http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Departure_Herald-Detail.jpgThree Sovereigns and Five Emperors（中国古代的“三皇五帝" />

The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors (Chinese: 三皇五帝; pinyin: Sānhuáng wǔdì; Wade–Giles: San-huang wu-ti) were a group of semi-mythological rulers and culture heroes from ancient China during the period circa 2852 BC^[1] to 2070 BC. This period preceded the Xia Dynasty.^[2]

precede[pri(:)5si:d]v.领先(于), 在...之前, 先于（pre+ced+e）

pre-表“在……前”、“先于……”

ced源自cēe [去]

联想记忆：

recede[ri5si:d]v.后退（re+ced+e）

antecede[7Anti5si:d]v.先前, 先行(ante+ced+e)

ante- [前缀，表示“在…前”，“前”]

antique[An5ti:k]n.古物, 古董adj.古时的, 过时的(anti+que)

In myth, the three sovereigns were demigods who used their abilities to help create mankind and impart essential skills and knowledge.

demigod[5demi^Cd]n.半神半人, 受崇拜的人, 小神(demi+god)

demi-[5demI][前缀]表示“半, 次等”之义

semi-表示“半,不完全地”之义

impart[im5pB:t]vt.给予(尤指抽象事物), 传授, 告知, 透露(im+part)

请复习department, apart, apartment。

essential skill 基本功

The five emperors were exemplary sages possessed of great moral character.

possess of v.占有, 拥有

Depending on the source, there are many variations of who classifies as the three sovereigns or the five emperors.

There are six to seven known variations.^[3]

Many of the sources listed below were written from much later dynasties.

The three sovereigns may therefore refer to Fuxi (伏羲), Nüwa (女媧), Shennong (神農), Suiren (燧人), or even the Yellow Emperor (黄帝).

Three sovereigns(三皇)

The Three Sovereigns, sometimes known as the Three August Ones, were said to be god-kings or demigods who used their magical powers to improve the lives of their people.

Because of their lofty virtue, they lived to a great age and ruled over a period of great peace.

The Three Sovereigns are ascribed various identities in different Chinese historical texts.

ascribe[Es5kraib]vt.归因于, 归咎于（as+cribe）

as-=ad-，用在s前的变化

scribe源自拉丁语的词根，表“写”，相当于英语中的write。

联想记忆：

describe[dis5kraib]vt.描写, 记述, 形容, 形容(de+scribe)

The Yellow Emperor is supposedly the ancestor of all Huaxia race of people.^[4]

The Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor was established in Shaanxi Province to commemorate the ancestry legend.^[4]

mausoleum[9mR:sE`lIEm]n.陵墓

Mausoleum[7mC:sE5liEm]公元前四世纪波斯属地Caria 地方(在小亚细亚西南部) Mausolus 王的陵墓(建筑非常华丽, 曾被誉为世界七大奇迹之一)

from Mausōs [Mausolus (died c. 353] b.c. ), Persian satrap of Caria

源自 摩索罗斯 [摩索拉斯（死于] 公元前 353年），波斯卡里亚帝国的总督

联想记忆：

mauve[mEuv]n.紫红色adj.紫红色的

源自 拉丁语 malva

Shaanxi[`FAn`Fi:]陕西(省)(旧译Shensi)

Five emperors