Overview
Goujian was a king of Yue.
PeriodAncient China
IdentityHistorical · Male
Life and dates
Death
- BC 465 句踐卒Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 124
Attested activity
- BC 473 二十三年十一月丁卯Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passages 286-287, 291
- BC 482 十四年六月丙子Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passages 266-269
- BC 485 十一年Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 252
- BC 478 十八年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 282
- BC 496 十九年夏Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passages 219, 221, 223
- BC 494 二年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 229
Show 18 more source-backed claims
- BC 476 二十年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 284
- BC 475 二十一年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 285
- BC 489 七年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 242
- BC 494 三年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 12
- BC 496 元年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 6-7
- BC 494 to BC 473 十年國富…報強吳Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 103, passage 35
- BC 496 to BC 465 句踐Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 108, passage 121
- BC 496 to BC 465 句踐Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passage 191
- BC 496 to BC 465 句踐徙琅邪Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 122, passage 196
- BC 473 吳亡Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 95, 112
- BC 496 to BC 465 昔句踐棲於會稽Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 127, passage 20
- BC 494 昔粵王勾踐困於會稽之上Directly stated · Book of Han 103, passage 32
- BC 473 滅吳殺夫差Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 188
- BC 482 至明年春（黃池之會）Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 86-87
- BC 473 謀伐吳，遂滅之Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 65, passage 333
- BC 496 to BC 465 越王句踐…霸天下Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 127, passage 64
- BC 496 to BC 465 越王句踐
- BC 494 越王句踐困於會稽之上Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 41
Family
Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.
- Descendant of Younger son of Emperor Shaokangancestor 先 · paternal line · 20 generationsDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 1, 4
- Descendant of Yu the Great (大禹)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 1
- Ancestor of Yao (搖)descendant 後 · paternal lineDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 114, passage 1
- Ancestor of Wuzhu (亡諸)descendant 後 · paternal lineDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 114, passage 1
- Child of Yunchang (允常)son 子Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 6
- Parent of King Shuyu (王鼫與)son 子Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 124
- Spouse of Wife of Goujianwife 妻／夫人 · Primary marriageDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 25, 46
- Kinship Role children · Quantity unknown countDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 29, 34
Key source chapters
- Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 41 House of King Goujian of Yue 47 passages
- Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 31 Genealogies: House of Wu Taibo 12 passages
- Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 66 Biography of Wu Zixu 8 passages
- Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 114 Treatise on the Eastern Yue 2 passages
- Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 129 Biographies of Money-Makers 2 passages
Career and standing
- king 王Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 266
- King of Yue 越王HeldDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 229
- one of the Five Hegemons 五霸ReceivedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 58
- hegemon 伯／霸王Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 114, 116
- King of Yue 越王Held
- OfferedProposed vassal minister of WuDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 25
Show 1 more source-backed claim
- king of Yue 越王Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 6
Places and affiliations
- Polity Yue 粵 · Relation RuledDirectly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 333; Book of Han 103, passage 32
- Polity Yue 越 · Relation Associated withDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 128
- Polity Yue 越 · Relation RuledStrongly inferred · Book of Later Han 122, passage 196
- Polity Yue 越 · Relation Ruled
- Polity Yue 越 · Relation ServedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 1
- BC 478 十八年At Lize 笠澤 · Relation Campaigned atDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 282
Show 1 more source-backed claim
- At Kuaiji 會稽 · Relation Took refuge atDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 229
Works and attributed material
- Speech · Speaker · With Fuchai (夫差) · Speech Act offer of settlementDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 108
- Speech · Speaker · With Fan Li (蠡) · Speech Act offer and threatDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 169-170
- Speech · Speaker · With Fan Li (蠡)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 16, 21, 24, 83, 105
- Speech · Speaker · With Wen Zhong (種) · Speech Act order to dieDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 122
- Speech · Speaker · With Fengtong (逢同)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 58
- Speech · Speaker · Speech Act lamentDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 40
Show 1 more source-backed claim
- Speech · Speaker · Speech Act self-admonitionDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 45
Events and relationships
- Attacked Wu against Fan Li's advice, was defeated at Fujiao, and held KuaijiDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 12-13, 18-19
- Attacked Wu during the Huangchi meeting and killed its crown princeDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 87-89
- Attacked WuBC 476 二十年 · Military · CommanderDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 284
- AttackedDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 266
