Youyu clan
Youyu 有虞 | |
|---|---|
| pre-c. 2,500 BCE–pre-c. 2,070 BCE | |
Map of ancient tribal confederations during the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors period. | |
| Common languages | Old Chinese |
| Government | Chiefdom |
| Ruler | |
• ? | Changyi |
• c. 2,500 BCE | Zhuanxu |
• ? | Qiongchan (窮蟬) |
• ? | Jingkang (敬康) |
• ? | Gouwang (句望) |
• ? | Qiaoniu (橋牛) |
• ? | Gusou (瞽叟) |
• c. 2120 BCE | Emperor Shun |
| Historical era | Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors |
• Established | pre-c. 2,500 BCE |
• Birth of Changyi | ? |
• Enthronement of Zhuanxu | c. 2,500 BCE |
• Emperor Yao consults the Four Mountains | c. 2258 BCE |
• Enthronement of Emperor Shun | c. 2,255 BCE - 2,120 BCE |
• Abdication of Shun | c. 2,205 - 2,070 BCE |
• Disestablished | pre-c. 2,070 BCE |
| Part of a series on the |
| History of China |
|---|
The Youyu clan (Chinese: 有虞氏) was ruled by Emperor Shun during the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors period of China. Emperor Shun would take power after Emperor Yao of the Taotang clan abdicated, believing that his virtue surpassed that of his own successors. The territory controlled by the Youyu clan is hypothesized to have been located southwest of Pinglu County, in Shanxi Province, China. The clan faded from relevance after Emperor Shun, following Yao's example, abdicated in favor of Yu the Great, starting the Xia dynasty.
The clan is sometimes interpreted as an imperial dynasty predating the Xia dynasty; in this sense, it is called the Yu dynasty (虞朝). Combined with the Xia, it is sometimes referred to as the "Yu-Xia" (虞夏) period.
In traditional historiography
Little is known about the leaders of the Youyu clan prior to Emperor Shun. Sima Qian[a] says the lineage began with Changyi, the second son of the Yellow Emperor. Changyi would bear Zhuanxu,[1] who ruled as one of the earliest hegemons of predynastic China, according to the Bamboo Annals. Zhuanxu would reside in Pu (濮), compiling astronomical records in his 13th year and composing Chengyun (承雲) in his 21st. He would die in his 28th year, after which there was a rebellion started by Shu Qi (術器), which the Marquess of Xin (辛侯) would quash.[2] Zhuanxu's son, Qiongchan, would bear Jingkang, and then from him to Gusou, little is known outside of names. By the days of Gusou, the clan was largely insignificant. Gusou, a cruel individual, would continually attempt to kill his son, Chonghua (重華), who would later be known as Emperor Shun. Despite these often elaborate attempts to kill him, Shun would nevertheless serve his parents and family with loyalty, leading to him being seen as a symbol of filial piety in later accounts.
During the twilight years of Emperor Yao, in his 70th year, he failed to raise a suitable successor that would be worthy of his own rule. He therefore consulted the Four Mountains and wished for his chancellor of such to succeed him instead. The chancellor denied, believing his moral faculty to be insufficient. Instead, he and the Four Mountains nominated Shun for the position. Some individuals, such as Gun, protested, but were swiftly put down.[3] After serving for twenty years, overcoming the test of being given consorts, Shun would become the new Emperor of China.[4]
After Shun was enthroned, he composed The Music of Dashao (大韶之樂). The first thirty years of his reign marked the formation of laws with help from Gao Yao, increased relations with the Youxia clan (有夏氏), improved enrolment in schools, and the enfeoffment of Yi Jun (義鈞) in what would become Predynastic Shang.[5] Thereafter, Shun would order Yu the Great to subjugate the Youmiao clan (有苗氏), defeating Huandou in Shun's 35th year (c. 2,247 BCE).[6][7] He would then confine Huandou on Mount Chong (宗山), banish Gonggong to You Prefecture, and imprison Gun on Feather Mountain.[8] These four events would be known as the Four Criminals. In his final years, Shun would go to Mingtiao (鳴條) to spend his final days.[5]
Dynasty debate
Early historical texts refer to Yu (虞) as a long-lasting political entity, often alongside the later Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. This has led to interpretations of them being considered a dynasty, not a predynastic polity, chiefly derived from the Book of Documents including a Book of Yu (虞典).[9]
Evidence in favor
The Yu dynasty was mentioned alongside the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties in numerous historical Chinese works, including the Zuo Zhuan, Discourses of the States, Mozi, The Methods of the Sima, Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals and the Book of Rites.[10] Texts from the Tsinghua Bamboo Slips cache have also reinforced this tie, with the excavated text The Government of Yu, Xia, Shang, and Zhou (虞夏殷周之治) being particularly notable for treating it on equal footing. This text notes that headware during this era was known as shou (首), and prioritised plainness over extravagance.[9]
