CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Fuchai夫差
Grandson of the King of Wu, later succeeded to the throne, determined to take revenge.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 9
- RELATION RECORDS
- 17
- SOURCE WORKS
- 5
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Fuchai, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
2 figures · 2 records＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
HelüisFuchai’s father
King Helü of Wu—Fuchaigrandparent-grandchild
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
4 figures · 7 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
FuchaiisWu Zixu’s ruler
King Goujian of Yue→Fuchaisubmit
Bo Pi—Fuchailord-minister
Wen Zhong→Fuchaigo on mission
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
5 figures · 6 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
King Goujian of Yue—Fuchaibattle
Fuchai→Wu Zixuorder suicide
Fuchai→Marquis of Cheninvade
Zigong→Fuchailobby
04THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
2 figures · 2 records＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
King Goujian of Yue→Fuchaitaste feces
Fuchai→Wen Zhongagree peace
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Grand Historian
Son of King Helü of Wu, after succeeding to the throne he defeated the state of Yue, but later listened to the slander of Bo Pi and ordered Wu Zixu to commit suicide. ; Son of Helü, succeeded to the throne, later lost his state. ; King of Wu, underestimated Yue, was defeated at Gusu.
In fiction · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms · Discourses of the States · Strategies of the Warring States · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition
Grandson of the King of Wu, later succeeded to the throne, determined to take revenge. ; King of Wu, attacked Yue, allowed Yue to sue for peace. ; King of Wu, captured the King of Yue, and eventually pardoned him.
Across source works
How this figure changes across texts
Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.
- Literature / legend8 profile notes
Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms
14 relations24 verified quotations- Wu Zixu→ remonstrate →Fuchai
- Fuchai→ ruler-subject →Wu Zixu
- King Goujian of Yue→ battle →Fuchai
- King Goujian of Yue→ submit →Fuchai
Verified original text · 24
子胥许之
assist · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 79
子胥急趋至中军，见伯嚭同文种立于王侧。子胥怒气盈面，问吴王曰
remonstrate · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 79
22 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history4 profile notes
Discourses of the States
7 relations9 verified quotations- Wu Zixu→ remonstrate →Fuchai
- Fuchai→ order suicide →Wu Zixu
- Fuchai→ ruler-subject →Wu Zixu
- King Goujian of Yue→ battle →Fuchai
Verified original text · 9
申胥进谏曰
remonstrate · Discourses of the States, 吴语
孤不使大夫得有见也
order suicide · Discourses of the States, 吴语
7 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history6 profile notes
Records of the Grand Historian
6 relations15 verified quotations- Wu Zixu→ remonstrate →Fuchai
- Fuchai→ order suicide →Wu Zixu
- Fuchai→ ruler-subject →Wu Zixu
- King Goujian of Yue→ battle →Fuchai
Verified original text · 15
子胥谏曰
admonish · Records of the Grand Historian, 吴太伯世家
子胥谏曰
remonstrate · Records of the Grand Historian, 越王句践世家
13 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history2 profile notes
Strategies of the Warring States
1 relations1 verified quotations- King Goujian of Yue→ battle →Fuchai
Verified original text · 1
禽夫差于干遂
catch · Strategies of the Warring States, 魏／一
- Official history2 profile notes
Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition
2 relations2 verified quotations- Fuchai→ invade →Marquis of Chen
- Helü→ father-son →Fuchai
Verified original text · 2
吴侵陈，修旧怨也
invade · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 57
今闻其嗣又甚焉
father-son · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 57
History vs. fiction
King Fuchai of Wu's cruelty in ordering Wu Zixu's death
According to Records of the Grand Historian, Biography of Wu Zixu, Wu Yuan said before his death: 'Gouge out my eyes and hang them on the eastern gate of Wu, so that I may see the Yue invaders come to destroy Wu.' Fuchai was furious, took his body, put it in a leather bag, and floated it in the river. The cruelty recorded in official history even exceeds that in the novel.
