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Gaoyao
Traditional chief of justice under Shun, whom the Shangshu has Shun appoint and whom the Shiji says Yu proposed as successor before he died
In lantern light and drifting smoke, a row of painted theatrical masks stands on a wooden rail beneath a glowing paper dragon lantern and hanging red lanterns; a folding screen painted with a river, a bridge and hills stands at the right, with a bronze burner and small lamps on the floor.
Also known as Yanxing Gaotao · Yu Shen
- Roles
- Cultural Persona
Gaoyao is traditionally a minister under Shun and Yu. The Canon of Shun in the Book of Documents (Shangshu) has Shun appoint him chief of justice in charge of the five punishments, and the Counsels of Gaoyao shows him discussing the nine virtues and the judging of men and the settling of the people before Shun and Yu. The Annals of Xia in the Records of the Grand Historian says that after Yu took the throne he proposed Gaoyao as successor and entrusted government to him, but Gaoyao died first, and his descendants were enfeoffed at Ying and Liu, or possibly Xu. The Analects mentions Shun promoting Gaoyao, and Wang Chong's Lunheng tells of a xiezhi beast used to decide doubtful cases. All of this comes from later texts.
Life and times
Dates Dates unknown; traditionally the chief of justice under Shun