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Chinese history - the State of Wu (1)

Author: CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (130.95.128.---)
Date: 07-08-02 02:42

Chinese history - the State of Wu (吳國) (1)

In ca1198BC Ji Gu Gong Dan Fu (姬古公亶父), the leader of the Zhou people, had three sons. The eldest son was, Ji Tai Bo (姬太伯), the second one Ji Yu Zhong (姬虞仲) and the youngest Ji Ji Li (姬季厲). Ji Gu Gong Fu's third son, Ji Ji Li, had a very clever and intelligent son whose name was Ji Chang (姬昌) whom Ji Gu Gong Dan Fu loved dearly. Ji Gu Gong Dan Fu wanted Ji Chang to become the future leader of the Zhou people. So Ji Gu Gong Dan Fu decided that Ji Chang's father Ji Ji Li should succeed him after his death. However, the traditional succession rules of the leadership of the Zhou people (周族) was from father to the eldest son. In this case Ji Gu Gong Dan Fu was not abiding the rules.

Ji Gu Gong Dan Fu died in ca1191BC and his third son, Ji Ji Li, became the leader of the Zhou people. Ji Ji Li's two elder brothers, Ji Tai Bo and Ji Yu Zhong, were against his leadership. They disputed with him over the succession of leadership. When Ji Ji Li wanted to take action against their recalcitrance they fled to Jing Man (荊蠻 present day Jiang Nan 江南 south of the Yangtze River 揚子江) and settled down in a place Mei Li (梅里 present day Wu Xi city 無錫市 in Jiangsu province 江蘇省).

There were more than a thousand families in Mei Li and the residents accepted
Ji Tai Bo as their leader. Ji Tai Bo named his new domain WU (吳) which meant GREAT (巨大) in the local dialect. When Ji Tai Bo died his younger brother Ji Yu Zhong became the new leader because Ji Tai Bo had no son. Ji Ji Jian (姬季簡)
the son of Ji Yu Zhong succeeded him when he died. Ji Shu Da (姬叔達)
succeeded Ji Ji Jian. When Ji Shu Da died his son Ji Zhou Zhang (姬周章) succeeded him.

It was the year of 1122BC and Ji Fa (姬發) had destroyed the Shang Dynasty
(ca1783BC to 1122BC) and established the Zhou Dynasty (ca1134BC 256BC).
Ji Fa was installed as Zhou King Wu (周武王). Ji Zhou Zhang was the cousin
brother of Zhou King Wu because they were the great-grand children of Ji Gu
Gong Dan Fu. Zhou King Wu bestowed upon Ji Zhou Zhang the inheritable title
of Zi (子) or the Viscount. Ji Zhou Zhang renamed his domain as the State of Wu
(吳國) and its capital remained in Mei Li.

The chronology of the State of Wu (吳國)

(06) Ji Xiong Sui (姬熊遂)
(07) Ji Ke Xiang (姬柯相)
(08) Ji Qiang Jiu Yi (姬強鳩夷)
(09) Ji Yu Qiao Yi Wu (姬余橋疑吾)
(10) Ji Ke Lu (姬柯盧)
(11) Ji Zhou Yao (姬周繇)
(12) Ji Qu Yu (姬屈羽)
(13) Ji Yi Wu (姬夷吾)
(14) Ji Qin Chu (姬禽處)
(15) Ji Zhuan (姬轉)
(16) Ji Po Gao (姬頗高)
(17) Ji Ju Bei (姬句卑)
(18) Ji Qu Qi (姬去齊)
(19) Ji Shou Meng (姬壽夢)====Wu Wang (吳王)===ca 585BC to 561BC
(20) Ji Zhu Fan (姬諸樊)=======Wu Wang (吳王)==ca 560BC to 548BC
(21) Ji Yu Ji (姬餘祭)==========Wu Wang (吳王)==ca 547BC to 544BC
(22) Ji Yi Mei (姬夷眛)=========Wu Wang (吳王)==ca 543BC to 527BC
(23) Ji Liao (姬僚)============Wu Wang (吳王)==ca 526BC to 515BC
(24) Ji Guang/He Lu (姬光/闔廬)=Wu Wang (吳王)==ca 514BC to 496BC
(25) Ji Fu Cha (姬夫差)========Wu Wang (吳王)==ca 495BC to 473BC

