14 Bakai, Bayuan, and Four Devils

A1.21|22

There were eight talented and virtuous descendants in the Gaoyang family. The world benefited from them and called them Bakai, which means eight joys of harmony. And there were eight talented and virtuous descendants in Gaoxin family, who were called Bayuan by the world, which means eight elements of kindness. The people of these sixteen families had maintained the virtues of their ancestors from generation to generation and have not lost the reputation of their ancestors. When Yao came, he did not use them. Shun appointed Bakai to hold official positions in charge of the land to handle various affairs, which were all handled in an orderly manner. Shun also promoted Bayuan and asked them to spread the Five Canons in all directions, so that the father would be righteous, the mother would be loving, the elder brother would be friendly, the younger brother would be respectful, the son would be filial, the family would be harmonious, and the relationship between neighbors would be also good.

In Emperor Hong's family, there was an unworthy descendant who concealed his benevolence and righteousness, harbored ruthless thieves, and was fond of doing evil. People in the world called him Hundun, the chaos, which means that he was barbaric and uncivilized. And the Shaohao family had a descendant who was unworthy, who broke faith, hated loyalty, and liked evil words. People all over the world called him Qiongqi, which means that he was extremely weird. The Zhuanxu family also had an unworthy descendant, who could not be taught and did not know the good or the bad. People all over the world called him Tao Zhu, which means that he was fierce and stubborn. The world was afraid of these three tribes. When Yao came, he did not get rid of them. And also the Jinyun family had an unworthy descendant who was always hungry for food and wealth. People in the world called him Taotie, which means he was greedy. People in the world hated him, he and the three others mentioned above, together they were called the four devils. And when Shun was greeting and receiving guests from all over the four gates, he exiled all these four evil families and drove them far away to the remote areas to resist the evil spirits. From then on, the four gates were clear, and everyone said that there were no more evil people.

昔高阳氏有才子八人，世得其利，谓之“八恺”。高辛氏有才子八人，世谓之“八元”。此十六族者，世济其美，不陨其名。至于尧，尧未能举。舜举八恺，使主后土，以揆百事，莫不时序。举八元，使布五教于四方，父义，母慈，兄友，弟恭，子孝，内平外成。

昔帝鸿氏有不才子，掩义隐贼，好行凶慝，天下谓之浑沌。少皞氏有不才子，毁信恶忠，崇饰恶言，天下谓之穷奇。颛顼氏有不才子，不可教训，不知话言，天下谓之梼杌。此三族世忧之。至于尧，尧未能去。缙云氏有不才子，贪于饮食，冒于货贿，天下谓之饕餮。天下恶之，比之三凶。舜宾于四门，乃流四凶族，迁于四裔，以御螭魅，于是四门辟，言毋凶人也。