Royals › Monarch / Emperor
Gou Jian
King of Yue who sued for peace after his defeat by Wu, rebuilt his state with Fan Li and Wen Zhong, destroyed Wu in 473 BC and was recognized by Zhou as hegemon
Mural of the event “Goujian Conquering Wu”, which this person took part in.
In the late Spring and Autumn, King Fuchai of Wu defeated Yue, forcing King Goujian to submit as Wu's vassal. Goujian, harboring the will to revive his lost state, began over twenty years of patient self-discipline.
Also known as Si Goujian · Tan Zhi · Jiu Qian
- Roles
- Monarch / Emperor
Goujian, of the Si clan, was the son of King Yunchang of Yue; bronze inscriptions write his name as Jiuqian. In 496 BC, the year he succeeded, King Helu of Wu invaded and was defeated at Zuili, dying of a wounded toe; three years later Helu's son Fuchai crushed Yue at Fujiao, and Goujian, besieged on Mount Kuaiji, sent Wen Zhong to sue for peace. The Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji) says that back home he kept a gall bladder by his seat and tasted it before meals, while Fan Li and Wen Zhong restored the state; sleeping on brushwood was added by later writers. In 482 BC he struck Wu while Fuchai was at Huangchi, and in 473 BC he destroyed Wu, Fuchai killing himself. He then met Qi, Jin and other states at Xuzhou, and King Yuan of Zhou named him hegemon. Goujian died in 465 BC. A sword inscribed for King Jiuqian of Yue was excavated from a Chu tomb at Jiangling, Hubei in 1965.
Life and times
- UnknownBorn
Zhou - 490 BCELegend of Xi Shi
In powerSelected from Zhuji to enter the Wu court, Xi Shi's presence in Guanwa Palace and afterlives across Lake Tai shaped the most enduring cultural memory of the Wu-Yue rivalry.- Selection of Xi Shi at Zhujic. 490 BCEAround 490 BCE, Goujian selected Xi Shi from Zhuji's Zhuruo Mountain and sent her to the Wu court after training in palace dance and ritual.
- Selection of Xi Shi at Zhuji
- 473 BCEGoujian Conquering Wu
Took partAfter captivity in Wu, Goujian rebuilt Yue's army and economy, then captured the Wu capital and ended Fuchai's reign.- Goujian Endures Hardship494 BCEKing Goujian endured servitude in Wu, sleeping on brushwood to rebuild Yue's economic and martial strength.
- Wu and Jin Meet at Huangchi482 BCEWhile King Fuchai of Wu went north to Huangchi to contest precedence with Jin, King Goujian of Yue struck and entered the Wu capital.
- Fan Li Sails the Five Lakesc. 473 BCEAfter Yue defeated Wu, the tradition of Fan Li leaving Yue by boat on the Five Lakes became a lasting model of retirement after achievement.
1 more
- Goujian Captures Suzhou and Annexes WuSeizing on Wu's northern distraction, Goujian captured Suzhou, annexing Wu and becoming final hegemon.
- Goujian Captures Suzhou and Annexes Wu
- Goujian Endures Hardship
- 465 BCEDiedr. 496–465 BCE
Connections
- Shared events1
- Rulers and officials2
- Others1
