Portrait of Wu Zixü

Wu Zixü/Ng Gee-sui (Chinese: 伍子胥;? - 484 BC) , also known as Wu Yuan/Ng Yuen (Simplified Chinese: 伍员; Traditional Chinese: 伍員), is the most famous ancestor of the Wu/Ng clan. (All transliteration of names is in the format Pinyin/Cantonese, e.g., Wu Yuan/Ng Yuen.) All branches of the Wu/Ng clan claim him as their "first ancestor." He lived in the Spring and Autumn era (722 BC - 481 BC) of Chinese history. The historical records of Wu/Ng are found in two famous Chinese classics: Historical Records (Shiji)/See-gei (Simplified Chinese: 史记; Traditional Chinese: 史記; pinyin: Shǐjì) by Sima Qian/See-ma Chin (Simplified Chinese: 司马迁; Traditional Chinese: 司馬遷) and The Art of War by Sun-tzu/Suen Gee (Simplified Chinese: 孙子; Traditional Chinese: 孫子; pinyin: Sūnzǐ) or (Simplified Chinese: 孙武; Traditional Chinese: 孫武; pinyin: Sūnwǔ). Centuries: 6th century BC - 5th century BC - 4th century BC Decades: 530s BC 520s BC 510s BC 500s BC 490s BC - 480s BC - 470s BC 460s BC 450s BC 440s BC 430s BC Years: 489 BC 488 BC 487 BC 486 BC 485 BC - 484 BC - 483 BC 482 BC... Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: 简体字; Traditional Chinese: 簡體字; pinyin: jiÇŽntǐzì; also Simplified Chinese: 简化字; Traditional Chinese: 簡化字; pinyin: jiÇŽnhuàzì) are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard character sets. ... The Spring and Autumn Period (ch. ... Centuries: 9th century BC - 8th century BC - 7th century BC Decades: 770s BC 760s BC 750s BC 740s BC 730s BC - 720s BC - 710s BC 700s BC 690s BC 680s BC 670s BC Events and Trends 728 BC - Piye invades Egypt, conquering Memphis and receives the submission of the rulers... Centuries: 6th century BC - 5th century BC - 4th century BC Decades: 530s BC 520s BC 510s BC 500s BC 490s BC - 480s BC - 470s BC 460s BC 450s BC 440s BC 430s BC Years: 486 BC 485 BC 484 BC 483 BC 482 BC _ 481 BC _ 480 BC... The Records of the Grand Historian or the Records of the Grand Historian of China was the magnum opus of Sima Qian, in which he recounted Chinese history from the time of the mythical Yellow Emperor until his own time. ... Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: 简体字; Traditional Chinese: 簡體字; pinyin: jiÇŽntǐzì; also Simplified Chinese: 简化字; Traditional Chinese: 簡化字; pinyin: jiÇŽnhuàzì) are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard character sets. ... Pinyin is a system of romanization (phonemic notation and transcription to Roman script) for Standard Mandarin, where pin means spell(ing) and yin means sound(s)). This article describes the most common variant called Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; pinyin: HànyÇ” PÄ«nyÄ«n), also known as scheme... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: 简体字; Traditional Chinese: 簡體字; pinyin: jiÇŽntǐzì; also Simplified Chinese: 简化字; Traditional Chinese: 簡化字; pinyin: jiÇŽnhuàzì) are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard character sets. ... A modern edition of The Art of War translated into English by Samuel B. Griffith. ... Wood block carving of Sun-Tzu Sun Tzu (Chinese: ; pinyin: SÅ«n Zǐ; ca 6th century BC) was the author of The Art of War, an immensely influential ancient Chinese book on military strategy (for the most part not dealing directly with tactics). ... Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: 简体字; Traditional Chinese: 簡體字; pinyin: jiÇŽntǐzì; also Simplified Chinese: 简化字; Traditional Chinese: 簡化字; pinyin: jiÇŽnhuàzì) are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard character sets. ... Pinyin is a system of romanization (phonemic notation and transcription to Roman script) for Standard Mandarin, where pin means spell(ing) and yin means sound(s)). This article describes the most common variant called Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; pinyin: HànyÇ” PÄ«nyÄ«n), also known as scheme... Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: 简体字; Traditional Chinese: 簡體字; pinyin: jiÇŽntǐzì; also Simplified Chinese: 简化字; Traditional Chinese: 簡化字; pinyin: jiÇŽnhuàzì) are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard character sets. ... Pinyin is a system of romanization (phonemic notation and transcription to Roman script) for Standard Mandarin, where pin means spell(ing) and yin means sound(s)). This article describes the most common variant called Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; pinyin: HànyÇ” PÄ«nyÄ«n), also known as scheme...

