A Passage to China (走近中国) - The Chinese Legends

The Chinese civilization, as we mentioned above, originated along the Yellow River, providing abundant water and the fertility of the yellow earth forever created from it. The Chinese civilization is rich not only in anthropological excavations, but also in the legends as follows from the earliest times of the Chinese history.

Pangu

Pangu, regarded as the Chinese Adam by westerners, is the first legendary figure in Chinese history. It is said that he was born from a large egg, with the interactions of opposing forces between Yin, the passive, negative and the earth, and Yang, the active, positive and the sky. For eighteen thousand years, he labored with the dragon, phoenix, tortoise and the unicorn, chiseling the earth. After his death, his flesh became the soil of the earth, his eyes the sun and the moon, his blood the river, sweet from his labor the rain, and the parasites feeding on his body the human race. Three Sovereigns followed Pangu.

Fu Xi

Fu Xi taught people how to devise tools to split wood, kindle fire and cook food, and how to hunt, fish domesticate animals and tend their flicks. He invented writing according to the legend. He instituted marriage and devised the mysterious medicine, divination and geomancy, as clues to the secrets of creation such as the evolution of nature and its cyclic changes.
Shen Nong – Shen Nong followed Fu Xi as the Divine Farmer, inventing the wooden plow, teaching people the art of agriculture, earning him the name of “The Prince of Cereals” by farmers. He also experimented with plants for remedies, resulting in his The Classic of Shen Nong’s Botany still in use today. It is believed that tea was discovered in 2737 BC by Shen Nong.

Huang Di

Huang Di followed Shen Nong as the ancestor of the Chinese nation, after having defeated Chiyou, the leader of barbarian tribes. He invented the wheel, and built roads, bridges and ships, greatly improving the communications. Precious stones, gold and copper were introduced to serve as money in his reign.
The five Earthly Emperors – The five Earthly Emperors in the Chinese legendary period were Shaohao, leader among the Yi people in East China, having officials responsible for both industry and agriculture; Zhuanxu, showing respect for gods by offering sacrifices and managing people by appointing an official in charge of the civil affairs; Gaoxin, possessing both a macro- and micro-knowledge, gaining a high prestige; Yao, with the contributions to lunar calendar, helping the agriculture; and Shun, with great virtue. The documented history of dynasties then follows.

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