The Three Sovereigns
The Three Sovereigns, sometimes known as the Three August Ones, were said to be god-kings or demigods who used their magical powers to improve the lives of their people. Because of their lofty virtue they lived to a great age and ruled over a period of great peace.
The Three Sovereigns are ascribed various identities in different Chinese historical texts. The Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian states that they were:
- The Heavenly Sovereign that ruled for 18,000 years;
- The Earthly Sovereign that ruled for 11,000 years;
- The Human Sovereign that ruled for 45,600 years,
The Yundou shu and Yuanming bao identify them as:
- Fuxi
- Nüwa
- Shennong
Both Fuxi, and also Nüwa, are the god and goddess husband and wife credited with being the ancestors of humankind after a devastating flood. The invention of the Primal Arrangement of the Eight Trigrams (Xian Tian Ba Gua) is attributed to Fuxi. Shennong invented farming and is the first to use herbs for medical purposes.
The I Ching, starts like this: “In the old times of King Fuxi’s regime, he observed sky and the stars when he looks upwards, and researched the earth when he looks downwards, and watched the birds and beasts to see how they live in their environment. He took examples from nearby and far away, and then made 8 Yin Yang signs to simulate the rules of universe...After Fuxi died, Shennong rises. He made Plow and teach people how to raise crops and fishing. He invented money and market for the exchange of goods."
The Shangshu dazhuan and Baihu tongyi replace Nüwa with Suiren , the inventor of fire. The Diwang shiji replaces Nüwa with the Yellow Emperor , the supposed ancestor of all Han Chinese people.
