A Senior Official in Kingdom Wu - Wu Zixu

Wu Zixu (born in ? and died in 484 B.C.), with his given name of Yuan, was born in Kingdom Chu in the Spring and Autumn period. His father Wu She, teacher of the Prince Jian, was killed by King Ping of Chu for advising frankly. Then Wu Zixu fled to Kingdom Wu where he assisted Gongzi Guang (He Lv) to take the throne by sending Zhuan Zhu, an assassin, to stab Wang Liao, and he himself was appointed as the prime minister. In the years to come, Wu Zixu cooperated with Su Wu to consolidate the army, thus making the country grow stronger and stronger. Later, King Wu started a war against Kingdom Chu. Leading the army, Wu Zixu broke through the Chu army and occupied Ying (capital of Kingdom Chu). To avenge the murder of his father and elder brother, Wu untombed the corpse of King Ping of Chu and give it three hundred whips. In his return from the battle, Zixu was ordered to build a city by Taihu Lake and Lvjiang River, which was known to the later generations as Helv City, in order to defend against Yu army. After King He Lv died, Fu Chai ascended to the throne, appointing Wu Zixu as the senior official to counsel about the state affairs. With a desire to seek hegemony among the vassal states, Fu Chai intended to start a war against Kingdom Qi. Wu Zixu persuaded him not to do so, but advised him to be on guard against Kingdom Yue instead. However, Fu Chai turned a deaf ear to the advice. At last, deluded by slanders, Fu Chai granted a sword to Zixu to commit suicide. Before his death, Zixu said to his family, “Gouge out my eye upon my death, and hang them on the East Gate. I want to see with my own eyes how Kingdom Wu will capture the capital and get Wu occupied.” Hearing this, Fu Chai burst into anger, ordering to cut off Zixu’s head and hang it on the tower, and then to have his body packed into a leather bag and then thrown into the river. 12 years later, Gou Jian, King of Kingdom Yue, after putting into practice the “honey trap” which was offered by Fan Li, finally sent troops to attack the city of Gusu, and occupied Kingdom Wu. Fu Chai, before committing suicide, covered his eyes with a three-cun silk handkerchief, and said, “I am ashamed of meeting Zixu even after my death.” On each Dragon Boat Festival after Zixu’s death, people living by Lvjiang River spontaneously hold sacrifice activities to mourn for Wu Zixu.

 

 

 

After the death of King Helu of Wu, Fuchai succeeded to the throne and appointed Wu Zixu as a high-ranking official, participating in state affairs. Fuchai wished to dominate the feudal lords and launched a military campaign against Qi. Wu Zixu advised Fuchai not to attack Qi and to be wary of the Yue state under Goujian. Fuchai not only ignored his advice but also listened to slander, and gave Wu Zixu a jeweled sword and ordered him to commit suicide. Before his death, Zixu instructed his family: “After my death, gouge out my eyes and hang them over the east gate. I want to see with my own eyes how the Yue state attacks the capital and destroys Wu.” Fuchai was furious upon hearing this and ordered Wu Zixu's head to be cut off and hung on a high tower, his body to be placed in a leather bag and thrown into the river.

Twelve years later, King Goujian of Yue, having successfully implemented the ‘beauty trick’ suggested by Fan Li, finally sent troops to attack and conquer Gusu City, destroying the Wu state. Before committing suicide, Fuchai covered his eyes with a three-inch piece of cloth and said: “After my death, I will have no face to meet Wu Zixu!” After his death, the people of Lu River spontaneously held various memorial activities every Dragon Boat Festival to commemorate the great general Wu Zixu.