Emperor Zhi


Di Zhì or simply Zhì, was a mythological emperor of ancient China.

History

Di was a title as in Huang Di "Yellow Emperor" and Yan Di "Flame Emperor". Zhi was a son of Di Ku "Emperor Ku". Di Zhi ruled for nine years until he died and was succeeded by his younger half-brother Yao. Sima Qian, in the ShiJi, says in its section on the "Annals of the Five Emperors", that Zhi reigned badly and died, and his brother Fang Xun, 'the highly meritorious one', then reigned under the title of Di Yao.
According to the Bamboo Annals, when Emperor Zhuanxu died, a descendant of Shennong named Shu Qi rebelled, but was defeated by Huangdi's descendant Ku, the prince of Xin of the Gaoxin lineage.
Ku then ascended to the throne. In the 45th year, Ku designated his son Yao the prince of Tang as his successor, however upon his death in the 63rd year, Ku's elder son Zhi then took the throne instead, ruling nine years before being deposed and replaced by Yao.