Secondary 1 History Revision: The Age of Legends, Yellow Emperor, and the Abdication System

Vocabulary flashcards covering key figures, battles, and concepts from the Age of Legends, the Yellow Emperor, and the abdication system of Yao, Shun, and Yu.

傳疑時代 (Age of Legends)

Ancient historical periods passed down through oral tradition that lack written records and cultural artifacts for verification, making it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction.

倉頡 (Cangjie)

The legendary figure said to have had four eyes who invented Chinese characters; archaeology has verified writing prototypes through carved symbols on ancient pottery.

嫘祖 (Leizu)

The wife of the Yellow Emperor (黃帝) who raised silkworms and unreeled silk to sew clothing.

阪泉之戰 (Battle of Banquan)

The military engagement in which the Yellow Emperor (黃帝) defeated the Yan Emperor (炎帝 / Shennong), leading to the merger of the two tribes.

涿鹿之戰 (Battle of Zhuolu)

The conflict in which the Yellow Emperor (黃帝) allied with various tribes to defeat Chiyou (蚩尤), leading to his election as the "Gongzhu" (共主 / common lord).

共主 (Gongzhu / Common Lord)

The overall leader of all tribes under heaven, a title bestowed upon the Yellow Emperor (黃帝) after his victory at the Battle of Zhuolu.

炎黃子孫 / 華夏 (Descendants of Yan and Huang / Huaxia)

The titles by which later Chinese generations refer to themselves, originating from the merger and expansion of the Yan and Huang tribes.

禪讓制度 (Abdication System)

The succession system of passing the position of common lord to a virtuous and talented sage rather than to one's own son (Yao → Shun → Yu).

堯 (Yao)

An ancient leader who lived frugally, loved the people like his own children, and tested Shun in multiple ways before passing the throne to him.

舜 (Shun)

An ancient leader renowned for filial piety who treated his parents with devotion and forgave his younger brother despite their repeated attempts to harm him.

禹 (Yu)

An ancient leader who controlled Yellow River flooding for $13$ years without entering his home three times; he succeeded by dredging channels rather than damming.

鯀 (Gun)

The father of Yu (禹) whose flood management failed because he relied on building dikes to block the water.