During the Spring and Autumn Period (春秋時代 ca 722BC to 481BC), the State of Wu became a very powerful state. It had subjugated and annexed many small states. The State of Zhou Lai (州萊國 present day Feng Tai county 鳳台縣 in Anhui province 安徽省 ) was absorbed by the State of Wu in ca 529BC. In ca 518BC the State of Chao (巢國 present day Chao county 巢縣 in Anhui province) was conquered by Wu. The State of Xu (徐國 in present day Si county 泗縣 in Anhui province) was also conquered by Wu in ca 512BC.

There was a powerful tribe living in a region called Zhu Ji (諸暨 in present day Zhu Ji county in Zhejiang province 浙江省). The leader of this tribe was called Si Gou Jian (姒勾踐) who claimed that he was the descendant of Si Wen Ming (姒文命),
the founder of the Xia Dynasty (夏朝 2205BC to 1766BC). In 497BC he renamed his domain the State of Yue (越國) and proclaimed himself the King of Yue (越王). His actions infuriated its neighbouring State of Wu (吳國).

The following year, in 496BC, Ji He Lu (姬闔閭), the ruler of State of Wu attacked Yue. A battle was fought at Zai Li (檇李 in present day Jia Xing county 嘉興縣 in
Zhejiang province). The commander of the Yue Army was Ling Gu Fu (靈姑孚).
The Wu invasion forces were defeated. Ji He Lu was wounded by a poisonous arrow in the leg in the battle and he died soon after. His son, Ji Fu Cha (姬夫差), succeeded him. The new ruler of Wu swore that he would take revenge on the King of Yue.

Two years later in 494BC Ji Fu Cha invaded Yue. The forces of Wu overran Yue and captured the King of Yue, Si Gou Jian, who was a very cunning and amicable man. He convinced Ji Fu Cha not to annex his State but to remain as a puppet state of Wu. Ji Fu Cha agreed, but he imprisoned Si Gu Jian in the Wu capital, Gu Su (姑蘇 in present day Wu county 吳縣 in Jiangsu province. Previously in ca 514BC the Wu shifted their capital from Mei Li to Gu Su). Si Gou Jian was made a butler for Ji Fu Cha.

After three years in captivity Si Gou Jian was released and sent back to his home
land. Immediately Si Gou Jian began to rebuild his State. He trained himself to be tough and could stand hardship. At night he did not sleep in the palace but in the shed where firwood was kept. In order to prove himself that he could stand, every night, bitterness he made a bite of a pig gall before he went to bed "臥薪嘗膽 (Wo4 Xin Chang2 Dan3)."

In 484BC Wu Fu Cha made plans to attack the State of Qi (齊國 present day Lin Zi county 臨淄縣 in shandong province 山東省). Wu Zi Xu (伍子胥), who was the advisor of the State of Wu, told Wu Fu Cha that he should not attack the State of Qi but the State of Yue which was rebuilding itself and was secretly making plans to conquer Wu. Wu Zi Xu also told Wu Fu Cha that the State of Yue was like a disease in the heart (心腹之患 Xin Fu Zhi Huan) to Wu. Wu Zi Xu further emphasized that if Wu was not going to conquer the State of Yue, within a few years, Yue would invade Wu. Wu Fu Cha did not listen to Wu Zi Xu.

Wu Zi Xu had a son in the State of Qi. Wu Zi Xu sent words to his best friend
by the surname of Bao (鮑) to look after his son when Wu attacked. In order not to be implicated in the upcoming war Wu Zi Xu told his son to change his surname to Wang Sun (王孫) so that people in Qi would not know that he was his son. Wu Zi Xu also recalled the Wu's envoys who were sent to Qi. Somehow, Wu Zi Xu's actions had come to the knowledge of Wu Fu Cha who became very angry with Wu Zi Xu. Wu Fu Cha presented a sword to Wu Zi Xu and ordered him to take his life. Before he cut his own throat Wu Zi Xu sent words to Wu Fu Cha saying,

"樹吾墓上以梓﹐令可為器。抉吾眼置之吳東門﹐以觀越之滅吳也
Use the tree, that grows near my grave, to make weapons.
Gouge out my eyes and hang them in the eastern gate of the wall of Wu to
see the extermination of the State Wu by the State of Yue".

