Wu Zixu (伍子胥) | 24 Histories

Overview

Wu Zixu was a Spring and Autumn strategist and minister of Wu who helped King Helü conquer Chu and later remonstrated with King Fuchai.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Wu Yun	伍員	Wǔ Yún
Alternate name	Wu Xu	伍胥	Wǔ Xū

Life and dates

Death

BC 484 夫差賜屬鏤之劍，子胥自剄
Forced suicide · Method self-slit throat · Instrument Shulou sword 屬鏤之劍 · Authority Fuchai (夫差)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passages 169, 178
killed 殺 · Authority Fuchai (夫差)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 70
BC 484 役反，使人賜子胥屬鏤劍以自殺
Ordered suicide · Responsible Person Id Fuchai (夫差) · Instrument Zhulou sword 屬鏤劍
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 78, 81
Drowned though guiltless · Mode allusion
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 39, passage 68

Attested activity

BC 500 Spring and Autumn era
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 93, passage 47
BC 522 to BC 484 Spring and Autumn Wu-Chu wars
Strongly inferred · Book of Sui 55, passage 106
BC 506 九年吳入郢
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passages 87, 106
BC 520 to BC 484 伍員
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 108, passage 119; Records of the Three Kingdoms 62, passage 176
BC 522 to BC 484 伍員
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 160, passage 12; Records of the Three Kingdoms 61, passage 224
BC 520 to BC 484 伍子胥
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 63, passage 157

Show 15 more source-backed claims

BC 522 to BC 484 伍子胥
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 100, passage 22
BC 522 to BC 484 伍子胥
Strongly inferred · Book of Sui 55, passages 62, 64
BC 484 伍子胥說聽於闔閭...沈子胥
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 80, passages 74, 76
BC 522 to BC 484 伍子胥鞭荊平之墓
Directly stated · Book of Han 46, passage 14
BC 484 吳王夫差時
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 70
BC 484 夫差賜屬鏤之劍，子胥自剄
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passages 169, 178
BC 522 to BC 484 子胥以非辜沈身
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 39, passage 68
BC 484 子胥鴟夷
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 166
BC 500 昔三仁去而殷虛…
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 99, passage 69
BC 522 to BC 484 春秋末吳國人物伍子胥
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 42, passage 165
BC 494 to BC 484 會稽之役後至子胥被賜死
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 27, 81
BC 522 楚平王時；伍子胥亡楚奔吳
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passages 5, 40
c. BC 484 窮交
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 14, passage 238
BC 522 to BC 484 胥（伍子胥）
Directly stated · Book of Han 98, passage 236
BC 514 闔廬立，召伍員為行人
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 76

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Sibling of Wu Shang (伍尚)
elder brother 兄 · Full siblings
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 3
Child of Wu She (伍奢)
father 父
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 2
Parent of Son of Wu Zixu (伍子胥之子)
father 父
son 子
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 156; Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 77

Kinship Role elder brother · Count 1
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 73
Kinship Role father · Count 1
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 73

Key source chapters

Career and standing

envoy / minister of foreign affairs 行人
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 76
Ordered to commit suicide
Authority Fuchai (夫差) · Instrument Zhulou sword 屬鏤劍
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 78

Places and affiliations

Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Associated with
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 1
Polity Wu 吳 · Relation Associated with
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 62
Polity Wu 吳 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Records of the Three Kingdoms 61, passage 224; Book of Sui 55, passage 62
Polity Wu 吳 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 27; Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 70
At Chu 楚
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 1
At Song 宋 · Relation Fled to
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passages 41, 44

Show 2 more source-backed claims

At Wu 吳 · Relation Fled to
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 53
At Zheng 鄭 · Relation Fled to
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 44

Works and attributed material

Remonstrance · Speaker · With Fuchai (夫差) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passages 136-137, 140-143, 149-154
Speech · Speaker · With Fuchai (夫差) · Speech Act prediction · Prediction Wu would be ruined within three years
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 72
Speech · Speaker · With Fuchai (夫差) · Speech Act final denunciation and prediction
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 79-81
Speech · Speaker · With Fuchai (夫差) · Speech Act remonstrance
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 27, 37-38, 61-65
Speech · Speaker · With Fuchai (夫差) · Speech Act warning
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 68
Speech · Speaker · With Shen Baoxu (申包胥) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passages 103, 110

