throne. The people mourned and mourned as if they lost their own biological father. Within three years, in mourning the Emperor Yao. no one played any music anywhere in the world, Yao knew that his own son Danzhu was not worthy of the throne being passed down to him, so he authorized it to Shun. If it were passed on to Shun, everyone in the world would benefit from it and only Danzhu would be at a disadvantage; if it were passed on to Danzhu, everyone in the world would suffer and only Danzhu would benefit. Yao said: "After all, I cannot cause harm to all the people in the world and benefit only one person," so he finally passed the world to Shun. After Yao's death, three years of mourning passed, Shun abdicated the throne to Danzhu and hid on the south bank of the Nanhe River. The princes who came for pilgrimage did not go to Danzhu but only came to Shun; those who had lawsuits among them did not go to Danzhu but came to Shun as their judge; it was Shun but Danzhu who was praised by the people. Shun said, "That's Heaven's will!" Then he went to the capital and ascended to the throne. So there was the Emperor Shun.

讙兜进言共工，尧曰不可而试之工师，共工果淫辟。四岳举鲧治鸿水，尧以为不可，岳强请试之，试之而无功，故百姓不便。三苗在江淮、荆州数为乱。于是舜归而言于帝，请流共工于幽陵，以变北狄；放驩兜于崇山，以变南蛮；迁三苗于三危，以变西戎；殛鲧于羽山，以变东夷：四罪而天下咸服。

尧立七十年得舜，二十年而老，令舜摄行天子之政，荐之于天。尧辟位凡二十八年而崩。百姓悲哀，如丧父母。三年，四方莫举乐，以思尧。尧知子丹朱之不肖，不足授天下，于是乃权授舜。授舜，则天下得其利而丹朱病；授丹朱，则天下病而丹朱得其利。尧曰“终不以天下之病而利一人”，而卒授舜以天下。尧崩，三年之丧毕，舜让辟丹朱于南河之南。诸侯朝觐者不之丹朱而之舜，狱讼者不之丹朱而之舜，讴歌者不讴歌丹朱而讴歌舜。舜曰“天也夫！”而后之中国践天子位焉，是为帝舜。

10 The Heaven’s Will

A1.14

At this time, Yao was getting old, so he asked Shun to act as the emperor's political agent, so as to observe whether Shun was in line with Heaven's will as the Emperor. The first thing Shun did was to observe the Big Dipper to check if any abnormalities in the movements of the seven celestial bodies in the solar system, the sun, the moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. He then held a temporary ceremony to offer sacrifices to the Supreme Being. And he used the ritual of burning to worship the six divine beings. And also the rituals were practiced to remotely worship mountains and rivers. And various deities were generally worshiped. He respectfully collected five different kinds of jade pendants each specifically designated for the different nobles, and he carefully chose a good month and an auspicious day, then he summoned the Siyue and the governors of each state, and issued the auspicious jade pendants to each of them accordingly. In the second month of the year, Shun went to the East for inspection. After arriving at the Mountain Daizong, he used the ceremony of burning to worship the East Mountain Daizong, and the rituals were also practiced for the remote worshiping of other mountains and rivers. Then, he summoned all the princes in the East to coordinate and correct the four seasons to make sure each month and each day fit into the calendar accurately. He also made sure that the following standards are unified, the tuning of the music, the measurements of the length, of the capacity, and of the weight. And he worked on the mending of the five rituals, the auspicious ritual to serve the ghosts and gods of the country, the ominous ritual to mourn the worries of the state, the greeting ritual to be friendly with the union states, and the military ritual to be together with the union states, and the good gifts ritual to be close to all people. And he had preparations to make. The five different kinds of auspicious jade pendants, each were to be issued to five different ranks of nobles and those were Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, and Baron. And three different types of brocade, the reds were for Gaoyang’s, the offspring of the Emperor Zhuanxu, the blacks were for Gaoxin's, the offspring of the Emporer Ku, and the whites for the others. Two live sacrifices, one was a lamb, the other a wild goose. And one dead, a pheasant. All of the above were used as sincerity in the ritual. And after the ritual, all the jade pendants would be returned to the nobles. In May, the hunting tour was in the south. In August, the hunting tour was in the west. In November, the hunting tour was in the north. All were the same as before. After his return, Shun went to the temple of his ancestors, and offered an ox as a sacrifice. From now on, inspections would be held every five years. During the four years in between, all princes and lords came to the capital on time to pay their homage. Shun generally explained the principles of governing the country to the princes, clearly inspected them according to their achievements, and rewarded chariots, horses, and clothes according to their merits. Shun began to divide the world into twelve states and had the flooding rivers dredged. He stipulated that law enforcement should be based on normal punishments, and exiles should be used to reduce the following five punishments: the face tattooing, the nose cutting, the foot mutilation, the castration, and the beheading. And the whips were for the officials to use for punishment, and the rulers were for teachers for education, and gold could be used as fines. Those at fault due to natural disasters should be pardoned, those persistent in causing harm should be punished. Be cautious, be cautious, and use punishments prudently!

