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Fan Li
Counsellor of Yue who helped King Goujian destroy Wu, then left the court and, by the Shiji's account, grew rich in trade at Tao as Lord Zhu of Tao
Mural of the event “Legend of Xi Shi”, which this person took part in.
Around 490 BCE, following defeat at Kuaiji, King Goujian adopted strategic counsel to select Xi Shi from Zhuji's Zhuruo Mountain, instructing her in courtly dance and ritual before sending her to King Fuchai of Wu.
Also known as Fanshao Bo · Taozhu Gong · Chiyi Zipi
Fan Li, courtesy name Shaobo, came from Wan in Chu according to older texts quoted by commentators on the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), and entered the service of King Goujian of Yue. When Goujian was trapped at Kuaiji, Fan Li urged him to seek peace from Wu with humble words and rich gifts, and then spent two years in Wu as a hostage. Over the next two decades he and Wen Zhong helped Yue rebuild until it conquered Wu. The Shiji says he judged Goujian a ruler with whom one could share hardship but not success, so he sailed to Qi under the name Chiyi Zipi, later settled at Tao as Lord Zhu of Tao, grew rich in trade and died there in old age. Its chapter on money-makers says he made a fortune three times in nineteen years and twice gave it away to poor friends and distant kin, and 'Taozhu' came to mean a wealthy merchant.
Life and times
Dates Dates unknown; late Spring and Autumn period
- 494 BCEGoujian Endures Hardship
- 490 BCELegend of Xi ShiTook part
- c. 490 BCESelection of Xi Shi at Zhuji
- 473 BCEGoujian Conquering WuTook part
- 473 BCETraditions of Drowning and Five Lakes
- c. 473 BCEFan Li Sails the Five Lakes