After saying this Wu Zi Xu committed suicide.

Wu Fu Cha went on to attack the State of Qi. The army of Wu defeated the armed forces of Qi in the battle fought at Ai Ling (艾陵 in present day Tai An county 泰安縣 in Shandong province 山東省).

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 2002

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Chinese history - the State of Wu (2)

Author: CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (130.95.128.---)
Date: 07-08-02 06:19

Chinese history - the State of Wu (吳國) (2)

Fu Cha wanted to wage war on the State of Chu (楚國 present day Jiang Ling county 江陵縣 in Hubei province 湖北省) and was busy making preparations. However, all his Court officials unanimously disagreed with him because Wu was not strong enough to go to war with Chu and Wu would most certainly lose the war against Chu. The officials tried to block his plans, but Fu Cha was stubborn and insisted on going to war.

Fu Cha was really serious and decreed that anyone who tried to stop him would face public execution in the market place.

You (友), the crown prince of Wu, was the son of Fu Cha. You was also against
his father's plan of waging war with the State of Chu. However, he was afraid to
express his feeling verbally to his father. He devised a plan on how to discourage
his father.

One day, early in the morning he brought his slingshot and small marbles and lingered in the garden at the back of the palace. Although his gowns were wet
by the morning dew he did not mind because he wanted to attract his father's attention. But his father did not come out into the garden.

The next morning he did the same thing by going to the garden. Again his father
did not venture out into the garden. He tried again the third day. This time his father saw him in the garden and, curious about You's behaviour, enquired:

"What are you doing, my son?
Look, your gowns are wet by the morning dew."

Pointing his finger at the treetop, You replied:

"You see father. There is a cicada up there on the treetop.
It is sucking the morning dew and is singing happily. It thinks it is safe.
But it does not know there is a praying mantis behind it.
The praying mantis is raising its two arms ready to strike.
The praying mantis thinks it is sure to have the cicada for breakfast.
However, the praying mantis does not know that a sparrow is behind it.
The sparrow is only thinking of the juicy meal the praying mantis represents.
The sparrow does not know that I am aiming at it with my slingshot,
and I am ready to shoot at it.
You see, my father. These insects and the bird are only thinking of the
benefits before their eyes. But they don't know the serious
consequences awaiting behind them. I feel sorry for them."

Actually there were no insects or bird on the treetop. You purposely
created a fictitious incident of them to warn his father indirectly that
there was always someone who could be better than him (強中還有強中手).
Fu Cha realized that his son was trying to tell him something. Suddenly
the upcoming action against Chu came to his mind and he said to his son,

"Yes, yes, I know you are right, my son."
Immediately he called off the impending military actions against the State of Chu.

Ten years later, in 482BC Wu Fu Cha, again, led his army northward, with the intention of capturing more territory. His army arrived at Huang Chi (黃池 in present day Feng Qiu county 封邱縣 in Henan province 河南省) and were preparing for battle with the northern States.

Knowing that Ji Fu Cha and his armed forces were away from their home base and there were no troops left behind to defend the State, Si Gou Jian congregated his rejuvenated armed forces and attacked Wu. His army overran the State of Wu in no time and captured the Crown Prince of Wu, Ji You (姬友).

On hearing that Wu was being invaded by Yue, Ji Fu Cha, leading his army, rushed home. After 20 days of forced march they arrived near their own capital, Gu Su. The soldiers of Wu were tired and exhausted after the long march. Seeing that the Wu forces were weary and exhausted Si Gou Jian attacked the fatigued army of Wu who were defeated by the Yue.

Ji Fu Cha fled to Yang Shan (楊山 in present day Wan An Shan 萬安山 in the northwest of Wu county in Jiangsu province). He regretted for being too lenient to this guileful Si Gou Jian when he was in captivity. Ji Fu Cha committed suicide. Yue annexed the State of Wu.

Shi Ji (史記 - 吳太伯世家第一) chapter 31
By Si-Ma Qian (司馬遷 145BC to 86BC)

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 2002

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