The Story:

Great Yao was an Emperor both humane and virtuous. Under his rule, the citizens of China were both obedient and harmonious. They looked up to their Emperor and treated him as respectfully as they did their own parents. Yao, however, had grown old, and decided to request his military and civilian cabinet ministers to select a wise and worthy successor, so that he could hand down the duty of ruling all of China to him. The Emperor's advisors told him, "There is a devoted filial son at Li Mountain named Shun. Although his family does not get along, he still treats them with a proper attitude of respect and affection. His father, Gu Sou, is unreasonable, and harsh. His step-mother is petty by nature, and constantly abuses and scolds her son. Shun's step-brother, Xiang, is arrogant and lazy and is jealous of his older brother. Living in such a family, Shun manages to not resent them; he behaves as a devoted son and brother should."

The ministers told the Emperor, "One day Shun's stepmother and stepbrother threw him into the well and left him there. Shun's devotion to filial respect does, however, inspire the heavens and the earth to respond. A dragon came down to the well and Shun rode the dragon out because the Heavens approves of his righteous attitude, especially in the face of hardship, as in the case of his impossible family situation."

Hearing about Shun's filial conduct inspired Emperor Yao to dispatch nine of his sons to assist Shun. He instructed his daughters, named E Huang and Nü Ying to serve Shun as his wives. The Emperor put the young man through years of training and testing, and when he felt satisfied with his capabilities, he bestowed the throne of Emperor on him, and retired from the duties of ruling China. Under Shun's guidance, the people of China prospered. Following his virtuous influence, all creatures enjoyed peace and happiness. Such were the manifold benefits of a proper attitude of filial respect.