Chinese Legends Of Emperors Of China

For a full list of pages, more than 100, which are available on this Web Site,
then please click... Show Me !...

10th February, 2001

Chinese Legends From Ancient China. How The World Was Formed. Emperor Huangdi Subdues Four Conspiring Emperors. A Song About Zhun Shi Hao

Chinese Legends, translated for me by my friend, Yin Cheng Chang of Hunan Province, because whenever I visit China, I am always buying books about them ! I hope you will enjoy reading them as much as I have done.

"EMPEROR HUANGDI FIGHTS HIS BROTHER"

Emperor Yangdi shared the country with his half brother Emperor Huangdi. Huangdi ruled by virtue, but Yangdi did not. They fought a battle in the Plain Of Zhulu where so much blood was shed that weapons floated on it.
(Yi Shi - A Book of History.)

Emperor Huangdi fought Emperor Yangdi in the Plain Of Banquan (also called Plain Of Zhulu) His vanguard was made up of bears, wolves, pheasants, eagles and kites.
(Lie Zi - Writings Of Lie Yu Kou.)

Story One

"PANGU SEPARATES THE SKY FROM THE EARTH"

The sky and the earth were at first one blurred entity, like an egg. Pangu was born into it. The separation of the sky and the earth took eighteen thousand years; the Yang which was light and pure rose to become the sky, and the Yin which was heavy and murky sank to form the earth. Between them was Pangu, who went through nine changes every day, his wisdom greater than that of the sky and his ability greater than that of the earth. Every day the sky rose ten feet higher, the earth became ten feet thicker, and Pangu grew ten feet taller.

Another eighteen thousand years passed, and there was an extremely high sky, an extremely thick earth and an extremely tall Pangu. Then came the three Emperors. So these numbers came into existence and evolved like this:- The numbers begin with one, become established as three, are completed at five, prosper at seven and end in nine. So the sky is ninety thousand li from the earth.

Story Two

"PANGU TURNS INTO MYRIADS OF THINGS"

Pangu, who was born before anything else, underwent great bodily changes when he was dying. His breath became the winds and clouds, his voice thunder, his left eye the moon, his arms and legs the four poles of the earth, and the five parts of his body, the five mountains. His blood formed the rivers and his veins the roads. His flesh and skin became the soil of the fields and his hair and moustache the stars. The fine hair on his skin turned into grasses and trees, his teeth and bones became metals and rocks. His marrow changed to pearls and jade and his sweat fell as rain that nourished all things. The insects on his body, caressed by the winds, took the shape of men and women.

Story Three

"NUWA MAKES MEN"

It is said that there were no men when the sky and the earth were separated. It was Nuwa who made men by moulding yellow clay. The work was so taxing, that her strength was not equal to it, so she dipped a rope into the mud and then lifted it. The mud that dripped from the rope also became men. Those made by moulding yellow clay were rich and noble, while those made by lifting the rope were poor and low.

Story Four

"NUWA MENDS THE SKY"

In ancient times, the four corners of the sky collapsed and the world with its nine regions split open. The sky could not cover all the things under it, nor could the earth carry all the things on it. A great fire raged and would not die out; a fierce flood raced about and could not be checked; savage beasts devoured innocent people, and vicious birds preyed on the weak and old.

The Nuwa melted rocks of five colours and used them to mend the cracks in the sky. She supported the four corners of the sky with legs which she had cut off a giant turtle. She killed the black dragon to save the people of Jizhou, and blocked the floods with the ashes of reeds. Thus the sky was mended, its four corners lifted, the flood tamed, Jizhou pacified, harmful birds and beasts killed, and the innocent people were able to live on the square earth under the dome of the sky. It was the time when birds, beasts, insects and snakes no longer used their claws or teeth or poisonous sting, for they did not want to catch or eat weaker things.

Nuwa's deeds benefited the heavens above and the earth below. Her name was remembered by later generations and her light shone on every creation. Now she was travelling on a thunder-chariot drawn by a two winged dragon and two green hornless dragons, with auspicious objects in her hands and a special mattress underneath her. She was surrounded by golden clouds, a white dragon leading the way and a flying snake following behind.

Floating freely over the clouds, she took ghosts and gods to the ninth heaven and had an audience with the Heavenly Emperor at Lin Men, where she rested in peace and dignity under the Emperor. She never boasted of her achievements, nor did she try to win any renown; she wanted to conceal her virtues, in line with the ways of the universe.

Story Five

"EMPEROR HUANGDI LOSES HIS BLACK PEARL"

Emperor Huangdi travelled to the northern side of the Chishui River and climbed the Kunlun Mountains. On the way back he lost his black pearl. He sent Zhi, a clever god, to find it, but Zhi failed. Then he sent Lizhu, a god with a sharp eye, who also failed. Then he sent Chigou, a god good at debating, who again failed. Finally he sent Xiangwang, a careless absent-minded god, and Xiangwang found it. "It is really strange", the Emperor exclaimed, "that Xiangwang should have got it !"

Story Six

"EMPEROR HUANGDI SUBDUES FOUR OTHER EMPERORS"

In the early days of his reign Emperor Huangdi was devoted to self-cultivation, he loved his people and had no interest in warfare. Four chiefs, claimed that they were the Blue Emperor, the Red Emperor, the White Emperor and the Black Emperor, according to the colour of the direction that each of them was situated. The four conspired together and daily harassed the frontier areas. The soldiers were always on the alert, unable to take off their helmets and armour for a moment. Emperor Huangdi said "If the King is not safe, his subjects will have no security. If the King loses his country, his officials will serve other rulers just like women re-marrying other men. Is such a disaster not caused by giving the enemy too much freedom ? Now I am ruler of all the people, but the bandits dare to defy me and provoke my troops frequently."

So he went to the frontier forts and subdued the four Emperors.

Finally, here is a translation of a Chinese Song sent to me by my friend Zhong Ri Sheng of Guangxi Province.

Zhun Shi Hao leaves his family and friends,
Works hard to earn a living,
His life is like an actor's,
His face does not sure the feelings of his heart and mind.
Rice wine is his comfort to sleep,
He thinks of the brave sailors,
Fighting through wind and rain.
In his half-sleep he hears the sailors say,
"This heartache does not matter,
Don't fear for the future,
At least we can still have our dreams."
Zhun Shi Hao wipes away his tears.
Don't ask why !

If you are interested in further China topics, such as...
Wise Man Brings Prosperity For New Year In Beijing...
New Year Temple Fair In Dalian...
Temple Fair In Beijing...
Temple Fair, Grand View Gardens...
Temple Fair Food And Snacks...
...then just click them or the blue links below !

CHINA HOME | Other Pages | Map Sections | Chinese Children | VIETNAM HOME
Send me email

Chinese soldiers at Friendship Gate, Pingxiang