Biography of Wu Zixü

Wu/Ng was born the second son of Wu She/Ng Che (Chinese: 伍奢), who was the royal tutor in the state of Chu/Choh (Chinese: 楚). Unfortunately, the king, misled by false reports of rebellion plots, ordered the execution of Wu She/Ng Che. Wu Zixü/Ng Gee-sui fled to the state of Wu/Ng (Simplified Chinese: 吴; Traditional Chinese: 吳). (Note: this name is a homonym, different from the surname of Wu Zixü/Ng Gee-sui.) He found favor with Prince Guang/Gwong (Chinese: 光). After the prince ascended the throne of Wu/Ng and became King Helü/Hup-lui (Simplified Chinese: 阖闾; Traditional Chinese: 闔閭), he began to use Wu Zixü/Ng Gee-sui in great projects. The king assigned him to lead the design and building of the "great city," which evolved into the Suzhou/So-jau (Simplified Chinese: 苏州; Traditional Chinese: 蘇州) of today. His design was said to have incorporated the environmental harmony between earth and water and the cosmic balance between celestial and terrestrial forces. At the same time, he also assisted the king in building up military might. In 506 BC he and Sun-tzu/Suen Gee helped the king to launch major offensives against the state of Chu/Choh. They prevailed in five battles and conquered the capital of Ying/Ying (Chinese: 郢). This victory led to Wu's/Ng's elevation to Duke of Shen/Sun (Chinese: 申); subsequently, he was known by the name of Shenxü/Sun-sui (Chinese: 申胥). State of Chu (small seal script, 220 BC) Chu (楚) was a kingdom in what is now southern China during the Spring and Autumn period (722-481 BCE) and Warring States Period (481-212 BCE). ... Wu was a state during the Spring and Autumn Period in China. ... Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: 简体字; Traditional Chinese: 簡體字; pinyin: jiÇŽntǐzì; also Simplified Chinese: 简化字; Traditional Chinese: 簡化字; pinyin: jiÇŽnhuàzì) are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard character sets. ... Wu was a state during the Spring and Autumn Period in China. ... King Helü (Simplified Chinese: 阖闾; Traditional Chinese: 闔閭) of the state of Wu(Simplified Chinese: 吴; Traditional Chinese: 吳), a state in ancient China, was initially known as Prince Guang (Chinese: ). He reigned towards the end of the Spring and Autumn Period. ... Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: 简体字; Traditional Chinese: 簡體字; pinyin: jiÇŽntǐzì; also Simplified Chinese: 简化字; Traditional Chinese: 簡化字; pinyin: jiÇŽnhuàzì) are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard character sets. ... Suzhou (Simplified Chinese: 苏州; Traditional Chinese: 蘇州; pinyin: SÅ«zhōu; Wade-Giles: Su-chou; sometimes seen transliterated as Su-chow, Suchow, or Soochow) is a famous city on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Lake Taihu in the province of Jiangsu, China. ... Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: 简体字; Traditional Chinese: 簡體字; pinyin: jiÇŽntǐzì; also Simplified Chinese: 简化字; Traditional Chinese: 簡化字; pinyin: jiÇŽnhuàzì) are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard character sets. ... Centuries: 7th century BC - 6th century BC - 5th century BC Decades: 550s BC - 540s BC - 530s BC - 520s BC - 510s BC - 500s BC - 490s BC - 480s BC - 470s BC - 460s BC - 450s BC Events and Trends 509 BC - Foundation of the Roman Republic 508 BC - Office of pontifex maximus created... State of Chu (small seal script, 220 BC) Chu (楚) was a kingdom in what is now southern China during the Spring and Autumn period (722-481 BCE) and Warring States Period (481-212 BCE). ...

