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.