Suiren, Fuxi and Shennong are regarded as the Three Sage Kings of ancient China who made personal sacrifices to improve the lives of the people. They are known for one or more unique contributions to mankind.



Suiren who reputedly lived 18,000 years ago discovered how to make fire by drilling wood. This discovering enable mankind to eat cooked food, use fire to keep warm and ward off wild animals.

Fuxi taught people how to domesticate animals. He also taught them to make nets to catch fishes, birds and wild animals and in the process ensure the supply of food all year round. He was also responsible for creating the institution of marriage and the for a 35 strings musical instrument. His most important contribution however was the Bagua or Eight Trigram that formed the basis for the all important I Ching or Book of changes.

The last of the Sage King was Shennong – also known as Yandi. He invented many instruments for farming and taught people to grow rice, wheat, beans and two types of millet. He also devised barter trading. Lesser known is his involvement in invention of a 5 strings musical instrument.

Most people remember Shennong for his relentless effort to find remedies for illness by tasting hundreds of wild berries. Eventually one of these berries took his life.

Huangdi, Zhuanxu, Diku, Yao and Shun succeeded The Sage Kings. They were collectively known as the Five Legendary Emperors.

Huangdi have many achievements attributed to him. He had good management skills and knows how to use men of ability to help him rule the country and come out with innovations.

With the help of his many talented subjects, Huangdi developed a written language for the Chinese people. He also commissioned the compilation of “The Yellow Emperor’s Medicine Classic" which became the foundation of Chinese Medicine today. Finally we also developed a Farmer’s Calendar.

Emperor Huangdi preferred peace over war. During his time, the people experience stability and prosperity. It ushered an age of civilization in ancient China.

Zhuanxu who succeeded Huangdi was not his son. He was chosen over Huangdi’s many sons because of his outstanding ability. Zhuanxu greatest contribution was to bring law and order to the people plus consolidating the power of the central authority.

Zhuanxu was succeeded by Diku who is a great grandson of Huangdi. Diku expanded the government by creating new posts and ministries that handles specific duties. These ministries include Land, Forestry, Water, Minerals and Fire. He was a benevolent King who put his people’s welfare above himself and he conducted person inspections to see that the country was running well.

Yao was Diku’s son. He was industrious and benevolent like his father. He further developed the calendar and modified the timing of planting that resulting in bumper harvests.

After Yao come Shun who was his son in law. Shun was ill treated by his step mother and father when he was a child. Despite this he continued to be filial and this earned him a lot of respect and fame. King Yao summoned Shun to his court to assist him. Shun eventually married Yao’s daughter.

Shun divided the country into 12 states and appointed administrators for each of them. He continued to make further changes including setting up departments for land, music, farming, rites and works. Shun many contributions include drafting the five rules of etiquette for the dukes and princes to follow.

Shun was the last of the Five Legendary Kings. After Shun come Yu who founded the Xia dynasty. Today we remember Yu most for his skills in controlling flooding that wreak havoc on his people.