According to notations in Chinese historical annals，after he defeated the Emperor of the state of Yan，he formed an alliance with the Yan Emperor，and repelled the invasion of nine tribes.He then took over from the Emperor of Yan as head of the alliance.The Emperor of Yan，as Yellow Emperor，is also known in Chinese legend as being the father of or even the god of agriculture.He invented agriculture，created agricultural tools，taught the people about sowing and reaping，and in general led the people out of the age of hunting into an agricultural age.The god of agriculture was also the god of medicine，who strode the hills collecting specimens，and who discovered which plants could treat which maladies.Because of this experimentation，he personally was seriously ill 72 times.Later，he transmitted his extensive pharmacological knowledge to the people by writing a book on pharmacopiaea，recording 365 kinds of medicinal plants.The Yellow Emperor united all the tribes in China，and built his capital at Xinzheng（some scholars believe it was elsewhere）.He calculated the calendar，discovered the magnetic compass，made ships and arrows，revivededucation，created musical instruments，understoodthe Heavenly stems and Earthly branches.The Yellow Emperor and the Emperor of Yan are both regarded as being the progenitors of the Chinese race.Chinese people therefore call themselves，“the sons and grandsons of Yan Huang.”
Legend has it that the primary imperial concubine of the Yellow Emperor was named Luo，a woman who was also the ancestor of Chinese people who invented silk spinning and weaving.
Legends relating to the history of China’s primordial beginnings start with the myth of Pangu splitting the heaven and earth，and creating man together with the being known as Nüwa.This corresponds to the creation myths of Western people，with God creating the earth and humankind.In China，after the creation came a period of the three“Huangs”and the five“Dis.”The two words together，huang-di，form the modern Chinese word for Emperor.There are different versions of the legend，but the most common reckoning has it that the three“Huangs”or Emperors were Emperor of heaven，of earth，and of man.The five“Dis”were the Yellow Emperorand then four others.Some say that the Yellow Emperorwas third among the first three“Huangs，”namely，the Emperor of man.Others hold that he was among the five“Dis.”Either way，his high standing can be recognized.According to the Historical Records of Sima Qian，the Yellow Emperor had twenty-five sons，and fourteen of them received his surname.The monarchs of successive dynasties，from Xia（2070–1600 BC），Shang（1600–1046BC），and Zhou（1046–256 BC），all regarded themselves as descendants of the Yellow Emperor.According to the Historical Records and also to other historical records，documentable history in China can be traced back to 2070BC.The life of the Yellow Emperor goes back roughly one thousand years before that.For the thousands of years after his death，no matter how dynasties came and went，the status of the Yellow Emperor as the ancestor of the Chinese people has never wavered.Paying respects by making sacrifices or offerings to the Yellow Emperor became one of the necessary rites of every successive head of a dynasty.The Yellow Emperor’s Tomb became a symbol，strengthening the solidarity of the tribe，honoringthe ancestors，serving as a locus of respect and belonging.
On the eve of the irruption of the War of Resistance against Japan，in the midst of efforts to save the Chinese people representatives were sent from both parties of China to the Xuanyuan Tomb.These two parties held different political views，but they came to commemorate the great ancestor of all Chinese people and to carry out official rites at the time of the Pure Brightness Festival in1937.
From 1955 to 1962，offering rites were carried out every year by Shaanxi Province at the time of the Pure Brightness Festival，but these activities were stopped in 1963 and not resumed until 1980.Since then，they have been held every year in a formal and impressive way，officiated by the National People’s Congress and the CPPCC.In 1992，Shaanxi Province began repairs of the Yellow Emperor Tomb.Today，commemorating the Yellow Emperor with public offerings has become a kind of expression of the cohesiveness of the Chinese people.Many overseas Chinese and compatriots from Hong Kong，Macao，and Taiwan come to participate，and one can see that there is no substitute for the position of the Yellow Emperor in the hearts and minds of his“sons and grandsons.”
