古典文獻記載古帝王流放「四凶」之事，而「四凶」人物有兩組的說法。透過「四凶」人物的合說，可知在行事與名稱上呈現叛逆、作惡等負面的「為亂」形象，進而合理化受懲的正當性，而且在刑罰之中，可以探知文本欲營造仁聖的君主形象；兩種「四凶」彼此的關係接合，也說明注家解讀逐漸混一，並將之歷史化；其次，建構爭帝之臣與反叛外族的為亂形象，並藉流放的寬厚手段，強調儒家學者所稱道的德治思想，對映出有德之君；最後是華夏文化的本位思考，放「四凶」於四方，「變四裔」蘊含教化夷狄的德澤之功；此外，強調「四凶」獲罪與被聖王流放，也反映正統的文化概念，「四凶」神話表現王者以德教化，以及不容挑戰的權力。

Classical literature records the story of an ancient monarch expatriating the Four Perils. The Four Perils are described in two manners, which jointly indicate that they, as how they were called, behaved rebelliously and villainously. Such negative images of causing turmoil helped justify the punishment inflicted on them. Their punishment enables readers to explore the benevolent and sacred monarchic image developed in historical records. The joint connection between the two types of description regarding the Four Perils entails that commentaries and interpretations became integrated gradually and turned into history. Subsequently, the Four Perils’ image of causing turmoil by attempting to challenge the monarchic position as rebellious subordinates and alien clans was created to manifest that the monarch possessed the ethical and moral thinking proclaimed by Confucianists because he leniently expatriated the Four Perils. The description of the Four Perils also entails the Huaxiacentered thinking. Expatriating the Four Perils to the four cardinal directions as a means to edify them implied the monarch’s virtues and merits in edifying the barbarians. Moreover, the emphasis on the Four Perils’ punishment and exile sentenced by the sacred monarch reflects the cultural concept of orthodoxy. The mythology depicting the Four Perils demonstrates the monarch’s merits in edification, as well as his unchallengeable power.