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*''Chinese/Japanese'': 舜 ''(Shùn / Shun)''
Shun the Great was one of the legendary [[Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors]] of China.
Shun the Great was one of the legendary [[Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors]] of China.
In accordance with a practice of "succession by invitation," he was chosen by [[Emperor Yao]] to succeed him, instead of Yao's son [[Danzhu]]. Shun, in turn, selected [[Yu the Great]] rather than his own son Yi to succeed him, after Yu played a significant role in controlling a great flood. Succeeding Shun as ruler, Yu then established the [[Xia Dynasty]], the first of the legendary dynasties of China.
In accordance with a practice of "succession by invitation," he was chosen by [[Emperor Yao]] to succeed him, instead of Yao's son [[Danzhu]]. Shun, in turn, selected [[Yu the Great]] rather than his own son Yi to succeed him, after Yu played a significant role in controlling a great flood. Succeeding Shun as ruler, Yu then established the [[Xia Dynasty]], the first of the legendary dynasties of China.
Shun is one of the most oft-cited examples of a legendary Confucian [[sage-king]], and is said to have exemplified as well the [[Taoism|Taoist]] notion of ''[[wu wei]]'' (non-action). According to these references, his virtue was so great that he exerted a moral force purely through his virtue and accord with Heaven (and with the Tao). Rather than ruling through action, he merely faced south, metaphorically facing the entire realm & all his subjects, and thus, simply through his great virtue, effected an orderly and flourishing state.
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==References==
==References==
*K.C. Chang, ''Art, Myth, and Ritual'', Harvard University Press (1983), 120.
*K.C. Chang, ''Art, Myth, and Ritual'', Harvard University Press (1983), 120.
*Albert Craig, ''The Heritage of Chinese Civilization'', Third Edition, Prentice Hall (2011), 21.
[[Category:Emperors]]
[[Category:Emperors]]
[[Category:Mythology]]
[[Category:Mythology]]
