Ancient China · Strategist and Advisor

Ji Ran 計然

Attested BC 500 - BC 470

Passages: 7
Chapters: 3
Histories: 2

Overview

Ji Ran was a Strategist and Advisor.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Ji Yan	研	Yán
Alternate name	Ji Yan	計研	Jì Yán

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 494 乃用范蠡、計然
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 41
BC 494 乃用蕩蠡、計然
Directly stated · Book of Han 103, passage 32
BC 500 to BC 470 研、桑心计于无垠
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 117, passage 276

Key source chapters

Learning and skills

Skill financial calculation 心计 · Level boundless
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 276
Skill economic timing and commodity strategy 積著之理 · Level taught
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passages 42, 52

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passages 42-57
Speech · Speaker · Speaker Ji Ran (計然)
Directly stated · Book of Han 103, passages 33-34

Events and relationships

Relation Advisor of · Person Goujian (勾踐)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 41
Relation Advisor to · Person Goujian (勾踐)
Directly stated · Book of Han 103, passage 32

Source notes

Historicity legendary
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passage 276

References in the histories

Book of Han, Chapter 103Volume 91: Usurers · 3 passages

昔粵王勾踐困於會稽之上，乃用蕩蠡、計然。 Long ago, when King Goujian of Yue was besieged on Mount Kuaiji, he turned to Fan Li and the adviser Ji Ran.

計然曰：「知斗則修備，時用則知物，二者形則萬貨之情可得見矣。 Ji Ran said, "Know that war is coming and you prepare your stores; know what the seasons demand and you understand goods. When both are clear, the whole market opens to you.

范蠡歎曰：「計然之策，十用其五而得意。 Fan Li said with a sigh, "I deployed only half of Ji Ran's playbook and already won the kingdom.

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 1 passage

龢、鵲發精於鍼石，研、桑心計於無垠。 Yi He and Bian Que mastered the needle and stone probe; Ji Yan and Sang Hongyang's financial calculations knew no bounds.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 129Biographies of Money-Makers · 3 passages

昔者越王句踐困於會稽之上，乃用范蠡、計然。 In former times, King Goujian of Yue found himself besieged atop Mount Kuaiji. He turned to Fan Li and Ji Ran for counsel.

計然曰：「知斗則修備，時用則知物，二者形則萬貨之情可得而觀已。 Ji Ran said: 'Know that war is coming, and you prepare your defenses. Know what the season demands, and you understand the nature of goods. When both of these are perceived, the workings of all ten thousand commodities can be grasped.

范蠡既雪會稽之恥，乃喟然而嘆曰：「計然之策七，越用其五而得意。 After Fan Li had washed away the humiliation of Kuaiji, he heaved a deep sigh and said: 'Of Ji Ran's seven strategies, Yue employed only five and achieved everything it sought.