CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Wu Zixu伍子胥
Loyal minister of Wu, killed by King Fuchai, whose spirit aided Yue.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 21
- RELATION RECORDS
- 37
- SOURCE WORKS
- 13
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Wu Zixu, 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 · 3 records＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Wu SheisWu Zixu’s father
Wu Zixu—Shen Baoxuold friend
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
10 figures · 16 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
FuchaiisWu Zixu’s ruler
King Helü of WuisWu Zixu’s ruler
King Helü of WuisWu Zixu’s ruler
Wu Zixu→Wu Zioffer plan
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
10 figures · 12 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Wu Zixu→King Ping of Chuwhip corpse
Fuchai→Wu Zixuorder suicide
Bo Pi→Wu Zixuslander harm
04THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
5 figures · 6 records＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Wu Zixu→Gongzi Guangrecommend assassin
Wu Zixu→Yue Feideliver decree
Pugu Huai'en→Wu Zixucompare self
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms · Records of the Grand Historian · History of Song · Old Book of Tang
A native of Chu, named Yuan, fled to Wu after his father and brother were killed by King Ping of Chu. He helped King Helü of Wu dominate, but was later ordered to commit suicide by Fuchai. A fugitive from Chu, he went to Wu and, knowing Zhuan Zhu's ability, recommended him to Prince Guang. A fallen minister of Chu, he fled to Wu and assisted Helü.
In fiction · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms · Records of Myriad Things · Book of the Later Han · Discourses of the States · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era · Strategies of the Warring States · New Book of Tang · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition
Loyal minister of Wu, killed by King Fuchai, whose spirit aided Yue. Loyal minister of Wu, ordered to commit suicide by Fuchai, later appeared as a spirit.
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 / legend1 profile notes
Records of Myriad Things
0 relations0 verified quotations - Literature / legend21 profile notes
Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms
22 relations34 verified quotations- Wu Zixu→ hostile →King Goujian of Yue
- Wu Zixu→ appear and assist →King Goujian of Yue
- Wu Zixu→ battle →King Zhao of Chu
- Wu Zixu→ whip corpse →King Ping of Chu
Verified original text · 34
夫飞鸟在青云之上，尚欲弯弓而射之
hostile · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 80
梦见子胥乘白马素车而至
appear and assist · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 83
32 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history4 profile notes
Discourses of the States
3 relations3 verified quotations- Wu Zixu→ remonstrate →Fuchai
- Fuchai→ order suicide →Wu Zixu
- Fuchai→ ruler-subject →Wu Zixu
Verified original text · 3
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
1 more verified quotation in the relationship records below.
- Official history5 profile notes
Book of Han
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history5 profile notes
Book of the Later Han
2 relations2 verified quotations- Zhang Yu→ awe →Wu Zixu
- Wu Zixu→ admonish →King of Wu
Verified original text · 2
子胥如有灵，知吾志在理察枉讼
awe · Book of the Later Han, 邓张徐张胡列传
伍子胥谏吴王，吴王不听
admonish · Book of the Later Han, 孝灵皇帝纪
- Official history1 profile notes
Old Book of Tang
1 relations1 verified quotations- Pugu Huai'en→ compare self →Wu Zixu
Verified original text · 1
何异伍子胥存吴
compare self · Old Book of Tang, 仆固怀恩梁崇义李怀光传
- Official history1 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
1 relations1 verified quotations- Sun Chen→ burned temple →Wu Zixu
Verified original text · 1
烧大桥头伍子胥庙
burned temple · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 吴书·诸葛滕二孙濮阳传
- Official history16 profile notes
Records of the Grand Historian
14 relations22 verified quotations- Wu Zixu→ whip corpse →King Ping of Chu
- King Ping of Chu→ pursue and capture →Wu Zixu
- Wu Zixu→ remonstrate →Fuchai
- Fuchai→ order suicide →Wu Zixu
Verified original text · 22
乃掘楚平王墓，出其尸，鞭之三百
whip corpse · Records of the Grand Historian, 伍子胥列传
伍子胥鞭平王墓
鞭墓 · Records of the Grand Historian, 十二诸侯年表
20 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Literature / legend2 profile notes
The Story of Yue Fei
1 relations1 verified quotations- Wu Zixu→ deliver decree →Yue Fei
Verified original text · 1
伍王手捧玉旨开读
deliver decree · The Story of Yue Fei, 第六十九回
- Official history1 profile notes
History of Song
0 relations0 verified quotations - Literature / legend4 profile notes
Extensive Records of the Taiping Era
1 relations1 verified quotations- Wu Zixu→ force →Ge Xuan
Verified original text · 1
伍子胥见强牵过
force · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 道术一
- Official history1 profile notes
New Book of Tang
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history5 profile notes
Strategies of the Warring States
2 relations2 verified quotations- Wu Zixu→ assist →King Helü of Wu
- Wu Zixu→ assist →Helü
Verified original text · 2
说听乎阖闾
ruler-subject · Strategies of the Warring States, 燕／二
卒兴吴国，阖庐为霸
assist · Strategies of the Warring States, 秦／三
- Official history7 profile notes
Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition
5 relations6 verified quotations- Wu Zixu→ offer plan →Wu Zi
- Wu Zi→ order suicide →Wu Zixu
- Wu Zi→ ask plan →Wu Zixu
- Wu Zixu→ recommend assassin →Gongzi Guang
Verified original text · 6
对曰
offer plan · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 53
谏曰：“越在，我心腹之疾也
admonish · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 58
4 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
The act of exhuming King Ping of Chu's corpse and flogging it three hundred times is explicitly recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian, not a fictional invention.
