Rule the world by virtue
Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty specially built a tomb for Emperor Shun in Yongning, Hunan. Why did Zhu Yuanzhang build a mausoleum for a legendary ancient emperor? All this stems from Emperor Shun's special status in Confucianism.
Emperor Shun is one of the three emperors and five emperors in legend, and he is a descendant of the Yellow Emperor. Emperor Shun had high morals, so Emperor Yao passed on the position of co-lord to him.
As an ancient emperor, Emperor Shun was far away from the Ming Dynasty. Confucianism links the two.
Zhu Yuanzhang used Confucianism to govern the country, and especially admired the moral culture in Confucianism. He believed that the morality promoted by Confucianism had a very great effect on the world, even more than the law.
When Confucianism talks about morality, it especially admires the virtues of Yao Shun and regards them as models of morality.
Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang visited the tombs of ancient emperors everywhere, preparing to promote Confucianism, especially the moral culture in it.
Later, Zhu Yuanzhang visited Jiuzhi Mountain in Yongning County, Hunan, which may be the mausoleum of Emperor Shun. However, in ancient times, the mountain was used as a tomb, and it was impossible to find the specific location where Emperor Shun was buried. Zhu Yuanzhang sent his ministers to Yongning County to find a location and build the Mausoleum of Emperor Shun.
Zhu Yuanzhang repaired the tomb of Emperor Shun, in fact, he wanted to use this way to express his appreciation and admiration for Confucian morality and culture, and to govern the world in this way.
Author: Wang Gongjian.