Show 3 more source-backed claims

Speech · Speaker · With Son of Wu Zixu (伍子胥之子) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passages 156-157
Speech · Speaker · With Wu Shang (伍尚) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passages 30-34
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passages 170-177

Events and relationships

Attempted suicide but was stopped by Fuchai
Personal · Minister
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 69
Defeated Chu at Yu Zhang
Military · Commander · At Yu Zhang 豫章
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 86
Exhumed and whipped King Ping's corpse 300 times
Revenge · Actor · With King Ping of Chu (楚平王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 106
Fled Chu after father summoned
Flight · Fugitive
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 40
Local sacrifices of cattle and wine stopped by Mai
AD 581 to AD 586 後拜楚州刺史 · Ritual · Honoree · At Chu Prefecture 楚州
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passages 63-65
Ordered to die with Shulou sword
Legal · Victim
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 169

Show 10 more source-backed claims

Persuaded
Political · Advisor · With Helü (闔廬)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 80, passage 74
Put to death or doubted for loyalty
Legal · Victim
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 61, passage 224
Temple retained
Commemoration · Cult recipient · At Wu 吳
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 160, passage 12
Was sent to Qi and entrusted his son to the Bao clan
Diplomatic · Envoy
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 77
Washed aided
Personal · Beneficiary · With Bo Pi (伯嚭)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 14, passage 238
Whipped tomb
Vengeance · Actor · With King Ping of Chu (楚平王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 100, passage 22
Relation Patron of · Person Zhuan Zhu (專諸)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 70
Relation Friend of · Person Shen Baoxu (申包胥)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 103
Relation Destitution friend of · Person Bo Pi (伯嚭)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 14, passage 238
Relation Rival of · Person Bo Pi (伯嚭)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 159

Assessments and attributes

Assessment a worthy man who would not wish the people harmed · Assessor Person Id Gao Mai (高勱) · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Gao Mai (高勱)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 64
Assessment abandoned lesser righteousness to avenge great humiliation; name left to later ages · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Sima Qian (司馬遷)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passages 217-218
Assessment exemplar of rising from exile · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Erzhu Chang (爾朱敞)
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passages 105-106
Assessment fierce, unyielding, able to endure humiliation and accomplish great things · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Wu She (伍奢)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 27
Assessment Goujian was a worthy ruler and Zhong and Fan Li were good ministers · Mode named-person-judgment Source Person Id Wu Zixu (伍子胥)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 38
Assessment resentment and revenge taken to excess; inverted conduct · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Shen Baoxu (申包胥)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passages 107, 109

Show 7 more source-backed claims

Item leather sack 鴟夷 · Relation Body cast in river · Authority Fuchai (夫差)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 80, passages 75-77
AD 581 to AD 586 先是，城北有伍子胥廟
Item temple to Wu Zixu 伍子胥廟 · Relation Posthumously enshrined · At north of Chu Prefecture city 城北
Directly stated · Book of Sui 55, passage 62
Item leather sack 鴟夷 · Relation Body enclosed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 166
Item leather wineskin (chiyi) 鴟夷革 · Relation Corpse enclosed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 179
Item Shulou sword 屬鏤之劍 · Relation Bestowed for suicide
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 169
Item sword worth a hundred in gold 劍直百金 · Relation Offered
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 58
Item Zhulou sword 屬鏤劍 · Relation Received for suicide
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 78

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 39, passage 68; Old Book of Tang 160, passage 12; Records of the Three Kingdoms 61, passage 224; Records of the Three Kingdoms 63, passage 157; Book of Sui 55, passages 62, 64

References in the histories

Search passages

History

90 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 42Volume 33: Wei Bao, Tian Dan and Hán Xin (King of Han) · 1 passage

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僕有三罪，而欲求活，此伍子胥所以僨於吳世也。 With three crimes of my own, to seek life would be like Wu Zixu's downfall in Wu.