The Records of the Grand Historian, Biography of Wu Zixu, explicitly records: 'When the Wu army entered Ying, Wu Zixu sought King Zhao. Not finding him, he then exhumed King Ping of Chu's tomb, brought out his corpse, and flogged it three hundred times before stopping.' This is a real historical event from the Spring and Autumn period. The Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, in chapter 76, describes Wu Zixu's shocking act of exhuming the tomb and flogging the corpse to avenge his father and brother after capturing Ying, essentially following this historical record from the Records of the Grand Historian verbatim.
Relationship network
Original text (1)
伍王手捧玉旨开读
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
夫飞鸟在青云之上，尚欲弯弓而射之
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
- whip corpseWu Zixu → King Ping of Chuhist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 73Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 76Records of the Grand Historian, 伍子胥列传Records of the Grand Historian, 十二诸侯年表Records of the Grand Historian, 楚世家
Original text (6)
道及父兄之冤，咬牙切齿
Original relation: hatred · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 73
恨吾不能枭彼之头
Original relation: enemy · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 73
手持九节铜鞭，鞭之三百，肉烂骨折。
乃掘楚平王墓，出其尸，鞭之三百
伍子胥鞭平王墓
Original relation: 鞭墓 · Records of the Grand Historian, 十二诸侯年表
吴王阖闾、伍子胥、伯与唐、蔡倶伐楚，楚大败，吴兵遂入郢，辱平王之墓，以伍子胥故也。
Original relation: avenge · Records of the Grand Historian, 楚世家
- pursue and capture← King Ping of Chu → Wu Zixuhist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 72Records of the Grand Historian, 十二诸侯年表
Original text (2)
画影图形，访拿伍员
伍胥奔吴
Original relation: coerce · Records of the Grand Historian, 十二诸侯年表
- remonstrateWu 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 suicide← Fuchai → 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-subject← Fuchai → 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
Original text (1)
子胥如有灵，知吾志在理察枉讼
- offer planWu Zixu → Wu ZilitCorrect Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 53Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 58
Original text (2)
对曰
谏曰：“越在，我心腹之疾也
Original relation: admonish · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 58
Original text (1)
王闻之，使赐之属镂以死。
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
伍子胥谏吴王，吴王不听
Original text (1)
- ruler-subject← King Helü of Wu → Wu ZixulitChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 74Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 75Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 76Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 77
Original text (4)
阖闾访国政于伍员
伍员伯嚭副之
Original relation: appoint · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 75
阖闾曰：“卿为德于寡人多矣，寡人何爱于枯骨，不以慰卿之私耶？”
Original relation: accept advice · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 76
立伍员为相国
Original relation: 封相 · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 77
- assistWu Zixu → King Helü of Wuhist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 74Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 75Records of the Grand Historian, 乐毅列传Strategies of the Warring States, 燕／二
Original text (3)
伍员乃相土形之高卑，尝水味之咸淡，乃于姑苏山东北三十里，得善地，造筑大城
伍员引见阖闾曰
Original relation: recommend · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 75
说听乎阖闾
Original relation: ruler-subject · Strategies of the Warring States, 燕／二
- slander harm← Bo Pi → Wu Zixuhist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 79Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 82Records of the Grand Historian, 伍子胥列传
Original text (3)
伯嚭前奏曰：“相国之言误矣！
Original relation: dispute · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 79
伯嚭密奏曰
太宰嚭既与子胥有隙，因谗曰
- master-servantWu Zixu → Crown Prince Jianhist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 72Records of the Grand Historian, 伍子胥列传
Original text (2)
寻见了太子建，抱头而哭
闻太子建之在宋，往从之
Original relation: follow · Records of the Grand Historian, 伍子胥列传
Original text (1)
员与之相对而泣，遂引见阖闾
- recommend assassinWu Zixu → Gongzi Guanghist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 伍子胥列传Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 49
Original text (2)
乃进专诸于公子光
乃见鱄设诸焉
Original relation: recommend · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 49
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
姬光私往见之，馈以米粟布帛
- assistWu Zixu → Helühist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 吴太伯世家Strategies of the Warring States, 秦／三
Original text (2)
举伍子胥为行人而与谋国事
卒兴吴国，阖庐为霸
- father-son← Wu She → Wu Zixuhist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 71Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 72Records of the Grand Historian, 伍子胥列传Records of the Grand Historian, 楚世家
Original text (4)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
吴王阖闾与伍子胥伐楚
Original text (1)
- old friendWu Zixu → Shen BaoxulitChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 72Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 54
Original text (2)
与员有八拜之交
初，伍员与申包胥友
Original relation: friend · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 54
Original text (1)
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