Relationship network
- remonstrate← Wu Zixu → Fuchaihist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 79Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 81Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 82Records of the Grand Historian, 吴太伯世家Records of the Grand Historian, 越王句践世家Discourses of the States, 吴语
Original text (7)
子胥许之
Original relation: assist · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 79
子胥急趋至中军，见伯嚭同文种立于王侧。子胥怒气盈面，问吴王曰
子胥谏曰
Original relation: admonish against · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 81
子胥又谏曰
Original relation: admonish against · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 82
申胥进谏曰
子胥谏曰
Original relation: admonish · Records of the Grand Historian, 吴太伯世家
子胥谏曰
- order suicideFuchai → Wu Zixuhist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 乐毅列传Records of the Grand Historian, 伍子胥列传Records of the Grand Historian, 吴太伯世家Records of the Grand Historian, 太史公自序Records of the Grand Historian, 越王句践世家Discourses of the States, 吴语
Original text (7)
孤不使大夫得有见也
夫差弗是也，赐之鸱夷而浮之江。
乃使使赐伍子胥属镂之剑
赐子胥属镂之剑以死
空惭伍胥
子胥鸱夷
使人赐子胥属镂剑以自杀
- ruler-subjectFuchai → Wu Zixuhist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 80Records of the Grand Historian, 越王句践世家Discourses of the States, 越语上
- battle← King Goujian of Yue → Fuchaihist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 82Records of the Grand Historian, 伍子胥列传Records of the Grand Historian, 吴太伯世家Records of the Grand Historian, 越王句践世家Discourses of the States, 吴语Discourses of the States, 越语上Strategies of the Warring States, 魏／一
Original text (8)
句践乃许吴成，班师而归
Original relation: agree success · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 82
越王句践命诸稽郢行成于吴
Original relation: seek peace · Discourses of the States, 吴语
败吴于囿
遂灭吴
Original relation: destroy a state · Discourses of the States, 越语上
越王句践遂灭吴，杀王夫差
Original relation: defeat Wu · Records of the Grand Historian, 伍子胥列传
越王句践复伐吴
Original relation: destroy a state · Records of the Grand Historian, 吴太伯世家
吴王闻之，悉發精兵撃越，败之夫椒
禽夫差于干遂
Original relation: catch · Strategies of the Warring States, 魏／一
- submit← King Goujian of Yue → FuchailitChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 80Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 81Discourses of the States, 越语上
Original text (4)
- attackFuchai → King Goujian of Yuehist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 79Records of the Grand Historian, 吴太伯世家Discourses of the States, 吴语
Original text (3)
吴王夫差除丧已久，乃告于太庙，兴倾国之兵
越伐吴，吴拒之
Original relation: attacked · Discourses of the States, 吴语
吴王悉精兵以伐越
Original relation: battle · Records of the Grand Historian, 吴太伯世家
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
- ruler-subjectFuchai → Bo PilitChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 80Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 82
Original text (4)
太宰屯兵江上
夫差见越已臣服不贰，遂深信伯嚭之言
吾将赏为上卿
Original relation: reward · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 82
夫差既杀子胥，乃进伯嚭为相国。
Original relation: 任命为相国 · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 82
- lord-minister← Bo Pi → FuchailitChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 79Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 81
Original text (2)
伯嚭先入，备道越王句践使文种请成之意
伯嚭从旁叱之曰
Original relation: admonish · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 81
- father-son← Helü → Fuchaihist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 吴太伯世家Records of the Grand Historian, 越王句践世家Discourses of the States, 楚语下Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 57
Original text (4)
阖庐即世，吾闻其嗣又甚焉。
Original relation: heir · Discourses of the States, 楚语下
阖庐使立太子夫差
阖庐且死，告其子夫差曰
今闻其嗣又甚焉
Original text (1)
子贡星夜行至东吴，来见吴王夫差
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
越果遣文种至吴，叩首于吴王之前