Fei Wuji
Encyclopedia
Fei Wuji (? - 515 BCE) was a corrupt official of the state
of Chu
during the reign of King Ping whose persecution of Crown Prince Jian and the family of Wu Zixu
led to the defeat and decline of Chu.
, a Chinese classic text compiled around 239 BCE, Fei was the junior teacher of the crown prince Jian, and when a princess of the State of Qin was betrothed to Prince Jian, Fei was entrusted with the task of escorting the princess to Chu. However, when Fei saw that the princess was beautiful he induced King Ping to take the princess as his own queen and find another wife for the crown prince. Fearing the revenge of Prince Jian when he became king, Fei then persuaded the king to kill Prince Jian and his senior teacher Wu She along with his son Wu Shang. Prince Jian managed to escape abroad, and Wu She's second son Wu Zixu
escaped to the state of Wu
and vowed to avenge the deaths of his father and brother. Fei Wuji then framed another official Xi Wan (郤宛) and tricked Prime Minister
Nang Wa into killing him. Shen Yin Shu
, the chief military commander of Chu, pointed out Nang's mistake and persuaded him to execute the hated Fei Wuji.
. Prince Guang ascended the throne and was known as King Helü of Wu
. In 506 BCE, Wu Zixu persuaded King Helü to invade Chu. The Wu army routed the Chu army commanded by Nang Wa in the historic Battle of Boju and captured and destroyed the Chu capital Ying
. Both Nang Wa and King Zhao of Chu
fled, and Shen Yin Shu died in battle. Chu, one of the most powerful states in the Spring and Autumn Period, would never regain its former strength. Fei Wuji's persecution of Prince Jian and Wu She directly contributed to the decline of Chu and he is remembered as one of the top villains in Chinese history.
Ancient Chinese states
Ancient Chinese States were typified by variously sized city states and territories that existed in China prior to its unification by Qin Shi Huang in 221 BCE. In many cases these were vassal states characterized by tribute paid to the ruling Zhou Dynasty...
of Chu
Chu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
during the reign of King Ping whose persecution of Crown Prince Jian and the family of Wu Zixu
Wu Zixu
Wu Yun , better known by his style name Zixu , is the most famous ancestor of people with the surname of Wu . All branches of the Wu clans claim him as their "first ancestor"...
led to the defeat and decline of Chu.
Life and death
According to Lüshi ChunqiuLüshi Chunqiu
The Lüshi Chunqiu is an encyclopedic Chinese classic text compiled around 239 BCE under the patronage of the Qin Dynasty Chancellor Lü Buwei...
, a Chinese classic text compiled around 239 BCE, Fei was the junior teacher of the crown prince Jian, and when a princess of the State of Qin was betrothed to Prince Jian, Fei was entrusted with the task of escorting the princess to Chu. However, when Fei saw that the princess was beautiful he induced King Ping to take the princess as his own queen and find another wife for the crown prince. Fearing the revenge of Prince Jian when he became king, Fei then persuaded the king to kill Prince Jian and his senior teacher Wu She along with his son Wu Shang. Prince Jian managed to escape abroad, and Wu She's second son Wu Zixu
Wu Zixu
Wu Yun , better known by his style name Zixu , is the most famous ancestor of people with the surname of Wu . All branches of the Wu clans claim him as their "first ancestor"...
escaped to the state of Wu
Wu (state)
The State of Wu , also known as Gou Wu or Gong Wu , was one of the vassal states during the Western Zhou Dynasty and the Spring and Autumn Period. The State of Wu was located at the mouth of the Yangtze River east of the State of Chu. Considered a semi-barbarian state by ancient Chinese...
and vowed to avenge the deaths of his father and brother. Fei Wuji then framed another official Xi Wan (郤宛) and tricked Prime Minister
Prime minister (Chu State)
The post of Prime Minister of Chu was an official government position established in the vassal State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history ....
Nang Wa into killing him. Shen Yin Shu
Shen Yin Shu
Shen Yin Shu or Shen Yin Xu was a general of the state of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period of ancient China. A great-grandson of King Zhuang of Chu, he was appointed yin of Shen , and became known as Shen Yin Shu...
, the chief military commander of Chu, pointed out Nang's mistake and persuaded him to execute the hated Fei Wuji.
After death
In the kingdom of Wu, Wu Zixu became a trusted advisor of Prince Guang and helped him assassinate his cousin King Liao of WuKing Liao of Wu
King Liao of Wu , also named Zhouyu, was king of the state of Wu in the Spring and Autumn Period.-Biography:...
. Prince Guang ascended the throne and was known as King Helü of Wu
King Helü of Wu
King Helü of the state of Wu , a state in ancient China, was initially known as Prince Guang . He reigned towards the end of the Spring and Autumn Period.-Biography:...
. In 506 BCE, Wu Zixu persuaded King Helü to invade Chu. The Wu army routed the Chu army commanded by Nang Wa in the historic Battle of Boju and captured and destroyed the Chu capital Ying
Ying (Chu)
Yǐng was a capital city of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese History.In the early years of Chu’s development, the state capital was located at Danyang , near modern day Xichuan County in Henan Province...
. Both Nang Wa and King Zhao of Chu
King Zhao of Chu
King Zhao of Chu was from 515 – 489 BCE the king of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period of ancient China. Documents unearthed in the former state also show his title as King Shao. Born Xiong Zhen , King Zhao was the son of King Ping of Chu .-Life:In 506 BCE, King Helü of the...
fled, and Shen Yin Shu died in battle. Chu, one of the most powerful states in the Spring and Autumn Period, would never regain its former strength. Fei Wuji's persecution of Prince Jian and Wu She directly contributed to the decline of Chu and he is remembered as one of the top villains in Chinese history.