于是帝尧老，命舜摄行天子之政，以观天命。舜乃在璿玑玉衡，以齐七政。遂类于上帝，禋于六宗，望于山川，辩于群神。揖五瑞，择吉月日，见四岳诸牧，班瑞。岁二月，东巡狩，至于岱宗，祡，望秩于山川。遂见东方君长，合时月正日，同律度量衡，脩五礼五玉三帛二生一死为挚，如五器，卒乃复。五月，南巡狩；八月，西巡狩；十一月，北巡狩：皆如初。归，至于祖祢庙，用特牛礼。五岁一巡狩，群后四朝。遍告以言，明试以功，车服以庸。肇十有二州，决川。象以典刑，流宥五刑，鞭作官刑，扑作教刑，金作赎刑。眚灾过，赦；怙终贼，刑。钦哉，钦哉，惟刑之静哉！

9 Yu Shun

A1.13

The Emperor Yao said: "Alas! Siyue, I have been on the throne for seventy years. Which of you can obey the destiny and succeed me as emperor?" The Siyue replied, "Our virtues are so despicable that we dare not tarnish the throne." Yao said: "Then let's make recommendations, from among all the nobles, relations, and relatives, and even those who live in seclusion, near or far." Everyone said to Yao: "There is a bachelor, who lives among the common people, whose name is Yu Shun." Yao said, "Yes, I have heard about him. What is he like?" Siyue replied, "He is the son of a blind man. His father is stubborn, his mother is viscous, and his younger brother is arrogant, but Shun lived in harmony with them. He fulfilled the principle of filial piety and manage the family so well that they won't go evil." Yao said: "Then I will give him a try." So Yao married his two daughters to Shun and observed his virtues from his two daughters. Shun asked his two new wives to lower their nobility, and live in their home on the north bank by the Gui River, and abide by the ways of being wives. Yao thought this was a good thing. So Yao asked Shun to take the post of Situ, which manages the Five Canons, the five ethics and morals: the fatherly righteousness, the motherly kindness, the elder brother’s friendship, the younger brother’s respect, and the son's filial piety. He did a great job and the Five Canons were all followed and never violated. Then Shun was asked to join the rank of court officials, and with his participation, the affairs of the court officials became orderly. And he was made to greet and receive guests at the four gates of the court. And he kept the four gates in harmony, and gained praise and respect all over, from the guests and the princes, near and far. Then Yao sent Shun into the mountains, forests, rivers and swamps. There were storms, thunders and rains. And Shun was never lost. Yao thought Shun was a saint, so he called him over and said, "It has been three years, you are good at making careful plans, and had them executed well to full completion, your achievements are so obvious for everyone to see. It's time for you to ascend the throne." Shun declined by saying that his virtue was still not good enough, unwilling to accept the throne. Then on the first day of the first lunar month, Shun accepted Wenzu's abdication, Wenzu is Emperor Yao’s name for his temple as Taizu, the grand ancestor.

