The ancestors of today's Chinese began to settle in the Huang He (Yellow River) valley more than five thousands years ago. They were divided into several different tribes. There were then two tribal chieftains who were half brothers (born to different fathers) named Huang Di (the Yellow Emperor) and Yan Di respectively. Meanwhile, there was another tribe that had settled in the Yantze valley and the chieftain went by the name of Qi You. According to legend, the members of this tribe all looked most fearsome, actually more like wild beasts than men. It is said that their heads and brow were hard as bronze or iron and that they had stomachs that could digest stone and sand. They were also able to practice black magic.

At first, Yan Di suffered a defeat in the war with Qi You. So he fled to Huang Di for help. Huang Di sent a brave general Ying Long to go and catch all kinds of fierce animals and give them training. Before long, the animals became so trained that they were able to carry out the commands given by Ying Long. With the help of Ying Long, Huang Di and Yan Di defeated Qi You.

From then on Huang Di was called the Son of Heaven. He got people organized in agricultural production and the development of culture. The Yellow River valley became the cradle of Chinese civilization and a center of ancient civilization of mankind.