Shun

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One of the ancient Chinese emperors (See Chinese Emperors) who form a part of Chinese mythology as well as history (See Chinese Deities, Chinese Mythology), Shun was the successor of Yao (See Yao), considered by the Chinese to be the ancestor of the Han emperors. It was Yao who named the pious Shun the heir to his throne. Shun is a model of Confucian (See Confucius) values. The myths and legends surrounding Shun are many. It is said that a blind peasant named Gu Sou dreamed of a phoenix who carried rice to him and said he would become his child and that soon after, the peasant's wife gave birth to Shun. Shun was remarkable for having two pupils in each eye, which led to his being called Chong Hua as well as Shun. When Shun's mother died and the father remarried, this time to a woman with her own children, Shun's life became one of great suffering. Longing for his mother, the boy left home and lived in a small hut. There he sang of his lost mother and so moved the people that they gave him land and good fishing spots. Eventually he prospered and was adopted by the Emperor Yao, who gave the former peasant his two daughters as wives. With the help of heavenly magic and his loyal wives, Shun was able to overcome his family's attempts to murder him. The Emperor now devised a series of tests for the man who had been recommended as his successor. Helped by his loyal wives, Shun succeeded in all of the tests and was named Yao's heir. After a reign in which evil was expelled from the kingdom and goodness established, Shun died and was buried in the Jiuyi Mountains.