From Fu Hsi and Shên Nung on to the Yellow Emperor,— these are called the Three Rulers, who lived in the early ages. T'ang and Yu-yü are called the Two Emperors. They abdicated, one after the other, and theirs was called the Golden Age. The Hsia dynasty had Yü; the Shang dynasty had T'ang; the Chou dynasty had Wen and Wu;— these are called the Three Kings. Under the Hsia dynasty the throne was transmitted from father to son, making a family possession of the empire. After four hundred years, the Imperial sacrifice passed from the House of Hsia. T'ang the Completer destroyed the Hsia dynasty and the dynastic title became Shang. The line lasted for six hundred years, ending with Chou Hsin. King Wu of the Chou dynasty finally slew Chou Hsin. His own line lasted for eight hundred years,— the longest dynasty of all. When the Chous made tracks eastwards, the feudal bond was slackened; the arbitrament of spears and shields prevailed; and peripatetic politicians were held in high esteem. This period began with the Spring, and Autumn epoch, and ended with that of the Warring States. Next, the Five Chieftains domineered, and the Seven Martial States came to the front. Then the House of Ch'in, descended from the Ying clan, finally united all the States under one sway. The throne was transmitted to Erh Shih, upon which followed the struggle between the Ch'u and the Han States.