Youyu-shi

Youyu-shi (Chinese: 有虞氏), also called Youyu clan or the Yu dynasty (Chinese: 虞朝), was a ruling dynasty of China that could have existed prior to the Xia dynasty. The territory controlled by the Yu dynasty is hypothesized to have been located southwest of Pinglu County, in Shanxi Province, China. Its last monarch is believed to be Emperor Shun.

Debate over existence

Evidence in favor

The Yu dynasty was mentioned alongside the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties in numerous historical Chinese works, including the Zuo Zhuan, Discourses of the States, Mozi, The Methods of the Sima, Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals and the Book of Rites.[1] Based on the available texts, some scholars believe that the Yu dynasty lasted much longer than the reign of the Emperor Shun, and could be comparable in length to the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties that succeeded it.

Numerous large-scale urban ruins have been uncovered at the Taosi archaeological site, which is considered to be part of the Neolithic Longshan culture. In particular, palaces and royal tombs were also discovered at Taosi, further proving the possible existence of a dynastic regime based on tribal confederation.

In 2002, Chinese historian Wang Shumin published an academic paper titled "There was a Yu dynasty before Xia, Shang and Zhou" which renewed public interest in the possible existence of a pre-Xia dynastic state in the Yellow River basin.[2]

Evidence against

Like the Xia dynasty, the existence of the Yu dynasty has been debated by historians and scholars. The lack of concrete evidence and archaeological findings in support of the Yu dynasty means that this pre-Xia regime remains a legend.[3] As such, the Yu dynasty has yet to gain widespread acceptance as a factual part of Chinese history, both within China and among Western scholars. No accurate timeframe has yet been assigned to the Yu dynasty.

Lineage

From the Records of the Grand Historian by Han official Sima Qian:

• Changyi (昌意) – Zhuanxu (颛顼) – Qiongchan (穷蝉) – Jingkang (敬康) – Gouwang (句望) – Qiaoniu (桥牛) – Gusou (瞽叟) – Chonghua, the Emperor Shun (帝舜 重华)

Related dynasty

The Hồ dynasty of Vietnam claimed descent from the Emperor Shun, through Duke Hu of Chen. The official name adopted by the Hồ state was Đại Ngu (大虞; lit. "Great Ngu"); "Ngu" is the Vietnamese variant of the Chinese character yú (虞).[4][5]

See also

• History of China
• Timeline of Chinese history
• Dynasties in Chinese history
• Chinese historiography
• Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
• Hồ dynasty

References

1. Book of Documents
2. "夏朝之前，中国历史上还有一个"虞朝"吗？".
3. "世界至今没有承认虞朝的存在 却存在了1500年". guoxue.ifeng.com.
4. Trần, Xuân Sinh (2003). Thuyết Trần. p. 403. ...Quý Ly claims Hồ's ancestor to be Mãn the Duke Hồ [Man, Duke Hu], founding meritorious general of the Chu dynasty, king Ngu Thuấn's [king Shun of Yu] descendant, created his country's name Đại Ngu...
5. Trần, Trọng Kim (1919). "I.III.XI.". Việt Nam sử lược. Vol.I. Quí Ly deposed Thiếu-đế, but respected [the relationship] that he [Thiếu Đế] was his [Quí Ly's] grandson, only demoted him to prince Bảo-ninh 保寧大王, and claimed himself [Quí Ly] the Emperor, changing his surname to Hồ 胡. Originally the surname Hồ [胡 Hu] were descendants of the surname Ngu [虞 Yu] in China, so Quí Ly created a new name for his country Đại-ngu 大虞.