Book of Han, Chapter 46Volume 37: Ji Bu, Luan Bu and Tian Shu · 1 passage

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夫忌壯士以資敵國，此伍子胥所以鞭荊平之墓也。 To drive a brave man into the arms of a rival is the sort of blunder that made Wu Zixu flog the grave of King Ping of Chu.

Book of Han, Chapter 76Volume 65: Dongfang Shuo · 1 passage

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「今世之處士，魁然無徒，廓然獨居，上觀許由，下察接輿，計同范蠡，忠合子胥，天下和平，與義相扶，寡耦少徒，固其宜也，子何疑於我哉？ "Today's hermits stand aloof like giants without a retinue, scan the past for Xu You and Jie Yu, compare their schemes to Fan Li and their loyalty to Wu Zixu, yet live in a tranquil age where righteousness needs no loud champion. Of course they walk alone with few companions. Why should you find that strange in me?

Book of Han, Chapter 88Volume 77: Gai, Zhuge, Liu, Zheng, Sun, Wujiang and He · 2 passages

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方今用事之人皆明習法令，言足以飾君之辭，文足以成君之過，君不惟蘧氏之高蹤，而慕子胥之末行，用不訾之軀，臨不測之險，竊為君痛之。 Today's ministers know every loophole in the code; they can polish the emperor's prose and pin any fault on you—imitate the safe Qu, not the dead Wu Zixu, or you will gamble a life you cannot replace.

是後，所言益不用，豐復上書言：「臣聞伯奇孝而棄於親，子胥忠而誅於君，隱公慈而殺於弟，叔武弟而殺于兄。 Feng again submitted a memorial saying, "I have heard that Boqi was filial yet cast off by kin, Wu Zixu loyal yet executed by his ruler, Duke Yin merciful yet killed by his younger brother, and Shuwu the younger brother yet killed by his elder brother.

Book of Han, Chapter 98Volume 87a: Yang Xiong 1 · 1 passage

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浮彭蠡，目有虞，方椎夜光之流離，剖明月之珠胎，鞭洛水之虙妃，餉屈原與彭胥。 They float across Lake Pengli and gaze toward Youyu; they hammer night-shining crystal, split the wombs of moon-bright pearls, whip Lady Fu of the Luo, and offer a feast to Qu Yuan, Peng Xian, and Wu Zixu.

Book of Han, Chapter 99Volume 87b: Yang Xiong 2 · 1 passage

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昔三仁去而殷虛，二老歸而周熾，子胥死而吳亡，種、蠡存而粵伯，五□入而秦喜，樂毅出而燕懼，范睢以折□而危穰侯，蔡澤雖噤吟而笑唐舉。 The Three Worthies left and Shang collapsed; the Two Elders came home and Zhou flourished; Wu died with Wu Zixu; Yue rose while Zhong and Fan Li lived; five captives entered Xianyang to Qin’s delight; Yue Yi’s exile struck terror into Yan; Fan Ju’s stratagem toppled the Marquis of Rang; Cai Ze, stammering all the while, still got the laugh on the physiognomist Tang Ju.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 39Volume 34: Biography of Liang Tong · 1 passage

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既徂南土，歷江、湖，濟沅、湘，感悼子胥、屈原以非辜沈身，乃作《悼騷賦》，系玄石而沈之。 Southward he crossed the great rivers and grieved for Wu Zixu and Qu Yuan, who drowned though guiltless; he wrote the 'Mourning Sao' and sank it sealed to a stone.

Book of Jin, Chapter 108Volume 108 Records 8: Murong Hui · 1 passage

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君侯植根江陽，發曜荊、衡，杖葉公之權，有包胥之志，而令白公、伍員殆得極其暴，竊為丘明恥之。 He urged Tao Kan to emulate Chu loyalists against barbarians.

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 160Volume 156 Biographies 106: Yu Di, Han Hong, Wang Zhixing · 1 passage

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吳俗事鬼，頔疾其淫祀廢生業，神宇皆撤去，唯吳太伯、伍員等三數廟存焉。 The people of Wu were devoted to spirit cults; Di, distressed that lavish rites were ruining livelihoods, had most shrines demolished, retaining only a handful, including those of Taibo of Wu and Wu Yuan.