尧曰：“嗟！四岳：朕在位七十载，汝能庸命，践朕位？”岳应曰：“鄙德忝帝位。”尧曰：“悉举贵戚及疏远隐匿者。”众皆言于尧曰：“有矜在民间，曰虞舜。”尧曰：“然，朕闻之。其何如？”岳曰：“盲者子。父顽，母嚚，弟傲，能和以孝，烝烝治，不至奸。”尧曰：“吾其试哉。”于是尧妻之二女，观其德于二女。舜饬下二女于妫汭，如妇礼。尧善之，乃使舜慎和五典，五典能从。乃遍入百官，百官时序。宾于四门，四门穆穆，诸侯远方宾客皆敬。尧使舜入山林川泽，暴风雷雨，舜行不迷。尧以为圣，召舜曰：“女谋事至而言可绩，三年矣。女登帝位。”舜让于德不怿。正月上日，舜受终于文祖。文祖者，尧大祖也。

8 The Floods

A1.12

Yao asked: "Who is eligible to get it done?" Fangqi answered: "Your heir Danzhu is the enlightened one." Yao said: "Humph! He is stubborn and vicious, not to be used."  Yao asked again: "Then who else can?" Huandou said: "Gonggong had gathered people extensively and made achievements, so he can be the one." Yao said: "Gonggong is good at talking, but his intentions are not the good ones. He appears to be respectful but actually deceitful, so he can't be the one." Yao said again: "Alas, Siyue, the governors of four directions, now the floods are everywhere, surging and mighty, surrounding the mountains and covering hills, the people are extremely miserable. Who can be sent to control it?" Everyone said that Gun could do it. Yao said: "It's impossible. Gun betrayed his duties and destroyed his clan." The governors all said: "It's different, it won't work until you try!" Yao listened and Gun was then put to use. And after nine years trial. Gun proved useless.

尧曰：“谁可顺此事？”放齐曰：“嗣子丹朱开明。”尧曰：“吁！顽凶，不用。”尧又曰：“谁可者？”讙兜曰：“共工旁聚布功，可用。”尧曰：“共工善言，其用僻，似恭漫天，不可。”尧又曰：“嗟，四岳，汤汤洪水滔天，浩浩怀山襄陵，下民其忧，有能使治者？”皆曰鲧可。尧曰：“鲧负命毁族，不可。”岳曰：“异哉，试不可用而已。”尧于是听岳用鲧。九岁，功用不成。

7 Xi’s and He’s

A1.11

Emperor Yao ordered Xi’s and He’s, to be in charge, to show respect to and to obey Haotian, the Grand Emperor of Heaven, to count the sun, moon, and stars to make the calendar, and to respectfully teach the people the time and the seasons. Also, he assigned Xi Zhong to take residence in Yuyi, the Eastern Forest, the place was called Yanggu. And he was to respectfully welcome every sunrise and to step by step make preparations for farming in the spring. On the vernal equinox, the day would be as long as the night, stars would appear to be the shape of a bird in the south at dusk, and this was determined to be the time of mid-spring. At this time, people dispersed to farming, and birds and animals mated and gave birth. Xishu was ordered to live in Nanjiao, the Southern Crossing, And he was to make preparations for farming in the summer, diligently in every detail. On the summer solstice, the day would be the longest, and the star Great Fire would appear in the south during the first twilight, based on this, the time of mid-summer was determined. At this time, people would move to the high grounds, and birds and animals would lose feathers and furs. He Zhong was ordered to reside in Xitu, the Western Land, that place was called Meigu, And where the sun would set, to respectfully send the sundown and arrange the autumn harvest in a step-by-step manner. On the autumnal equinox, the night would be as long as the day, the star Sadalsuud would appear in the due south at the beginning of dusk. The time of mid-autumn is determined based on this. At this time, people moved to the plains, and birds and animals regenerated new feathers and furs. And He Shu was ordered to live in the north, the place was called Youdu, the Dark Capital. And he was to carefully organize the winter collection. On the winter solstice, the day is the shortest, and the stars the Pleiades, the White Tigers, would appear in the south at the first twilight, and based on this, the time of mid-winter is determined. At this time, people would go into their houses to stay warm, and birds and animals were covered with fine feathers and furs. There would be 366 days in a year, and the leap month was used to correct the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Emperor Yao sincerely warned all officials to keep their duties, and all kinds of things were done.

