88。   
经 子 通， 读 诸 史。
jīng zǐ tōng dú zhū shǐ
(classic philosopher through, read all historian)

When the philosophers have been mastered, read the works of historians.

89。    
考 世 系， 知 终 始。
kǎo shì xì zhī zhōng shǐ
(examine generation relations, know end, beginning)

Learn how the states evolved and their sequence in history.

90。    
自 羲 农， 至 黄 帝。
zì xī nóng zhì huáng dì
(from Xi Nong to Huang Di)

The Emperors (Fu) Xi and (Shen) Nong and the (Yellow Emperor) Huang Di, . . .

91。 
号 三 皇， 居 上 世。
hào sān huáng jū shàng shì
(call three emperors lived top generation)

. . . are called the Three Sovereigns1 of ancient times.  TL

92。    
唐 有 虞， 号 二 帝。
táng yǒu yú hào èr dì
(Tang had Yu, call two emperors)

Emperors2 Tang (Yao) and Yu (Shun) are called the Two Emperors. TL

93。    
相 揖 逊， 称 盛 世。
xiāng yī xùn chēng shèng shì
(mutually bowed, abdicated; called prosperous age)

They had great respect for each other, and each abdicated his throne to a more qualified man.3  Theirs was called a Golden Age.

94。    
夏 有 禹， 商 有 汤。
xià yǒu yǔ shāng yǒu tāng
(Xia had Yu, Shang had Tang)

The Xia dynasty had Emporer Yu 4, the Shang had Emperor Tang 5,  . . .   TL TL

95。    
周 文 武， 称 三 王。
zhōu wén wǔ chēng sān wáng
(Zhou Wen Wu, call three kings)

. . . and the Zhou dynasty had Kings Wen and Wu; they are called the Three Kings. 6  TL

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1 There are severeal sets of (semi)mythological personalities who are referred to as the Three Sovereigns. (see) It is on their supposed dates that Chinese claims of 5000 years of history are based.

2 Chinese emperors may be referred to in several ways; they have, variously, personal names, familiy names, reign names, and names given after death. Thus the names used in the San Zi Jing may not be those by which the emperors referred to are now know.


3 Emperor Yao, in the text called "Tang" from his clan name, was known for his meritocratic leanings: see


4  Emperor Yu is considered to be the founder of the first imperial Chinese dynasty, the Xia. He is said to have caused to be created nine ceremonial vessels, called the Nine Tripod Cauldrons, respresenting the nine provinces united under the Xia. These tripods became symbols of the authority of the emporers, and are referred to subsequently in line 112  of this work.

5 Emporer Tang overthrew the last ruler of the Xia dynasty, therby founding the Shang dynasty: see

6 Once again, the alert reader will have noticed a numerical anomaly. "Three Kings" refers to four sovereigns, Yu, Tang, and Wen and Wu, among them founding three dynasties, the Xia, Shang, and Zhou. Apparently, the numerical discrepency  stems from the fact that Wen and Wu, father and son, are so closely linked in the beginning of the Zhou dynasty that they count as one king. In reality, Wu was the one who overthrew the Shang dynasty. see