King Helü of Wu
Encyclopedia
King Helü of the state of Wu
(r. 514–496 BC), a state in ancient China, was initially known as Prince Guang . He reigned towards the end of the Spring and Autumn Period.
and take the throne himself, Zhuan Zhu
was recommended to Prince Guang by Wu Zixu
. After Zhuan Zhu accomplished his mission in 515 BC the prince ascended the throne of Wu and became King Helü. The king assigned Wu Zixu to lead the design and building of the "great city," which evolved into the Suzhou
of today.
In 506 BC Helü with the help of Wu Zixu and Sun Tzu
, the author of The Art of War
, launched major offensives against the state of Chu
. They prevailed in five battles, one of which was the Battle of Boju, and conquered the capital Ying
. However, Chu managed to ask the Qin for help, and after being defeated by Qin, the vanguard general of Wu troops, Fugai, a younger brother of Helü, led a rebellion. After beating Fugai, Helü was forced to leave Chu. Fugai later retired to Chu and settled there.
His son, King Fuchai of Wu, succeeded him in 495 BC. Helü had two other sons named Bo and Shan. Bo was initially his heir, but died before him. The novel The Records of States of Eastern Zhou Dynasty referred to Fuchai as son of Bo.
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...
(r. 514–496 BC), a state in ancient China, was initially known as Prince Guang . He reigned towards the end of the Spring and Autumn Period.
Biography
As Prince Guang wanted to kill 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:...
and take the throne himself, Zhuan Zhu
Zhuan Zhu
Zhuan Zhu was an assassin in the Spring and Autumn Period. As Prince Guang wanted to kill King Liao of Wu and take the throne himself, Zhuan Zhu was recommended to Prince Guang by Wu Zixu. In 515 BC he managed to kill King Liao in a party with a dagger hidden in a fish...
was recommended to Prince Guang by 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"...
. After Zhuan Zhu accomplished his mission in 515 BC the prince ascended the throne of Wu and became King Helü. The king assigned Wu Zixu to lead the design and building of the "great city," which evolved into the Suzhou
Suzhou
Suzhou , previously transliterated as Su-chou, Suchow, and Soochow, is a major city located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, located adjacent to Shanghai Municipality. The city is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake and is a part...
of today.
In 506 BC Helü with the help of Wu Zixu and Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
Sun Wu , style name Changqing , better known as Sun Tzu or Sunzi , was an ancient Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher who is traditionally believed, and who is most likely, to have authored The Art of War, an influential ancient Chinese book on military strategy...
, the author of The Art of War
The Art of War
The Art of War is an ancient Chinese military treatise that is attributed to Sun Tzu , a high ranking military general and strategist during the late Spring and Autumn period...
, launched major offensives against the state 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...
. They prevailed in five battles, one of which was the Battle of Boju, and conquered the 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...
. However, Chu managed to ask the Qin for help, and after being defeated by Qin, the vanguard general of Wu troops, Fugai, a younger brother of Helü, led a rebellion. After beating Fugai, Helü was forced to leave Chu. Fugai later retired to Chu and settled there.
His son, King Fuchai of Wu, succeeded him in 495 BC. Helü had two other sons named Bo and Shan. Bo was initially his heir, but died before him. The novel The Records of States of Eastern Zhou Dynasty referred to Fuchai as son of Bo.
See also
- Yao LiYao LiYao Li was a famed assassin in the Spring and Autumn Period. Native in the state of Wu, he was recommended to King Helü of Wu by Wu Zixu. His mission was to kill Prince Qingji of Wu , who was then in the state of Wei. In order to pretend to be a criminal in the state of Wu, Yao Li killed his wife...
- Naval history of ChinaNaval history of ChinaThe naval history of China dates back thousands of years, with archives existing since the late Spring and Autumn Period about the ancient navy of China and the various ship types used in war. China was leading maritime power in the years 1405-1433, when Chinese shipbuilders began to build massive...