Goujian

Reduced to slavery after defeat, he tasted gall to steel himself and finally conquered Wu and became hegemon.

Life

Zuili and Fujiao

Goujian was the son of King Yunchang of Yue. In 496 BCE, shortly after he took the throne, King Helu of Wu attacked; he crushed the Wu army at Zuili, and Helu died of his wounds.

Tasting gall to steel himself

In 494 BCE King Fuchai of Wu avenged his father, crushing the Yue army at Fujiao. Besieged on Mount Kuaiji, Goujian was forced to sue for peace and went with his wife to Wu as slaves. After returning home he tasted bitter gall whenever he sat or lay down to remind himself never to forget the humiliation of Kuaiji. He also plowed the fields himself and employed Fan Li and Wen Zhong to develop production and train the army.

Conquers Wu and becomes hegemon

In 482 BCE, while Fuchai pushed north to contend for hegemony, he attacked the State of Wu; in 473 BCE he conquered Wu and Fuchai committed suicide. He then went north to hold a covenant with the other lords and became the last hegemon of the Spring and Autumn period. He died in 465 BCE.

Legacy

Goujian's story of enduring humiliation to restore his state became a Chinese symbol of striving to grow strong, but his execution of meritorious officials after his success also reminds later generations of Fan Li's saying, "When the birds are gone, the good bow is put away."

Major works & achievements

• Destroyed Wu
• Became hegemon of the lords

Did you know? The Records of the Grand Historian only says that he "tasted gall"; "sleeping on brushwood" was added to the story only from the Song dynasty onward.

Key dates

• 496 BCEDefeated King Helü of Wu at the Battle of Zuili
• 494 BCEDefeat at Fujiao; sues for peace at Kuaiji
• 482 BCEAttacked the State of Wu
• 473 BCEConquest of Wu
• 465 BCEDied