Gao Yao

Gao Yao is named as an exemplary official whom Shun selected to serve in government. His sole appearance is in an argument that appointing people of virtue can cause the unvirtuous to disappear, making him an example of moral discernment exercised through political appointments.

Identity and Appointment

In a discussion of how to govern, Fan Chi recounts the Master’s teaching that an upright ruler should employ the upright and set aside the crooked. He asks Zixia what this principle means. Zixia answers by recalling Shun’s choice: when Shun possessed the kingdom, he selected Gao Yao from among the people and employed him.

Political Example

The account immediately links Gao Yao’s appointment to its claimed consequence: those devoid of virtue disappeared. Zixia pairs this example with King Tang of Shang’s appointment of Yi Yin, followed by the same result. Gao Yao is thus presented not through personal deeds or private history, but as part of a two-ruler illustration of how choosing virtuous ministers can shape the moral character of public life.

Significance and Limits

Gao Yao’s brief mention supports a larger distinction between appointing the upright and tolerating the crooked. His example gives the principle a historical form: good governance is not only a matter of a ruler’s own conduct, but also of whom the ruler entrusts with office. The text supplies no account of Gao Yao’s background, duties, or later life, so his significance here rests on the appointment and the consequence attributed to it.