乃命羲、和，敬顺昊天，数法日月星辰，敬授民时。分命羲仲，居郁夷，曰旸谷。敬道日出，便程东作。日中，星鸟，以殷中春。其民析，鸟兽字微。申命羲叔，居南交。便程南为，敬致。日永，星火，以正中夏。其民因，鸟兽希革。申命和仲，居西土，曰昧谷。敬道日入，便程西成。夜中，星虚，以正中秋。其民夷易，鸟兽毛毨。申命和叔；居北方，曰幽都。便在伏物。日短，星昴，以正中冬。其民燠，鸟兽氄毛。岁三百六十六日，以闰月正四时。信饬百官，众功皆兴。

6 Emperor Yao

A1.9|10

Emperor Ku married to a daughter of Chenfeng's and gave birth to Fangxun. And Emperor Ku married to a daughter of the Juzi’s, and gave birth to Zhi. When Emperor Ku died, Zhi succeeded him. Emperor Ku got on the position but he was no good. The younger brother Fangxun then got on instead, so there was Emperor Yao.

The Emperor Yao, his name was Fangxun. His benevolence was like heaven, his knowledge was like God. He had the likeness of the sun, and the appearance of the clouds. Wealthy but not arrogant, and noble but not unpleasant. With yellow crown and black robe, and on red chariot and white horse. He was able to understand and cultivate virtues, and to be close to nine tribes. Since the nine tribes were in harmony, the people were easy to be regulated. All the people were enlightened and all nations were united.

帝喾娶陈锋氏女，生放勋。娶娵訾氏女，生挚。帝喾崩，而挚代立。帝挚立，不善，而弟放勋立，是为帝尧。

帝尧者，放勋。其仁如天，其知如神。就之如日，望之如云。富而不骄，贵而不舒。黄收纯衣，彤车乘白马。能明驯德，以亲九族。九族既睦，便章百姓。百姓昭明，合和万国。

5 Emperor Ku

A1.6|7|8

Emperor Zhuanxu had a son named Qiongchan. Zhuanxu died, and Gaoxin, Xuanxiao's grandson, became the Emperor Ku.

Gaoxin, the Emperor Ku, was the great-grandson of Huangdi. Gaoxin's father was called Jiaoji, Jiaoji's father was called Xuanxiao, and Xuanxiao's father was called Huangdi. Since Xuanxiao to Jiaoji, both did not reign, untill Gaoxin became the emperor. Gaoxin was a first cousin once removed to Zhuanxu. 

Gaoxin was born a miracle, who spoke his own name by himself. He was giving to the others, not caring for his own interests. He was full of wisdom and had the clear vision, and he was sharp and understood any subtleties.He was keen following the principles of heaven and understood the demands of the people. He was the perfect example of benevolence led to power, benefit led to trust, and self-cultivation led to the acceptance of the world. He knew well how to adapt measures to local conditions and use the materials sparingly, and he cared for the people and taught them and over and over again, and he practiced greetings and farewells following the routines of sun and moon, and he understood the spirits and gods and showed great respects for them. The complexion of his was serious and the virtue of his was impressive. Every move he made was just in time, and every clothe he wore fitted just the place. The Emperor Ku irrigated on the level and spread all over the world, everywhere the sun and moon shone, and everytime the wind and rain came, there was not a single disobedience.

帝颛顼生子曰穷蝉。颛顼崩，而玄嚣之孙高辛立，是为帝喾。

帝喾高辛者，黄帝之曾孙也。高辛父曰蟜极，蟜极父曰玄嚣，玄嚣父曰黄帝。自玄嚣与蟜极皆不得在位，至高辛即帝位。高辛于颛顼为族子。

高辛生而神灵，自言其名。普施利物，不于其身。聪以知远，明以察微。顺天之义，知民之急。仁而威，惠而信，脩身而天下服。取地之材而节用之，抚教万民而利诲之，历日月而迎送之，明鬼神而敬事之。其色郁郁，其德嶷嶷。其动也时，其服也士。帝喾溉执中而遍天下，日月所照，风雨所至，莫不从服。

4 Zhuanxu

A1.3|4|5

The Yellow Emperor had twenty-five sons, fourteen of whom received surname.