Book of Liang, Chapter 14Volume 14: Jiang Yan; Ren Fang · 1 passage

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是以伍員濯溉於宰嚭，張王撫翼於陳相。 So Wu Yuan was washed by Zai Pi; King Zhang spread wings under Chancellor Chen.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 61Volume 61: Book of Wu 16: Biographies of Pan Jun and Lu Kai · 1 passage

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若比干、伍员，以忠见戮，以正见疑，自谓毕足，无所餘恨，灰身泉壤，无负先帝，原陛下九思，社稷存焉。 If, like Bigan or Wu Zixu, I die for loyalty or fall under suspicion for candor, I will count my life well spent and go to my grave without shame before your father. I beg you to ponder this again and again—the altars themselves hang in the balance.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 62Volume 62: Book of Wu 17: Biographies of Shi Yi and Hu Zong · 1 passage

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又念人臣獲罪，當如伍員奉己自效，不當繞幸因事為利。 I know a guilty minister should, like Wu Zixu, offer himself in loyal service—not twist events for private gain.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 63Volume 63: Book of Wu 18: Biographies of Wu Fan, Liu Dun, and Zhao Da · 1 passage

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既见而言曰：“臣昨侍从而伍子胥见请，暂过设酒，忽忽不得，即委之。” He blamed a banquet with Wu Zixu’s ghost for his delay.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 41House of King Goujian of Yue · 16 passages

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子胥言於吳王曰：「天以越賜吳，勿許也。」 Zixu spoke to the Wu king, saying: “Heaven grants Yue to Wu. Do not permit it.”

子胥進諫曰：「今不滅越，後必悔之。 Zixu advanced and admonished, saying: “If we do not extinguish the state of Yue now, we will certainly regret it later.

子胥諫曰：「未可。 Wu Zixu remonstrated: “Not yet.

讓子胥。 He reproached Wu Zixu.

子胥曰：「王毋喜！」 Zixu said: “King, do not rejoice!”

王怒，子胥欲自殺，王聞而止之。 The king was angered. Zi Xu desired to commit suicide. The king heard and stopped him.

請貸，吳王欲與，子胥諫勿與，王遂與之，越乃私喜。 They requested to borrow. The Wu king desired to give. Zi Xu admonished not to give. The king then gave it. Yue then privately rejoiced.

子胥言曰：「王不聽諫，後三年吳其墟乎！」 Wu Zixu said, “If the king does not listen to remonstrance, within three years Wu may lie in ruins!”

太宰嚭聞之，乃數與子胥爭越議，因讒子胥曰：「伍員貌忠而實忍人，其父兄不顧，安能顧王？ The Grand Administrator Pi heard this and repeatedly argued with Wu Zixu over Yue policy. He then slandered Wu Zixu, saying, “Wu Yuan appears loyal, but in truth he is cruel. He disregarded his own father and elder brother; how can he care for Your Majesty?

王前欲伐齊，員彊諫，已而有功，用是反怨王。 Earlier, when the king wished to attack Qi, Wu Yuan forcefully remonstrated. After the campaign succeeded, he took this as a reason to resent the king.

王不備伍員，員必為亂。」 If the king does not guard against Wu Yuan, Yuan will certainly rebel.”

王始不從，乃使子胥於齊，聞其託子於鮑氏，王乃大怒，曰：「伍員果欺寡人！」 The king at first did not follow this advice, and later sent Zixu to Qi. When he heard that Zixu had entrusted his son to the Bao clan, the king became furious and said: “Wu Yuan has indeed deceived me!”

役反，使人賜子胥屬鏤劍以自殺。 When the campaign returned, the king sent someone to present Wu Zixu with the Zhulou sword and order him to kill himself.

子胥大笑曰：「我令而父霸，我又立若，若初欲分吳國半予我，我不受，已，今若反以讒誅我。 Wu Zixu laughed loudly and said: “I made your father hegemon, and I established you as well. At first, you wished to divide the state of Wu in half and give it to me, but I did not accept it. Now you instead execute me on slander.

