Lesson 3: Ancient legends （779words）

Yanhuang Alliance

In ancient times, there are myths and legends about the origin of human beings, such as "Pan Gu opened the sky", "Nu Wa mended the sky", "Hou Yi shot the sun", etc. There are also many legends about early societies. Among them, Yandi and Huangdi are the most famous legendary figures.

Four or five thousand years ago, China entered the period of tribal alliances. According to legend, at that time, the Yellow River Basin was active in several larger tribes, such as the Yandi, Huangdi, Chi You and other tribes. Between the tribes to attack, and constantly merge, and then form a tribal alliance, and the introduction of tribal alliance leader.

The Yellow Emperor united with some tribes, in the Hanquan and the Yan Emperor started a large-scale war, and finally the Yan Emperor defeated, submit to the Yellow Emperor, the two tribes formed an alliance. Later, the Yanhuang tribe and the eastern Chi You tribe in Zhuo Lu fierce battle, the Yellow Emperor tribe can use to identify the direction of the guide car, in the war drums inspired by the charge, and finally defeated Chi You, power and prestige, the Yellow Emperor was elected as the leader of the tribal alliance. This tribal alliance was gradually formed into the Chinese race, so later people respect Yandi and Huangdi as the humanistic ancestors of the Chinese nation, and Chinese at home and abroad to "Yanhuang children" to call themselves.

Legendary inventions of Yandi and Huangdi

The legendary Emperor Yandi, whose tribe was mainly active in the Wei River basin in Shanxi Province, is said to have taught the people to reclaim the land. Legend has it that the Emperor taught the people to cultivate, make production tools, grow grains and vegetables, make pottery, invent weaving, cook salt, and teach them to trade and exchange. Xi'an Hanpo, Henan Yangshao and other sites found a large number of colored pottery such as pointed-bottom bottles, jars, etc., fully proved that there was a high level of pottery-making technology. Legend has it that the Yandi also made musical instruments, and has the earliest knowledge of astronomy and calendar.

The Yellow Emperor, surnamed Gongsun, name Xuan Yuan. According to legend, the Yellow Emperor has been able to build a palace to avoid the cold and heat, making clothes, digging wells, making boats, will refine copper, and invented the bow and arrow and guide car. According to legend, in the period of the Yellow Emperor, Cang Jie created writing, Ling Lun made music, and Li Shou invented the abacus. The wife of the Yellow Emperor, Rayon, was good at weaving. And will be reeling silk.

These ancient legends, reflecting the level of social development at that time. Archaeologists in Henan, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Gansu, Zhejiang and other places to excavate the remains of water wells, cocoons and silk weaving, primitive bone flute, boat-shaped pottery pot, etc.. These discoveries testify to the level of social development in the late primitive period of China's society.

The Zen transfer of Yao, Shun and Yu

According to legend, after the Yellow Emperor, there were mainly Tao Tang, You Yu and Xia Hou tribes in the Yellow River basin. During this period, climate change led to the flooding of the Yellow River and floods. In order to resist the common disaster, the three tribes became an alliance, and Yao, Shun and Yu became the chiefs of the tribal alliance in turn. Yao, Shun and Yu became the leaders of the tribal alliance in turn. At that time, the Zen transfer system was in effect, whereby the position of tribal leader was passed to a virtuous person. Yao encouraged the people to cultivate the farmland and to cultivate it at the right time. When Yao was old, he consulted the tribal leaders and elected Shun, a man of high moral character, as his successor. During Shun's reign, he formulated criminal laws and improved the system to stabilize the situation, and sent Yu to control the water and relieve the floods. Shun gave way to Yu in his old age.

Yu's father, Father Father Jiu, had been in charge of the Yellow River flood control, but he spent 9 years without success and was executed. After accepting the responsibility of water control, Yu learned his lesson and dredged rivers and canals to divert the flood waters into the sea. After more than 10 years of hard work, he finally relieved the flooding. Yu was so well known and loved by the people that he was honored as "Great Yu". After he succeeded to the throne, he expanded the power and influence of the Xia Hou tribe.（779words）