Suiren
Suiren (Chinese: 燧人, pinyin: suì rén) was included on some ancient lists of the legendary Three August Ones who lived long before Emperor Yao, Emperor Shun, and the emperors of the earliest historical Chinese dynasty (Xia), and even before the Yellow Emperor & Yandi.
He is mentioned in ten books from the Han dynasty or earlier, five of which credit him with introducing the practice of drilling wood for fire. These five sources include three Confucian works (Bai Hu Tong, Zhong Lun, and Fengsu Tongyi), a legalist book (Han Feizi) and the historical textbook Gu San Fen. The other five texts which mention Suiren are Zhuangzi (aka Chuang-tzu) in two of the “Outer Chapters”, two Confucian books (Xunzi and Qian fu lun), a legalist book (Guanzi) and an early etymological dictionary Shuo Wen Jie Zi.
Suiren’s innovation may have been the bow drill which dates back at least to the Indus Valley Civilization.
The character Sui 燧 includes the character for fire 火 on its left side, while the character Ren 人 means "people", or "person".
| Suiren | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Nüwa |
Emperor of China | Succeeded by Fuxi |
| Preceded by Youchao |
Emperor of China | Succeeded by Fuxi |