Three Sovereigns were semi-divine rulers who improved human life through powers and virtues. Sima Qian listed Heaven Emperor ruling 18,000 years, Earth Emperor 11,000 years, Human Emperor 45,600 years. Alternative lists include Fuxi, Shennong, Nüwa or Suiren. Five Emperors were morally perfect sage-kings like Huang Di, Zhuanxu, Ku, Yao, Shun. Confucius hailed Yao, Shun, and Yu as ideal rulers. Legends attribute inventions to these figures forming Chinese founding myth. Qin Shi Huang combined their titles into ''huangdi'' meaning emperor. Period links to Neolithic Longshan culture evolving into first Chinese states. Five Emperors represented gods of five directions or five clans in rituals.