The legend of Shun

The name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: The Legend of Shun

Applicant: Qinshui County, Shanxi Province

Project No.: 1034

Project No.: I-90

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: Folk Literature

Region: Shanxi Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Qinshui County, Shanxi Province

Protection unit: Qinshui people's Cultural Center

The legend of Shun

Applicant: Qinshui County, Shanxi Province

Shun, also known as Yushun, is one of the three emperors and five emperors in mythology. In the chapter of Li Lou of Mencius: "Shun was born in Zhufeng, moved to negative Xia, and died in mingtiao; so were Dongyi people." Shun's father was blind, his mother died early, and his stepmother's son wanted to kill Shun. With the help of the second daughter of Yao, he defeated his arrogant brother Xiang. Shun is hardworking, kind-hearted, good-natured, famous for filial piety, with outstanding talent and noble personality. "In the past, Shun ploughed in Lishan, Tao was near the river, Yu was in Leize, Hui was in Changyang, Yao was in the service of Zeyang, and established himself as the son of heaven." It is said that Shun was the creator of Xiao. (Shiben · zupian) recommended by four mountains, Yao took his second daughter Shun as his wife, and the Zen emperor was located in Shun. Shun gave Yu the title of the world. Later, he went to the south for hunting and collapsed in the field of Cangwu. He was honored as the God of spring and agriculture.

The legend of Shun is widely spread in many parts of the country. People all over the country linked Shun's birth, career, moral character, and related place names, tombs, and customs with him. They weaved and attached various myths and legends to praise his ideas of morality, filial piety, loyalty to the king, and governing the country. The legends of Dashun spread in Zhufeng village of Shandong Province mainly include: strange birth, the origin of Dashun's name, mother dying to teach children, stepmother framing Shun three times, Yao testing Shun three times, etc. The Lishan area in the west of Qinshui County, Shanxi Province, is considered to be Lishan where Shun worked. The legends in this area mainly include: The Legend of Shun farming to control Lishan, the legend of Shun's life and marriage, and the legend of Shun's origin with local plants and place names.

There are many records of Shun's myths and legends in historical books, and the spread of Confucianism has added vitality. It reflects the primitive tribal society and farming civilization, has the value of cultural and historical research. The Chinese virtues and traditional thoughts it extols are still the precious heritage of building a harmonious society.