Historians note that the Youyu clan appeared to have a concrete political system: It organised a significant war against the Sanmiao tribe, had the punishment of exile with respect to Gun, and a hierarchy with the consultation of the Four Mountains. There is also a music culture when considering shao music.[11] Some proponents of the theory place the Taotang clan within the Yu dynasty as a period within the broader dynasty.[12]
In 2002, Chinese historian Wang Shumin published an academic paper titled "There was a Yu dynasty before Xia, Shang and Zhou" which renewed public interest in the possible existence of a pre-Xia dynastic state in the Yellow River basin. Based on the available texts, Wang argues that the Yu dynasty lasted much longer than the reign of the Emperor Shun, and could be comparable in length to the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties that succeeded it, noting several rulers.[13][14] Since then, this model has been used in academia; for example, Ye Shuxian links the character Yu (虞) with ancient Chinese tiger culture, believing the character carries the weight of tiger totemism given its use of the hu (虎) "tiger" component.[15] The character is attested in oracle bone script on bones 華東 Huadong 3, 255, and 300.[16]
Numerous large-scale urban ruins have been uncovered at the Taosi archaeological site, which is considered to be part of the Neolithic Longshan culture, which is traditionally thought to be the site of the Youyu clan. In particular, palaces and royal tombs were also discovered at Taosi, including a pot thought to have a wen (文, known as the Zhushu Wenzi 朱書文字) written in cinnabar, further proving the possible existence of a dynastic regime based on tribal confederation.[17][18][19]
Evidence against
The existence of the Yu dynasty has been debated by historians and scholars. The lack of concrete, testable evidence to establish connection between it and any archaeological cultures means that this pre-Xia regime remains a legend.[20] There is no documented, extant writing system for the Han script prior to the Late Shang period's oracle bone script, which means that even the Xia dynasty is incapable identifying itself, let alone a Yu dynasty, which makes testing this theory extremely difficult.[21] Ergo, the Yu dynasty theory has yet to gain widespread acceptance as an archaeologically attested part of Chinese history, both within China and among Western scholars.
Lineage
From the Records of the Grand Historian by Han official Sima Qian:
- Changyi (昌意) – Zhuanxu (顓頊) – Qiongchan (窮蟬) – Jingkang (敬康) – Gouwang (句望) – Qiaoniu (橋牛) – Gusou (瞽叟) – Chonghua, the Emperor Shun (帝舜 重華)
Successor states
Enfeoffment in Chen
After defeating Di Xin at the Battle of Muye, Gui Man (妫满), a descendant of the Youyu clan, was enfeoffed in Chen by the new King Wu of Zhou. King Wu would marry his eldest daughter, Da Ji (大姬), to him. Chen's capital was located in Wanqiu (宛丘), modern-day Huaiyang County.[22][23][24]
Claim in Vietnam
The Hồ dynasty of Vietnam claimed descent from the Emperor Shun, through Duke Hu of Chen. The official name adopted by the Hồ state was Đại Ngu (大虞; lit. "Great Ngu"); "Ngu" is the Vietnamese rendition of the Chinese character yú (虞).[25][26]
See also
- History of China
- Dynasties of China
- Timeline of Chinese history
- Chinese historiography
- Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
Notes
- ^ In Records of the Grand Historian proper, Sima Qian notes that his own account likely has deficiencies, despite travelling extensively for accounts.
References
- ^ Sima, Qian. "五帝本紀". In Sturgeon, Donald (ed.). 史記 (in Literary Chinese). Chinese Text Project. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Sturgeon, Donald (ed.). "帝顓頊高陽氏". 竹書紀年 (in Literary Chinese). Chinese Text Project. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Donald Sturgeon (ed.). 韓非子. Chinese Text Project.
堯欲傳天下於舜，鯀諫曰：「不祥哉！孰以天下而傳之於匹夫乎？」堯不聽，舉兵而誅，殺鯀於羽山之郊。共工又諫曰：「孰以天下而傳之於匹夫乎？」堯不聽，又舉兵而誅，共工於幽州之都。於是天下莫敢言無傳天下於舜。仲尼聞之曰：「堯之知，舜之賢，非其難者也。夫至乎誅諫者必傳之舜，乃其難也。」一曰。「不以其所疑敗其所察則難也。」
- ^ Sturgeon, Donald (ed.). "帝堯陶唐氏". 竹書紀年 (in Literary Chinese). Chinese Text Project. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ a b Sturgeon, Donald (ed.). "帝舜有虞氏". 竹書紀年 (in Literary Chinese). Chinese Text Project. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Yüeh-hwa, Lin (1941). "The Miao–Man Peoples of Kweichow". Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies. 5 (3/4): 261–345. doi:10.2307/2717915. JSTOR 2717915.
