Ancient China · Ruler

Helü 闔廬

Attested BC 514 - BC 496

Passages: 10
Chapters: 3
Histories: 2

Overview

The translated histories identify Helü as a ruler. This record brings together 10 passages from 3 chapters across 2 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Helü	闔廬	Helü
Personal name	Helü	闔廬	Hélǘ
Personal	Helü	闔閭	Helü
Title	King Helü	吳王
Title	King Helü of Wu	吳王闔廬
Title	King of Wu	吳王	Wu Wang

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · shiji:065:s0002
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · shiji:080:s0074

Roles

Ruler

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 伍子胥說聽於闔閭，而吳王遠跡至郢 · Western Year: BC 506
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:080:s0074
Source Date: Text: 吳王闔廬 · Western Interval: Start: BC 514 · End: BC 496
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:065:s0002, shiji:065:s0034
Source Date: Text: 楚昭王遭闔廬之禍 · Western Interval: Start: BC 514 · End: BC 496
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:025:s0089

Family

Kinship Role: favorite consorts · Count: 2
Explicit · shiji:065:s0008

Places and affiliations

Label: Wu · Relation: ruled
Explicit · shiji:080:s0074
Polity: Wu / 吳 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · hanshu:025:s0089

Works and attributed material

Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Other Person Id: Sun Wu (孫武)
Explicit · shiji:065:s0003, shiji:065:s0005, shiji:065:s0024, shiji:065:s0025, shiji:065:s0031

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: attacker · Action: brought disaster on King Zhao of Chu · Other Person Id: King Zhao of Chu (楚昭王)
Explicit · hanshu:025:s0089

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Book of Han, Chapter 25Volume 23: Treatise on Punishment and Law · 1 passage

楚昭王遭闔廬之禍，國滅出亡，父老送之。 Even after catastrophic defeat under Wu pressure, King Zhao entered exile with popular support.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 65Biographies of Sun Tzu and Wu Qi · 8 passages

以兵法見於吳王闔廬。 He presented his military strategies to King Helü of Wu.

闔廬曰：「子之十三篇，吾盡觀之矣，可以小試勒兵乎？」 King Helü said, “I have read all thirteen of your chapters. May we try drilling the troops on a small scale?”

闔廬曰：「可試以婦人乎？」 King Helü said, “May we try it with the palace women?”

吳王從臺上觀，見且斬愛姬，大駭。 King Helü watched from the terrace above. When he saw that his beloved consorts were about to be executed, he was badly alarmed.

於是孫子使使報王曰：「兵既整齊，王可試下觀之，唯王所欲用之，雖赴水火猶可也。」 Then Sun Tzu sent a messenger to report to the king, saying: “The troops are now well-ordered. Your Majesty can come down to observe them. Whatever you wish to use them for—even charging into water or fire—they will do it.”

吳王曰：「將軍罷休就舍，寡人不願下觀。」 King Helü said, “General, please retire to your quarters. I do not wish to come down and observe.”

孫子曰：「王徒好其言，不能用其實。」 Sun Tzu said, “The king only enjoys the theory but cannot put it into practice.”

於是闔廬知孫子能用兵，卒以為將。 Thus, Helü knew that Sun Tzu could command troops, and at last he appointed him general.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 80Biography of Yue Yi · 1 passage

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;