Yellow Emperor

A legendary emperor of ancient China, the first of the Five Emperors. He became the Son of Heaven after defeating the Chiyou Rebellion at the end of the Yan Emperor (Shennong). He is said to be the first emperor to allow mankind to enjoy a cultured life, as he created the first daily necessities such as clothing, boats, carriages, houses, and bows and arrows, as well as instituting writing, music, and calendars, and teaching people medicine by using medicinal herbs. This legend of the Yellow Emperor does not appear in ancient documents such as the Book of Documents and the Book of Songs, and is a relatively new one that was gradually formed based on various preceding myths and legends as the theory of the five elements became popular at the end of the Warring States period. In addition, he was considered the founder before Laozi by the late Taoist school, and books based on his theories were created, and the "study of Huang Lao" became popular at the beginning of the Han Dynasty. After the Later Han Dynasty, he was deified in connection with Taoism and Taoism.

[Kunio Mugiya]

"Ancient Chinese Mythology" by Mikisaburo Mori (1969, Shimizu Kobundo Shobo) ▽ "Legend of the Yellow Emperor" by Yasutarō Mori (1970, Houyu Shoten)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国古代の伝説上の帝王で、五帝の第一。炎帝（神農氏）の末に蚩尤(しゆう)の乱を平らげて天子となり、衣服、舟車、家屋、弓矢などの生活用具を初めてつくるとともに、文字、音律、暦などを制定し、また薬草を試用して人民に医術を教えるなど、人類に文化的生活を享受させた最初の帝王とされる。この黄帝伝説は『書経』『詩経』などの古文献にはみえず、戦国末の五行説の流行に伴って、先行の各種の神話伝説を基に徐々に形成された比較的新しいものである。また、道家末流によって老子に先だつ開祖とされ、その所説に付会した書がつくられて、漢初には「黄老の学」が流行した。後漢(ごかん)以降は神仙術や道教と結んで神格化された。

［麥谷邦夫］

『森三樹三郎著『中国古代神話』（1969・清水弘文堂書房）』▽『森安太郎著『黄帝伝説』（1970・朋友書店）』

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