CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
King Goujian of Yue越王勾践
Ruler of the state of Yue, once attacked Wu.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 10
- RELATION RECORDS
- 21
- SOURCE WORKS
- 12
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
King Goujian of Yue, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
4 figures · 6 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
King Goujian of YueisFan Li’s ruler
King Goujian of Yue—Wen Zhongruler-subject
King Goujian of Yue→Fuchaisubmit
King Goujian of Yue→Shen Baoxuconsult
02CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
8 figures · 11 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
King Goujian of Yue—Fuchaibattle
King Goujian of Yue→Bo Pislay
King Goujian of Yue—King of Wubattle
Wu Zixu—King Goujian of Yuehostile
03THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
4 figures · 4 records＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Wu Zixu→King Goujian of Yueappear and assist
King Goujian of Yue→Fuchaitaste feces
Bo Pi→King Goujian of Yueshelter
Wen Zhong→King Goujian of Yueoffer plan
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
Ruler of Yue, after being defeated by Wu, he endured hardships to achieve his ambition and eventually destroyed Wu. ; King of Yue, destroyed Wu. ; King of Yue, endured hardships to destroy Wu.
In fiction · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms · Collected Biographies of Immortals · Book of the Later Han · Discourses of the States · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era · Strategies of the Warring States · Researches into Lost Records · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition · Book of Han
Ruler of Yue, once attacked Wu. ; King of Yue, resisted Wu, defeated Helü. ; King of Yue, after military defeat, sought peace and was willing to become a vassal of Wu.
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 / legend10 profile notes
Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms
16 relations24 verified quotations- Wu Zixu→ hostile →King Goujian of Yue
- Wu Zixu→ appear and assist →King Goujian of Yue
- King Goujian of Yue→ battle →Fuchai
- King Goujian of Yue→ submit →Fuchai
Verified original text · 24
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
22 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history6 profile notes
Discourses of the States
7 relations11 verified quotations- King Goujian of Yue→ battle →Fuchai
- King Goujian of Yue→ submit →Fuchai
- Fuchai→ attack →King Goujian of Yue
- King Goujian of Yue→ ruler-subject →Fan Li
Verified original text · 11
越王句践命诸稽郢行成于吴
seek peace · Discourses of the States, 吴语
败吴于囿
battle · Discourses of the States, 越语上
9 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history3 profile notes
Book of Han
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history5 profile notes
Book of the Later Han
2 relations2 verified quotations- King of Wu→ defeat →King Goujian of Yue
- King Goujian of Yue→ battle →King of Wu
Verified original text · 2
败之于夫椒
defeat · Book of the Later Han, 张衡列传
越王句践先吴兴师
battle · Book of the Later Han, 张衡列传
- Official history2 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history10 profile notes
Records of the Grand Historian
7 relations11 verified quotations- King Goujian of Yue→ battle →Fuchai
- Fuchai→ attack →King Goujian of Yue
- King Goujian of Yue→ battle →Helü
- King Goujian of Yue→ ruler-subject →Fan Li
Verified original text · 11
越王句践遂灭吴，杀王夫差
defeat Wu · Records of the Grand Historian, 伍子胥列传
越王句践复伐吴
destroy a state · Records of the Grand Historian, 吴太伯世家
9 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Literature / legend2 profile notes
Researches into Lost Records
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history2 profile notes
History of Song
0 relations0 verified quotations - Literature / legend2 profile notes
Extensive Records of the Taiping Era
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history3 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 history1 profile notes
Bamboo Annals
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history3 profile notes
Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition
1 relations1 verified quotations- King Goujian of Yue→ capture →Zhu Zi
Verified original text · 1
越人执之以归
capture · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 60
History vs. fiction
The official history records 'tasting gall' but not 'sleeping on firewood'; 'sleeping on firewood' is a later addition.
- based on factSleeping on firewood and tasting gall
The original text of the Records of the Grand Historian, 'The Hereditary House of King Goujian of Yue', only records: 'After Wu pardoned Yue, King Goujian of Yue returned to his state. He then afflicted his body and worried his thoughts, placed gall in his seat, and whether sitting or lying, he looked up at the gall, and when eating or drinking, he also tasted it.' The official history has 'tasting gall' but not 'sleeping on firewood'. The two characters 'sleeping on firewood' first appear in Su Shi's 'Letter in Response to Sun Quan's Letter to Cao Cao' as 'sleeping on firewood and tasting gall, determining the time of death', which is unrelated to Goujian. It was not until the Ming dynasty's Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, chapter 80, that 'sleeping on firewood' and 'tasting gall' were formally listed together as Goujian's act of revenge.
Relationship network
Original text (1)
夫飞鸟在青云之上，尚欲弯弓而射之
Original text (1)
- battleKing 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
- submitKing 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)
- attack← Fuchai → 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)
Original text (1)
越王句践先吴兴师
Original text (1)
伯嚭乃造越军，稽首于越王，求赦吴罪
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
越因袭撃吴师，吴师败於檇李，射伤吴王阖庐
Original text (1)
- ruler-subjectKing Goujian of Yue → Fan Lihist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 79Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 80Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 81Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 82Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 83Records of the Grand Historian, 范睢蔡泽列传Records of the Grand Historian, 越王句践世家Discourses of the States, 吴语Discourses of the States, 越语下
Original text (8)
大夫范蠡字少伯，出班奏曰
Original relation: lord-minister · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 79
吴尚未可灭也，姑许成
Original relation: suggest · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 82
臣闻‘主辱臣死。’
范蠡进谏曰
Original relation: remonstrate · Discourses of the States, 越语下
范蠡谏句践勿许吴成卒灭吴
范蠡知之，超然辟世，长为陶朱公
Original relation: assist · Records of the Grand Historian, 范睢蔡泽列传
范蠡事越王句践
Original relation: assist · Records of the Grand Historian, 越王句践世家
独与范蠡偕行
- ruler-subjectKing Goujian of Yue → Wen Zhonghist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 80Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 81Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 83Records 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Discourses of the States, 越语上
Original text (8)
以国属诸大夫
以文种治国政，以范蠡治军旅
越王问于文种
Original relation: ask plan · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 81
子有七术，寡人行其三
越大夫种乃唱谋
执其手而与之谋
乃用种、蠡
Original relation: employ · Records of the Grand Historian, 太史公自序
乃令大夫種行成於吴
- lord-minister← Wen Zhong → King Goujian of Yuehist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 79Records of the Grand Historian, 越王句践世家Discourses of the States, 吴语
Original text (3)
大夫文种字会，奏曰
大夫种乃献谋
Original relation: offer plan · Discourses of the States, 吴语
種止句践曰
Original relation: assist · Records of the Grand Historian, 越王句践世家
- order suicideKing Goujian of Yue → Wen Zhonghist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 83Records of the Grand Historian, 越王句践世家
Original text (2)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)