居三年，句踐召范蠡曰：「吳已殺子胥，導諛者眾，可乎？」 After three years, Goujian summoned Fan Li and said, “Wu has already killed Zixu, and many men are leading the king astray with flattery. Is the time right?”

乃蔽其面，曰：「吾無面以見子胥也！」 He then covered his face and said, “I have no face with which to see Zixu!”

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 66Biography of Wu Zixu · 49 passages

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伍子胥者，楚人也，名員。 Wu Zixu was a man from Chu, named Yuan.

員父曰伍奢。 Yuan's father was named Wu She.

員兄曰伍尚。 Yuan's elder brother was named Wu Shang.

員為人剛戾忍訽，能成大事，彼見來之并禽，其勢必不來。」 Yuan is fierce and unyielding. He can endure humiliation and accomplish great things. Once he sees that coming means both brothers will be captured, he certainly will not come.'

伍尚欲往，員曰：「楚之召我兄弟，非欲以生我父也，恐有脫者後生患，故以父為質，詐召二子。 Wu Shang wished to go, but Yuan said: 'Chu's summoning of us brothers is not to let our father live. They fear that escapees will later cause trouble, so they use our father as hostage and deceitfully summon the two sons.

謂員：「可去矣！ He told Yuan: 'You can go!

尚既就執，使者捕伍胥。 Shang having been captured, the envoy then tried to capture Wu Zixu.

伍胥貫弓執矢向使者，使者不敢進，伍胥遂亡。 Wu Zixu strung his bow and held arrows pointing at the envoy. The envoy dared not advance, so Wu Zixu then fled.

奢聞子胥之亡也，曰：「楚國君臣且苦兵矣。」 When Wu She heard that Zixu had fled, he said: "The ruler and ministers of Chu will soon suffer the hardships of war."

伍胥既至宋，宋有華氏之亂，乃與太子建俱奔於鄭。 After Wu Zixu reached Song, the Hua clan rebellion broke out there, so he and Crown Prince Jian fled together to Zheng.

伍胥懼，乃與勝俱奔吳。 Wu Zixu feared, so together with Sheng he fled to Wu.

伍胥遂與勝獨身步走，幾不得脫。 Wu Zixu then fled on foot with Sheng alone and nearly failed to escape.

至江，江上有一漁父乘船，知伍胥之急，乃渡伍胥。 They reached the Jiang, where a fisherman in a boat saw Wu Zixu's urgency and ferried him across.

伍胥既渡，解其劍曰：「此劍直百金，以與父。」 After Wu Zixu crossed, he unfastened his sword and said: 'This sword is worth a hundred in gold. I give it to you, elder.'

父曰：「楚國之法，得伍胥者賜粟五萬石，爵執珪，豈徒百金劍邪！」 The fisherman said: 'Under Chu law, whoever captures Wu Zixu receives fifty thousand shi of grain and the rank of Holder of the Jade Tablet. Why would I care for a sword worth merely a hundred in gold?'

伍胥未至吳而疾，止中道，乞食。 Before Wu Zixu reached Wu, he fell ill, stopped along the road, and begged for food.

伍胥乃因公子光以求見吳王。 Wu Zixu then sought an audience with the King of Wu through Prince Guang.

伍子胥說吳王僚曰：「楚可破也。 Wu Zixu advised King Liao of Wu, saying: 'Chu can be broken.

公子光謂吳王曰：「彼伍胥父兄為戮於楚，而勸王伐楚者，欲以自報其讎耳。 Prince Guang told the King of Wu: 'Wu Zixu's father and elder brother were slaughtered by Chu. He advises Your Majesty to attack Chu only because he wants to avenge his private grievance.

伍胥知公子光有內志，欲殺王而自立，未可說以外事，乃進專諸於公子光，退而與太子建之子勝耕於野。 Wu Zixu knew Prince Guang harbored ambitions within Wu and intended to kill the king and establish himself. Since Guang could not yet be persuaded about campaigns abroad, Zixu introduced Zhuan Zhu to him, then withdrew to farm in the fields with Sheng, the son of Crown Prince Jian.

