Yao Abdicates to Shun

Rule by Merit

Emperor Yao tested and chose the virtuous Shun as successor rather than his own son.

When Emperor Yao grew old he asked the Four Mountains who might inherit the throne, and they named the common man Shun. Yao tested Shun with daughters, duties and dangers for decades, then abdicated rather than leave the realm to his own son. Shun in turn chose Yu the Great — and the pattern of passing power to the most worthy became the founding ideal of Chinese politics.