堯
yáo
Emperor Yao, legendary ancient sage-king.
Meaning
Primarily a proper noun referring to the legendary Emperor Yao. In certain genres, such as philosophical treatises, it may function as a shorthand for the abstract ideal of virtue-based governance (the Sage-King Ideal).
Distinctions
When appearing in tandem with 舜 (Shun), the glyph typically signals a discourse on //chanrang// (禪讓)—the abdication of power based on merit rather than hereditary succession.
History and forms
Simplified variant: 尧 (U+5C27).
Translator notes
Avoid treating this glyph as an adjective meaning "lofty" or "eminent." If the syntax demands an adjective, consider whether the glyph is a variant of another character (such as 高) or if the text is employing a highly idiosyncratic metaphor.
Decontextualized translator aid. This page describes plausible lexical range; it does not choose what the glyph means in a particular passage.