闔廬既立，得志，乃召伍員以為行人，而與謀國事。 Once Helü had taken the throne and achieved his ambition, he summoned Wu Yun to serve as envoy and planned affairs of state with him.

闔廬立三年，乃興師與伍胥、伯嚭伐楚，拔舒，遂禽故吳反二將軍。 Three years after Helü was established, he raised troops and with Wu Zixu and Bo Pi attacked Chu. He captured Shu and captured the two former Wu generals who had rebelled.

吳使伍員迎擊，大破楚軍於豫章，取楚之居巢。 Wu sent Wu Zixu to meet and attack them. He greatly defeated the Chu army at Yu Zhang and took Chu's Ju Chao.

九年，吳王闔廬謂子胥、孫武曰：「始子言郢未可入，今果何如？」 In the ninth year, King Helü of Wu told Wu Zixu and Sun Wu: 'Initially you said Ying could not be entered. Now indeed, how is it?'

始伍員與申包胥為交，員之亡也，謂包胥曰：「我必覆楚。」 Initially Wu Zixu and Shen Bao Xu were friends. When Zixu fled, he told Bao Xu: 'I must overturn Chu.'

及吳兵入郢，伍子胥求昭王。 When Wu's troops entered Ying, Wu Zixu searched for King Zhao.

既不得，乃掘楚平王墓，出其尸，鞭之三百，然後已。 Unable to find him, Wu Zixu dug up King Ping of Chu's tomb, dragged out the corpse, and whipped it three hundred times before stopping.

申包胥亡於山中，使人謂子胥曰：「子之報讎，其以甚乎！ Shen Baoxu fled into the mountains and sent someone to tell Wu Zixu: 'Has your revenge not gone too far?

伍子胥曰：「為我謝申包胥曰，吾日莫途遠，吾故倒行而逆施之。」 Wu Zixu said: 'Offer my apologies to Shen Baoxu and tell him: The sun is setting, and the road is long, so I must walk backward and act against the usual order.'

當是時，吳以伍子胥、孫武之謀，西破彊楚，北威齊晉，南服越人。 At this time, Wu used the strategies of Wu Zixu and Sun Wu to break mighty Chu in the west, overawe Qi and Jin in the north, and subdue the Yue people in the south.

伍子胥諫曰：「越王為人能辛苦。 Wu Zixu remonstrated: 'King Goujian is a man who can endure hardship.

伍子胥諫曰：「句踐食不重味，弔死問疾，且欲有所用之也。 Wu Zixu remonstrated: 'Goujian eats no second dish, mourns the dead and visits the sick. He means to put all this to use.

益疏子胥之謀。 He became increasingly estranged from Zixu's counsel.

伍子胥諫曰：「夫越，腹心之病，今信其浮辭詐偽而貪齊。 Wu Zixu remonstrated: "Yue is an abdominal heart disease. Now the king believes their empty words and deception while being greedy for Qi.

而吳王不聽，使子胥於齊。 The Wu king did not listen and sent Wu Zixu to Qi.

子胥臨行，謂其子曰：「吾數諫王，王不用，吾今見吳之亡矣。 As he was about to depart, Wu Zixu told his son: 'I have repeatedly remonstrated with the king, but he has rejected my advice. I can now see that Wu will perish.

吳太宰嚭既與子胥有隙，因讒曰：「子胥為人剛暴，少恩，猜賊，其怨望恐為深禍也。 The Grand Steward Pi of Wu already had a grievance against Zixu and therefore slandered him: 'Zixu is harsh and violent, shows little kindness, and is suspicious and malicious. I fear his resentment will become a grave calamity.

前日王欲伐齊，子胥以為不可，王卒伐之而有大功。 Previously, when the king wished to attack Qi, Zixu said it should not be done; the king ultimately attacked and won a great victory.

子胥恥其計謀不用，乃反怨望。 Zixu was ashamed that his counsel had not been accepted and therefore became resentful.

而今王又復伐齊，子胥專愎彊諫，沮毀用事，徒幸吳之敗以自勝其計謀耳。 Now that the king is attacking Qi again, Wu Zixu stubbornly remonstrates, obstructs affairs, and hopes only for Wu's defeat so that his own plans may be proved right.

