According to tradition, Emperor Yao gave up his black sheep Dani and gave up the position of * * * the Lord of the world to the virtuous Emperor Shun, who also gave up his incompetent son Shang Jun and gave up the position of the son of heaven to Dayu. This practice of passing on the throne by virtue is called abdication. However, how true is this statement? Confucian scholars in later generations advocated abdication, and the earliest record was The Book of History written by Confucius and his disciples. However, Confucianism is not a historian after all. Confucianism advocates the rule of courtesy, emphasizes the traditional ethical relationship, and pays special attention to the ethical relationship between people, so it strongly advocates the so-called "Datong" society.
There are two diametrically opposite views on "abdication": Han Feizi and Zhu Nian. "Everything is done by Yi Shuo" records: Shun forced Yao, Yu forced Shun, Jie and Zhou; These four heavenly kings are also famous all over the world.
"Bamboo Chronicle" records that in the last years of Yao, his morality was corrupted and he was imprisoned by Shun. Shun imprisoned Yao, suppressed him and prevented him from seeing his father. Shun imprisoned Yao in Pingyang and seized the throne.
Everyone knows that Han Feizi is the representative of legalist thought, and legalists can't invent any ideal society; Annals of Bamboo Books is a historical book of Wei in the Warring States Period, which is hundreds of years earlier than Sima Qian's Historical Records, and it is the official history of the country (historical records are not the official history of the country). Sima Qian quoted Historical Records Shangshu to record the story of abdication. However, some historical materials, especially Oracle Bone Inscriptions's discovery, have proved many mistakes in Historical Records. On the contrary, Oracle Bone Inscriptions's records are strikingly consistent with the contents of bamboo chronicles.
The tradition of carrying on the family line was formed before the Yao and Shun era, and Yao and Shun could not suddenly "abdicate". According to records, the Yellow Emperor passed it on to his grandson Zhuan Xu, Zhuan Xu to his nephew Di Ku, and Di Ku to his son Wei Yao, all of whom were heartless people. Judging from the genealogy of God, it is basically the son who inherits his father's business, and Yao is also a descendant of the Yellow Emperor. Because his brother was ignorant, he was made a monarch by the princes. After that, it was recognized as "home is the world". Therefore, it is not unreasonable for there to be such a vacuum period of abdication in history.
Huangdi Zhuan Xu Di Ku Yao Shunyu
Let's look at the relationship between the five emperors:
From the above picture, we can clearly see the blood relationship between Huangdi, Zhuan Xu, Yao and Shun, but Shun is the grandson of Huangdi's grandson, and later it is mostly collateral. In his generation, he was an ordinary person, just as we said that we were descendants of the Chinese people, and the historical records said that "from Qiong Chan to Shun Di, we were all little Shu Ren". Therefore, before Shun, it was handed down by (an uncle). If Shun also abdicated before, then "abdication" still has certain credibility. Later, Yao abdicated to Shun and Shun abdicated to Yu. After Yu, this family spread to. Therefore, the only "extinction" of these two eras is placed in the long river of history, and it is difficult to stand up.
Ironically, Yao Shunyu was so full of bloody abdication that later generations followed suit. In history, the ten "abdication" events recorded by * * * include the following eight times: in 8 years, the obedient baby of the Western Han Dynasty was abdicated by Wang Mang of the new dynasty; In 220, the Eastern Han Emperor Liu Xie abdicated to Cao Weiwen and Cao Pi; In 265, Cao Wei Yuan Emperor Cao Huan abdicated to the Western Jin Emperor Sima Yan; In 420, Sima Wende of the Eastern Jin Dynasty abdicated to Emperor Wudi of the Southern Song Dynasty; In 479, Liu Zhun, Shun Di of Southern Song Dynasty, abdicated to Xiao Daocheng, Emperor of Southern Qi Dynasty; In 502, Xiao Baorong, the Emperor of Qi in the Southern Dynasties, abdicated to the Southern Dynasties; In 557, the Southern Liang Emperor Xiao was ceded to the Southern Chen; In 58 1 year, Emperor Jing of the Northern Zhou Dynasty abdicated to Emperor Wen of Sui Dynasty. Among them, Cao Pi blurted out a sentence after accepting the abdication of Emperor Xian of Han Dynasty: "Shun Yu once Zen, and now I know", which shows that the heroes of later generations have already seen through the truth of Yao Shun's abdication, but no one said it.
Archaeological excavations in recent years show that there is a very serious polarization between the rich and the poor in the Yao, Shun and Yu era, and it has entered a class society. Different levels can be clearly seen from the number of tomb rules and funerary objects. As early as 3,000 years ago, Yao, Shun and Yu discovered human martyrdom in Xishuipo and Chengtoushan sites. Human martyrdom is an important symbol of human entering class society. Even in primitive society, it is inevitable that even monkeys will have a monkey king. If you lose a bone, several dogs will fight for it desperately. The legend of extinction is too gentle and idealistic. The succession of Yao, Shun and Yu is not so much an unrealistic abdication as a power struggle between the Regent and the son of the monarch. Even in legend, Shun Di and Dayu often gathered governors to wage war and even beheaded important officials who refused to obey. Their authority, power and authority are not possessed by tribal leaders in primitive society.
So I judge that Yao Shunyu's abdication is some beautiful and idealized stories adapted by Confucian scholars. In fact, I think that even if they usurp power, Shun and Yu are both saints and wise kings. Just like Li Shimin, he killed his brother by violence, shot his brother, persecuted his father and seized power in the bloodiest way. But he started a new era and benefited the Lebanese people, and later generations still praised him. There are Shang Tang and Zhou Wuwang mentioned by Han Feizi, both of whom are regicide ministers, but they are admired by the world. So these Confucian scholars don't have to hide this reality.
I hope more archaeological excavations can find more powerful and direct evidence to prove whether Yao Shunyu abdicated or usurped the throne.