Not all of the New Text chapters are believed to be contemporaneous with the events they describe, which range from the legendary emperors Yao and Shun to early in the Spring and Autumn period.
•
Although Confucius invoked the pre-dynastic emperors Yao and Shun, and figures from the Xia and Shang dynasties, he complained of the lack of documentation prior to the Zhou.
The new era name was drawn from an aphorism attributed to the ancient Chinese emperor, Great Shun (大舜): "Shun reads the Heavens, and so brings together all seven governments" (舜察天文、斉七政).
Danzhu, Yao's son and rightful heir, was banished and later defeated in battle.
Emperor Wenzong summoned him and asked him for advice, and he responded, "The way of Emperor Yao and Emperor Shun (two mythical emperors known for their benevolent rule) were based on kindness and frugality. I wish that Your Imperial Majesty would keep that in mind." Emperor Wenzong appreciated the advice.
Emperor | Holy Roman Emperor | Wilhelm II, German Emperor | Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor | Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor | Roman Emperor | Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor | Emperor of Japan | emperor | Roman emperor | Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor | Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor | Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor | Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor | Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor | William I, German Emperor | Hongwu Emperor | Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor | Godspeed You! Black Emperor | Yellow Emperor | Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor | Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor | German Emperor | Frederick III, German Emperor | Emperor Meiji | Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor | Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor | Emperor Wu | Emperor Taizong of Tang | Emperor of Ethiopia |
Emperor Shun of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors period, the politician Yan Ying of the Spring and Autumn Period, the Confucian scholar Zheng Xuan of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the agriculturist Jia Simiao of the Northern Wei Dynasty were all from Weifang.
Zhou, in order to flatter Emperor Wenzong, responded that he could be compared to the mythical Emperor Yao and Emperor Shun.
He asked Wang, "Are you going to kill me?" Wang responded, "I will not kill you -- just letting you live elsewhere. Do not be sad -- this is what your Liu clan did to the Sima clan as well." (This was a reference to how Emperor Shun's great-grandfather Emperor Wu had seized the throne from Jin Dynasty.