今王自行，悉國中武力以伐齊，而子胥諫不用，因輟謝，詳病不行。 Now the king is going in person, using all the state's military strength to attack Qi. When Wu Zixu's remonstrations were not accepted, he withdrew, made excuses, feigned illness, and refused to go.

乃使使賜伍子胥屬鏤之劍，曰：「子以此死。」 He then sent an envoy to give Wu Zixu the Shulou sword, saying: 'Die with this.'

伍子胥仰天嘆曰：「嗟乎！ Wu Zixu gazed at heaven and sighed: 'Alas!

吳王聞之大怒，乃取子胥尸盛以鴟夷革，浮之江中。 When the Wu king heard this, he was furious. He took Wu Zixu's corpse, sealed it in a leather wineskin, and cast it into the Jiang.

吳王既誅伍子胥，遂伐齊。 After executing Wu Zixu, the Wu king attacked Qi.

伍子胥初所與俱亡故楚太子建之子勝者，在於吳。 Sheng, the son of the former Chu Crown Prince Jian, had originally fled with Wu Zixu and was living in Wu.

白公歸楚三年而吳誅子胥。 Three years after Bai Gong returned to Chu, Wu executed Zixu.

向令伍子胥從奢俱死，何異螻蟻。 If Wu Zixu had followed Wu She and died with him, how would he have differed from an ant?

方子胥窘於江上，道乞食，志豈嘗須臾忘郢邪？ When Zixu was in distress beside the Jiang, begging for food along the road, could he have forgotten his resolve to reach Ying for even a moment?

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 80Biography of Yue Yi · 4 passages

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昔伍子胥說聽於闔閭，而吳王遠跡至郢； Formerly Wu Zixu's counsel was heeded by Helü, and the king of Wu pushed as far as Ying;

夫差弗是也，賜之鴟夷而浮之江。 King Fuchai of Wu did otherwise: he had Zixu put in a leather sack and cast into the river.

吳王不寤先論之可以立功，故沈子胥而不悔； The king of Wu failed to understand that Zixu's earlier counsel could have secured his achievement, and so had Zixu cast into the river without regret;

子胥不蚤見主之不同量，是以至於入江而不化。 Zixu failed to recognize early enough that his ruler was made of different stuff, and so ended up in the river, his body uncorrupted.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 83Biographies of Lu Zhonglian and Zou Yang · 1 passage

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臣聞比干剖心，子胥鴟夷，臣始不信，乃今知之。 Your servant had heard that Bi Gan's heart was cut open and that Wu Zixu's body was sewn into a leather sack. I did not believe such things at first, but now I know they can happen.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 88Biography of Meng Tian · 1 passage

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吳王夫差殺伍子胥。 King Fuchai of Wu forced Wu Zixu to take his own life.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 93Biographies of Han Xin (King of Han) and Lu Wan · 1 passage

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今仆有三罪於陛下，而欲求活於世，此伍子胥所以僨於吳也。 Now I bear three crimes against His Majesty and yet wish to go on living. This is precisely what brought Wu Zixu to his destruction in Wu.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 100Biographies of Ji Bu and Luan Bu · 1 passage

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夫忌壯士以資敵國，此伍子胥所以鞭荊平王之墓也。 To drive away stalwart warriors and thereby strengthen enemy states—this is why Wu Zixu whipped the tomb of King Ping of Chu.

Book of Sui, Chapter 55Volume 55 Biographies 20: Du Yan, Gao Mai, Er Zhu Chang, Zhou Yao, Du Gukai, Qi Fuhui, Zhang Wei, He Hong, Houmo Chenying · 3 passages

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先是，城北有伍子胥廟，其俗敬鬼。 North of the city stood a temple to Wu Zixu, and the people were devoted to spirit worship.

勱歎曰：「子胥賢者，豈宜損百姓乎？」 Mai sighed and said, "Zixu was a worthy man—would he want the people ruined?"

伍子胥獨何人也！」 What was Wu Zixu, that he alone could rise so high!"