Gao Yao (simplified Chinese:皋陶; traditional Chinese:臯陶; pinyin:Gāo Yáo; Wade–Giles:Kao Yao) was the Minister for Law of Emperor Shun in prehistorical China according to tradition. Gao Yao became a political senior advisor of Yu the Great. His father was Shaohao. He was considered the ancestor of the imperial house of Li of the Tang dynasty, which honoured him as Emperor Deming (德明皇帝).