Emperor Yao
Fan Zhongyan traces his lineage to Emperor Yao, Emperor Ku, and Emperor Huang. Emperor Yao is a 5th generation descendant of Emperor Huang (or Yellow Emperor), and the second son of Emperor Ku. Often extolled as the morally perfect and intelligent sage-emperor, Emperor Yao became the founding father of the “Power Bestowing System” (), by abdicating his throne and bestowing the Emperor-hood to Shun () instead of his own children to make Shun the Emperor Shun (), an act appraised by Confucianism as “Power Bestowing” for several thousand years. Emperor Yao's benevolence and diligence served as a model to future Chinese monarchs and emperors.