Hebei was one of the earliest developed regions in China. It has taken an important place in Chinese history. After Huang Di were Yao, Shun and Yu, the three most respected rulers in ancient times. Yu the Great founded the Xia Dynasty (21st-16th century B.C.) and divided China into nine states. Hebei is the original area of Ji, the leading state of the nine states. The shortened name of Hebei Province today is still called Ji.