The Yellow Emperor lived on the hill of Xuanyuan and married the daughter of Xiling, who was then named Leizu. Leizu was the chief princess consort of the Yellow Emperor, and she gave birth to two sons, both of whom had descendent who later became the master of the world. One was called Xuanxiao, later was named Qingyang, and Qingyang descended to reside by the Yangtze River. The other was called Changyi, who descended to reside by the river Ruoshui. Changyi married a daughter of the Shushan clan, named Changpu, and who gave birth to Gaoyang. Gaoyang was a person of holy virtues. After the Yellow Emperor died, he was buried in Qiaoshan. His grandson, Changyi’s son, Gaoyang, became the Emperor Zhuanxu.

Gaoyang, the Emperor Zhuanxu, was the grandson of the Yellow Emperor, and the son of Changyi. He was calm, steady, and good at planning. And he was resourceful and knowledgeable, and knew how to sort things out. And he raised various crops and livestock to make full use of the land. And he was clear about the four seasons and knew how to conform to nature. And he followed the guidances of the spirits and gods to formulate etiquette and justice. And he cultivated accordingly to the elements of the seasons to educate the people. And he purified the body and mind to offer sacrifices to the spirits and gods. To the north he went to Youling, and to the south he went to Jiaozhi, and to the west he went to Liusha, and to the east he went to Panmu. Anything that in motion or at still, any gods either big or small, anywhere illuminated by the sun or the moon, all stayed in harmony with each other.

黄帝二十五子，其得姓者十四人。

黄帝居轩辕之丘，而娶于西陵之女，是为嫘祖。嫘祖为黄帝正妃，生二子，其后皆有天下：其一曰玄嚣，是为青阳，青阳降居江水；其二曰昌意，降居若水。昌意娶蜀山氏女，曰昌仆，生高阳，高阳有圣德焉。黄帝崩，葬桥山。其孙昌意之子高阳立，是为帝颛顼也。

帝颛顼高阳者，黄帝之孙而昌意之子也。静渊以有谋，疏通而知事；养材以任地，载时以象天，依鬼神以制义，治气以教化，絜诚以祭祀。北至于幽陵，南至于交阯，西至于流沙，东至于蟠木。动静之物，大小之神，日月所照，莫不砥属。

3 Huangdi

A1.2

The Yellow Emperor went east, all the way to the sea, he climbed the Mountain Wanshan and also the Mountain Daizong. And to the west, he went far to the Mountain Kongtong, and climbed the Peak Jitou, the Chicken Head. As far as to the south, he went to the Yangtze River and climbed the Mountains Xiong and Xiang. And in the north, he chased away the northern barbaric tribe Hunyu, and had a princes gathering at the Mountain Fusan, and also built a city on the plains by the foothills of the Mountain Zhuolu. He migrated from here to there, ever without any permanent residence, and the division soldiers were used as camp guards. The official positions were all named after the clouds, Yun, so there were Yun divisions. He set up great supervisors, the Dajians, one left and one right, to supervise all states. All states were in harmony. And many gods and goddess, of mountains and rivers among many other things, had been enshrined in the ceremony named Fengchan, the worships of heaven and earth. The tripod Baoding was obtained and the calendar was made according to the sun. Fenghou, Limu, Changxian, and Dahong were made as governors of the people. He systematically sorted all things out, the records of heaven and earth, the divination of dark and bright, the theory of life and death, and the survival difficulties of the beings. According to the season, the crops were sown. Birds, beasts, insects, and moths were domesticated. And the good name of the Emperor was wide spreading, among the sun, the moon, the stars, the water, the earth, the stone, the gold, and the jade. He kept working hard, heart, body, ears, and eyes. And he kept staying thrifty, with water, fire, materials, and all other things. He had showed the auspicious virtue of the earth, so he was called Huangdi, the Yellow Emperor.

