A Chinese Biographical Dictionary/Fu Hsi
585 Fu Hsi 伏羲. B.C. 2953-2838. The first of the Five Emperors of the legendary period, also known as 包羲氏 and 太昊. He is said to have been miraculously conceived by his mother, who after a gestation of twelve years gave birth to him at Ch'êng-chi in Shensi. He taught his people to hunt, to fish, and to keep flocks. He showed them how to split the wood of the 桐 t'ung tree, and then how to twist silk threads and stretch them across so as to form rude musical instruments. From the markings on the back of a tortoise he is said to have constructed the Eight Diagrams, or series of lines from which was developed a whole system of philosophy, embodied later on in the mysterious work known as the Canon of Changes. He also invented some kind of calendar, placed the marriage contract upon a proper basis, and is even said to have taught mankind to cook their food.