After the passing of King Helü/Hup-lui, Wu/Ng did not earn the trust of Fuchai/Foo-chai (Chinese: 夫差), the new king of Wu/Ng. In particular, he saw the long-term danger of King Goujian/Ngau-chin (Chinese: 句践) of Yue/Yuet (Chinese: 越) and advised the king to conquer that state. But the king listened instead to Bo Pi, an imperial minister who was bribed by the state of Yue/Yuet, and he gave a sword to Wu/Ng to commit suicide on the alleged ground of sabotage. In a short ten years after his death, all his advice turned out to be prophetic: the state of Wu/Ng was conquered by King Goujian/Ngau-chin. At the demise of his state, before King Fuchai/Foo-Chai committed suicide, he lamented that his did not heed the wise counsel of Wu/Ng. King Fu Chai of Wu (吳王), named Wu Fu Chai (吳夫差) (reigned 495 BC - 473 BC), was the last king of Wu, a state in ancient China; he reigned towards the end of the Spring and Autumn Period. ... Wu was a state during the Spring and Autumn Period in China. ... Historical drawing of King Gou Jian of Yue King Gou Jian of Yue (越王) (reigned 496 BC - 465 BC) was the king of the Kingdom of Yue (present-day Shanghai, northern Zhejiang and southern Jiangsu) near the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, named Luo Gou Jian (雒句踐). Gou Jian was... Yue was a state in China which existed during the Spring and Autumn Period. ... Bo Pi was a bureaucrat in the state of Wu in the Spring and Autumn Period. ... Yue was a state in China which existed during the Spring and Autumn Period. ... Wu was a state during the Spring and Autumn Period in China. ... Historical drawing of King Gou Jian of Yue King Gou Jian of Yue (越王) (reigned 496 BC - 465 BC) was the king of the Kingdom of Yue (present-day Shanghai, northern Zhejiang and southern Jiangsu) near the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, named Luo Gou Jian (雒句踐). Gou Jian was... King Fu Chai of Wu (吳王), named Wu Fu Chai (吳夫差) (reigned 495 BC - 473 BC), was the last king of Wu, a state in ancient China; he reigned towards the end of the Spring and Autumn Period. ...

Wu Zixü as a historical figure

Some Chinese believe that the Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month and usually associated with the poet Qu Yuan /Wut Yuen(Chinese: 屈原), actually commemorates the death of Wu Zixü, whose body was thrown into the river near Suzhou after his forced suicide. Dragon Boat Festival is also called Duan Wu or Tuen Ng Festival (端午节/端午節), which is a festival on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar. ... Qu Yuan Qu Yuan (Simplified Chinese: 屈原; Traditional Chinese: 屈原; Pinyin: qÅ« yúan) (c. ...

After Wu She's imprisonment, the king ordered the executions of both Wu She and his eldest son, Wu Shang/Ng Seung 伍尚. Because of Wu Zixu's constant desire to avenge the unjust deaths of his father and brother, he is considered an example of filial piety.

In some parts of China, Wu Zixü is worshiped as a river god, with the title of 濤神, "God of Waves."

See also

• Xi Shi
• Yao Li
• Zhuan Zhu

Xi Shi (西施, Pinyin: Xī Shī, c. ... Yao Li was an assassin in the Spring and Autumn Period. ... Zhuan Zhu (died in 515 BC) was an assassin in the Spring and Autumn Period. ...

External links

• The Story of Ng Gee Sui
• Biography of Wu Zixu, Shiji Vol. 66, in Chinese (Wikisource)