| Part ofa series on the |
| History of China |
|---|
 |
|
Related articles |
Youyu-shi (Chinese:有虞氏), also calledYouyu clan or theYu dynasty (Chinese:虞朝), is a proposeddynasty of China that could have existed prior to theXia dynasty. The territory controlled by the Yu dynasty is hypothesized to have been located southwest ofPinglu County, inShanxi Province,China. Its last monarch is believed to beEmperor Shun.
The Yu dynasty was mentioned alongside theXia,Shang andZhou dynasties in numerous historical Chinese works, including theZuo Zhuan,Discourses of the States,Mozi,The Methods of the Sima,Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals and theBook of Rites.[1] Based on the available texts, some scholars believe that the Yu dynasty lasted much longer than the reign of theEmperor 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 theTaosi archaeological site, which is considered to be part of theNeolithicLongshan 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.[citation needed]
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 theYellow River basin.[2][3]
The existence of the Yu dynasty has been debated by historians and scholars. The lack of concrete evidence to establish connection between it and any archaeological cultures means that this pre-Xia regime remains a legend.[4] 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.
From theRecords of the Grand Historian byHan officialSima Qian:
The Hồ dynasty of Vietnam claimed descent from theEmperor Shun, throughDuke Hu of Chen. The official name adopted by the Hồ state wasĐại Ngu (大虞; lit. "Great Ngu"); "Ngu" is the Vietnamese rendition of the Chinese characteryú (虞).[5][6]
...Quý Ly claims Hồ's ancestor to beMãn the Duke Hồ [Man, Duke Hu], founding meritorious general of theChu dynasty, kingNgu Thuấn's [king Shun of Yu] descendant, created his country's name Đại Ngu...
Quí Ly deposedThiếu-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.
Prehistoric cultures of China | |
|---|---|
| Northeastern China | |
| Upper Yellow River | |
| Middle Yellow River | |
| Lower Yellow River | |
| Middle and Upper Yangtze | |
| Lower Yangtze and Huai | |
| Southern China | |
| Tibet | |
| Xinjiang | |
| Taiwan | |
| Other | |
