Abstract:
The transfer of supreme power was realized by hereditary succession as the basic means in ancient traditional civilizations in different regions of the world. In ancient China, the transfer of royal power also followed this rule but a different rule, namely, the socalled demise rule, once occurred in history. The legend was recorded not only in existing classical works in times of the Warring Kingdoms but also in The Tangyu Way of the bamboo slips of the kingdom of Chu unearthed in Guodian. An investigation of this source with reference to other existing classics shows that the transfer of royal power in ancient times was accompanied with other multiple elements, such as consulting, electing, opportunity, retirement, etc. From this, it seems an obviously simplified and idealized legend that “the royal power was demised but not succeeded”.
