 Here is the fifth legend. This continues the creation myth.  This one includes the birth of gardening and husbandry.  Can you find out more about it? Can you find different versions of this legend?

Yan Di (Shen Nong) and Huang Di (Yellow Emperor)

Huangdi (Yellow Emperor) and Yandi (Yan Emperor) are generally seen as the ancestors of the Huaxia race. Huangdi was the chief of a large tribe which lived around the Ji River.

Many tribes settled down near the Yellow River and engaged in farming about 4,000 years ago. Many inventions come from the time of Yellow Emperor: Chinese writing characters, ships, carts, medicines, music, sericulture and some daily utensils. Because of this, Huangdi was said to be the founder of the Chinese civilization. Huangdi is also regarded as the central god among the five gods in the heaven in Chinese mythology.

Shennong, also called Yan Emperor, was the god who invented farming in the mythology of ancient China. He is also known as the god of Chinese medicine. Legend says he tasted all kinds of herbs. Once he identified more than 70 poisonous plants in a day. Thanks to his teaching, people learned that medical herbs could cure diseases. The most famous story associated with him was that of the invention of tea. Shen Nong boiled some water to purify it, and tea leaves happened to fall into the pot, creating a wonderful aroma. He drank the results, and felt energized - in his own words, "Tea gives one vigor of body, contentment of mind, and determination of purpose."

In "Stories of Gods" by Gan Bao of the Jin Dynasty, Shennong used a reddish brown whip to beat all kinds of plants to test their properties as drugs and identify those suitable for crop growing.

 What do you think about this topic?  Would you like to make a presentation about Shen Nong and Huang Di?  We can use myths as interesting ways of introducing up-to-date topics.