东至于海，登丸山，及岱宗。西至于空桐，登鸡头。南至于江，登熊、湘。北逐荤粥，合符釜山，而邑于涿鹿之阿。迁徙往来无常处，以师兵为营卫。官名皆以云命，为云师。置左右大监，监于万国。万国和，而鬼神山川封禅与为多焉。获宝鼎，迎日推筴。举风后、力牧、常先、大鸿以治民。顺天地之纪，幽明之占，死生之说，存亡之难。时播百谷草木，淳化鸟兽虫蛾，旁罗日月星辰水波土石金玉，劳勤心力耳目，节用水火材物。有土德之瑞，故号黄帝。

2 The Son of Shaodian

A1.1 

The Yellow Emperor was the son of Shaodian. His surname was Gongsun and his given name was Xuanyuan. He was born a miracle,  started talking when still a baby, he was quick at learning in the childhood, and honest and clever when grown, and he was mature and intelligent. During the Xuanyuan period, the Shennong clan declined. The princes invaded and attacked among each other, tyrannizing the people, but Shennong was unable to conquer them. So Xuanyuan got accustomed to the weaponry and conquered those who contributed no offerings, then the princes all came to follow him. And at that time, Chiyou was the most violent one and could not be defeated. Yandi, the Flame Emperor, from the Shengnong clan, intended to invade and ravage the princes, resulted in all the princes came to follow Xuanyuan. Xuanyuan cultivated virtues and mobilized troops, studied five elememts of the seasons around the years, cultivated five kinds of crops, comforted all the people, and conquered in four directions. He trained wild animals, the ones similar to bears, lions, and tigers, to fight the Flame Emperor in the great wilderness of Banquan. After three battles, his ambition was achieved. Chiyou was a troublemaker obeying no orders from the Emperor. So the Yellow Emperor conscripted the princes, fought Chiyou in the great wilderness of Zhuolu, caputured and then killed Chiyou. And all the princes respected Xuanyuan as their emperor, in replacement of the Shennong clan, so there was Huangdi, the Yellow Emperor. If there was any disobedience in the world, Huangdi would conquer and had it removed and then created peace. Passing through mountains and building roads, he never had any rest.

司马迁·史记卷一·五帝本纪第一

黄帝者，少典之子，姓公孙，名曰轩辕。生而神灵，弱而能言，幼而徇齐，长而敦敏，成而聪明。轩辕之时，神农氏世衰。诸侯相侵伐，暴虐百姓，而神农氏弗能征。于是轩辕乃习用干戈，以征不享，诸侯咸来宾从。而蚩尤最为暴，莫能伐。炎帝欲侵陵诸侯，诸侯咸归轩辕。轩辕乃修德振兵，治五气，蓺五种，抚万民，度四方，教熊罴貔貅貙虎，以与炎帝战于阪泉之野。三战，然后得其志。蚩尤作乱，不用帝命。于是黄帝乃徵师诸侯，与蚩尤战于涿鹿之野，遂禽杀蚩尤。而诸侯咸尊轩辕为天子，代神农氏，是为黄帝。天下有不顺者，黄帝从而征之，平者去之，披山通道，未尝宁居。

1 The Complete A to Z List

The Twenty-Six Histories of China 二十六史

A. Sima Qian: Historical Records 司马迁：史记  

B. Book of Han 汉书

C. Book of the Later Han 后汉书 

D. Records of the Three Kingdoms 三国志

E. Book of Jin 晋书

F. Book of Song 宋书

G. Book of the Southern Qi 南齐书

H. Book of Liang 梁书

I. Book of Chen 陈书

J. Book of Wei 魏书

K. Book of the Northern Qi 北齐书

L. Book of Zhou 周书

M. History of the Southern Dynasties 南史

N. History of the Northern Dynasties 北史

O. Book of Sui 隋书

P. Old Book of Tang 旧唐书

Q. New Book of Tang 新唐书 

R. Old History of the Five Dynasties 旧五代史

S. New History of the Five Dynasties 新五代史

T. History of Song 宋史

U. History of Liao 辽史

V. History of Jin 金史

W. History of Yuan 元史

X. New History of Yuan 新元史

Y. History of Ming 明史

Z. Draft History of Qing 清史稿

Updating  ……