In the Confucian tradition, there was one legitimate form of government. It was an empire to which all civilized people belonged.

In the beginning, Tian conferred the mandate to rule on the emperor Yao (堯). According to Confucius, “Great indeed was Yao as a sovereign! How lofty! Only Tian is great, and Yao modeled himself upon that.” Yao chose Shun (舜), a simple but virtuous farmer, to succeed him. Shun was succeeded by his minister Yu (禹). Confucius said, “How sublime was the manner in which Shun and Yu possessed the empire, and yet effortlessly!” Shun passed the throne to Yu who passed it to his son, thereby founding the first dynasty, the Xia (夏).