- Avenged Wu became hegemonBC 494 to BC 484 修之十年 · Military · CommanderDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 58
- Besieged atMilitary · Ruler · At Mount Kuaiji 會稽Directly stated · Book of Han 103, passage 32
Show 40 more source-backed claims
- Buried FuchaiDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 112
- CapturedDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 268
- Crossed the Huai, met Qi and Jin lords at Xuzhou, and presented tribute to ZhouDiplomatic · HegemonDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 113
- Defeated at Fu Qiu; withdrew to KuaijiMilitary · CommanderDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passages 133-134
- Defeated Wu at Gusu, wounded HelüMilitary · CommanderDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 128
- Defeated enemies and became hegemonMilitary · CommanderDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 127, passage 64
- Defeated Wu armyBC 478 十八年 · Military · Commander · At Lize 笠澤Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 282
- Defeated Wu at GusuDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passages 220-221
- Defeated WuBC 473 二十三年十一月丁卯 · Military · VictorDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 286
- DefeatedBC 494 to BC 473 十年國富 · Military · Ruler · At Wu 吳Directly stated · Book of Han 103, passage 35
- Destroyed Wu and killed FuchaiMilitary · ConquerorDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 188
- Destroyed Wu with counselDirectly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 333
- Destroyed WuBC 473 二十三年 · Military · ConquerorDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 291
- Entered WuBC 482 丁亥 · Military · CommanderDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 269
- ExecutedDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 291
- FoughtBC 482 乙酉 · Military · Commander · five thousand Yue men fought WuDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 267
- Intended to kill his wife and children and fight to the deathPersonal · ActorDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 29
- Lodged at Kuaiji then gained WuBC 494 to BC 473 昔句踐棲於會稽 · Political · Ruler · At Kuaiji 會稽Directly stated · Book of Jin 127, passage 20
- Made peace with WuDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 279
- Met Wu at GuiliDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 219
- Moved to Langye and built viewing terraceMigration · ActorDirectly stated · Book of Later Han 122, passage 196
- Paid court with giftsDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 252
- Renewed the invasion, besieged Wu for three years, and confined Fuchai on Mount GusuDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 93-95
- Requested submissionBC 494 二年 · Diplomatic · PrincipalDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 229
- Returned or granted lands to Chu, Song, and LuTerritorial settlement · HegemonDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 115
- Returned to Yue from KuaijiPolitical · Pardoned rulerDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 39, 44
- RoseBC 496 to BC 465 越王句踐興 · Political · Rising ruler · At Yue 越Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 196
- Surrounded WuBC 475 二十一年 · Military · CommanderDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 285
- Tilled, lived austerely, honored worthy men, aided the poor, mourned the dead, and shared the people's laborGovernance · RulerDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 46
- Took refugeBC 494 二年 · Military · Commander · At Kuaiji 會稽Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 229
- Trapped on KuaijiMilitary · Besieged ruler · At Mount Kuaiji 會稽Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 41
- Wanted to relocateBC 473 二十三年十一月丁卯 · Political · Victor · With Fuchai (夫差) · At Yongdong 甬東 · assign a hundred householdsDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 287
- BC 496 十九年夏Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 223
- BC 473 二十三年十一月丁卯Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passages 286-287, 291
- Relation Employed · Person Fan Li (蠡)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 41
- Relation Lord of · Person Fan Li (蠡)Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 333
- Relation Lord of · Person Wen Zhong (種)Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 333
- Relation Followed example of · Person King Wen of Zhou (周文王)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 127, passage 64
- Relation Employed · Person Ji Ran (計然)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 41
- Relation Lord of · Person Xie Yong (洩庸)Directly stated · Book of Han 65, passage 333
Assessments and attributes
- Assessment able to endure hardship · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Wu Zixu (伍子胥)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 239
- Assessment greater than Shaokang · With Shaokang (少康) · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Wu Zixu (伍子胥)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 237
- Assessment if not destroyed will become Wu’s calamity · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Wu Zixu (伍子胥)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 243
- Assessment lives frugally, mourns the dead and visits the sick, intending to use his people · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Wu Zixu (伍子胥)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passage 242
- Assessment once styled himself hegemon · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 114, passage 80
- Assessment worthy; destroyed mighty Wu, honored Zhou, and became hegemon · Mode historian-judgment Source Person Id Sima Qian (司馬遷)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 238-240
Show 1 more source-backed claim
- Item gall 膽 · Relation Kept and tasted as a reminder of KuaijiDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 44-45
Source notes
- Historicity historicalDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 31, passages 229, 266
References in the histories
80 passages
No matching passages.