. The awakening of China . r a reign offifty years, partly as Yaos associate. Shun followedthe example of his father-in-law. Passing by his ownson, he left the throne to Ta-yu or Yu, a man whohad been subjected to trials far more serious than thatof having to live in the same house with a pair of prettyprincesses. A question discussed in the school of Mencius,many centuries later, may be cited here for the lightit throws on the use made by Chinese schoolmen ofthe examples of this period. Suppose, said oneof his students, that Shuns father had killed aman, would Shun, being king, have allowed h
. The awakening of China . r a reign offifty years, partly as Yaos associate. Shun followedthe example of his father-in-law. Passing by his ownson, he left the throne to Ta-yu or Yu, a man whohad been subjected to trials far more serious than thatof having to live in the same house with a pair of prettyprincesses. A question discussed in the school of Mencius,many centuries later, may be cited here for the lightit throws on the use made by Chinese schoolmen ofthe examples of this period. Suppose, said oneof his students, that Shuns father had killed aman, would Shun, being king, have allowed him to becondemned? No, replied the master; he wouldhave renounced the throne and, taking his father onhis shoulders, he would have fled away to the seaside,rejoicing in the consciousness of having performedthe duty of a filial son. Shun continues to be citedas the paragon of domestic virtues, occupying thefirst place in a list of twenty-four who are noted forfilial piety. The trial by which the virtues of Ta-yu were proved. THE MYTHICAL PERIOD 75 was an extraordinary feat of engineering—^nothingless than the subduiftg of the waters of a waters, said the King, embosom the highhills and insolently menace heaven itself. Who willfind us a man to take them in hand and keep themin place? His ministers recommended one failed to accomplish the task, and Shun, who inthis case hardly serves for the model of a just ruler,put him to death. Then the task was imposed onTa-yii, the son of the man who had been nine years of incredible hardships he broughtthe work to a successful termination. During thistime he extended his care to the rivers of more than oneprovince, dredging, ditching, and diking. Three timeshe passed his own door and, though he heard thecries of his infant son, he did not once enter hishouse. The son of a criminal who had suffereddeath, a throne was the meed of his diligence andability, A temple in Hanyang, at the confluence of tworivers,
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