| | 五帝本纪: |
尧曰：“嗟！四岳：朕在位七十载，汝能庸命，践朕位？”岳应曰：“鄙德忝帝位。”尧曰：“悉举贵戚及疏远隐匿者。”众皆言于尧曰：“有矜在民闲，曰虞舜。”尧曰：“然，朕闻之。其何如？”岳曰：“盲者子。父顽，母嚚，弟傲，能和以孝，烝烝治，不至奸。”尧曰：“吾其试哉。”于是尧妻之二女，观其德于二女。舜饬下二女于妫汭，如妇礼。 |
| Annals of the Five...: |
Yao said, 'Alas! O president of the four mountains, I have been on the throne seventy years; you are able to carry out the decrees, do you occupy my throne.' The president replied, 'My moral qualities are of such a low order that I should disgrace the Imperial throne.' Yao said, 'You must all recommend one of your esteemed relations, or even an obscure stranger.' All the courtiers said to Yao, 'There is an unmarried man of the lower orders called Shun of Yu.' Yao said, 'Yes, I have heard of him, what is he like?' The president said, 'He is the son of a blind man; his father was unprincipled, his mother insincere, and his brother arrogant, but he managed by his dutiful conduct to be reconciled to them, so they have gradually improved, and not been extremely wicked.' 'Shall I try him?' said Yao. He then married his two daughters to Shun, and watched his behaviour towards them. Shun sent the two women down to the north of the Gui river, and treated them with the ceremony due to them as his wives. |
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尧善之，乃使舜慎和五典，五典能从。乃遍入百官，百官时序。宾于四门，四门穆穆，诸侯远方宾客皆敬。尧使舜入山林川泽，暴风雷雨，舜行不迷。尧以为圣，召舜曰：“女谋事至而言可绩，三年矣。女登帝位。”舜让于德不怿。正月上日，舜受终于文祖。文祖者，尧大祖也。 |
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Yao praised Shun, and told him to carefully harmonize the five human relationships and when they could be obeyed. These became universal among the various officials, who at the proper times arranged the visitors at the four gates in the right order, and when the visitors at the four gates were submissive, the princes and strangers from distant regions became one and all respectful. Yao sent Shun into the hills and forests among rivers and swamps, but although fierce winds and thunderstorms prevailed, Shun did not miss his way. Yao then taking Shun to be a holy man, called him and said, 'For three years your deliberations have been excellent, and I have found that your words can be carried into practice. You shall ascend the Imperial throne.' Shun yielded in favour of some one more virtuous than himself, and was unhappy, but on the first day of the first month Shun accepted Yao's resignation in the temple of the accomplished ancestor, who was Yao's great ancestor. |