- ^ Guo, Qiyong (2024). The Spirit of Chinese Confucianism. Fudan University Press. p. 91. doi:10.1007/978-981-99-4799-7. ISBN 978-981-99-4798-0.
- ^ Fu, Sheng. "舜典". In Sturgeon, Donald (ed.). 尚書 (in Literary Chinese). Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ a b 申圣超 Shen Shengchao & 舒大刚 Shu Dagang. 2020.中国古代社会核心价值观的构建历程及其当代启示 (解放 Jie Fang ed.). 《孔子研究》. Available at: https://www.chinakongzi.org/xsyj/xmcg/202010/t20201030_471490.htm
- ^ Book of Documents
- ^ 唐善纯 (1994). "关于虞史的初步推索". 文史知识 (2). Retrieved 2026-01-12.
- ^ 韩建业 (2010). "良渚, 陶寺与二里头——早期中国文明的演进之路". 考古 (11). Retrieved 2026-01-13.
- ^ Wang, Shumin (2002). "夏、商、周之前还有个虞朝". Hebei Academic Journal. 22 (1): 146–147. Archived from the original on 27 May 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ^ "夏朝之前，中国历史上还有一个"虞朝"吗？".
- ^ Shuxian, Ye (2025). "Chinese Tiger Culture: An Illustration". The Golden Bough VS The Jade Leaf: 137–151. doi:10.1007/978-981-95-2351-1_8.
- ^ 劉釗 Liu Zhao; 馮克堅 Fang Kejian. 甲骨文常用字字典. 中華書局. p. 286-287. ISBN 978-7-101-13568-8.
- ^ Wang 王, Xibin 隰斌; Ding 丁, Bin Ying (2016). "陶寺遗址朱书扁壶 印证华夏文明的重器". 临汾新闻网.
- ^ Wang 王, Zheng 峥; Mao 毛, Rui 睿; Leng 冷, Wei 炜 (2024). "来自四千年前！有"字"的扁壶上写的到底是啥字". 163.com. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Li 李, Yang 扬; Fu 付, Xinxin 鑫鑫; Ye 叶, Zhiming 志明; Li 李, Ling 伶 (2018). ""尧都"之证与"最初中国"之争". 文汇网. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ "世界至今没有承认虞朝的存在 却存在了1500年". guoxue.ifeng.com.
- ^ Wilkinson, Endymion (2025). Chinese History: A New Manual (7 ed.). Pleco. ISBN 978-0-9988883-2-3.
- ^ Wang, Fu. "五德志". In Sturgeon, Donald (ed.). 潛夫論 (in Literary Chinese). Chinese Text Project. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
後嗣握登，見大虹，意感生重華虞舜。其目重瞳。事堯，堯乃禪位曰：「格爾舜！天之曆數在爾躬。允執厥中，四海困窮，天祿永終。」乃受終于文祖。也號有虞。作樂《九韶》。禪位於禹。武王克殷，而封胡公媯滿於陳，庸以元女大姬。
- ^ Sima, Qian. "陳杞世家". In Sturgeon, Donald (ed.). 史記 (in Literary Chinese). Chinese Text Project. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
陳胡公滿者，虞帝舜之後也。昔舜為庶人時，堯妻之二女，居于媯汭，其後因為氏姓，姓媯氏。舜已崩，傳禹天下，而舜子商均為封國。夏后之時，或失或續。至于周武王克殷紂，乃復求舜後，得媯滿，封之於陳，以奉帝舜祀，是為胡公。
- ^ Yang, Kuan (2003). Xi Zhou Shi 西周史 [History of the Western Zhou] (in Chinese). Shanghai People's Publishing House. ISBN 978-7-208-04538-5.
- ^ Trần, Xuân Sinh (2003). Thuyết Trần. p. 403.
...Quý Ly claims Hồ's ancestor to be Mãn the Duke Hồ [Man, Duke Hu], founding meritorious general of the Chu dynasty, king Ngu Thuấn's [king Shun of Yu] descendant, created his country's name Đại Ngu...
- ^ Trần, Trọng Kim (1919). "I.III.XI.". Việt Nam sử lược. Vol. I.
Quí Ly deposed Thiếu-đế, but respected [the relationship] that he [Thiếu Đế] was his [Quí Ly's] grandson, only demoted him to prince Bảo-ninh 保寧大王, and claimed himself [Quí Ly] the Emperor, changing his surname to Hồ 胡. Originally the surname Hồ [胡 Hu] were descendants of the surname Ngu [虞 Yu] in China, so Quí Ly created a new name for his country Đại-ngu 大虞.