Ancient China · Queen consort of Yue

Wife of Goujian

Attested BC 494

Passages: 4
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Wife of Goujian was a queen consort of Yue.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 494 會稽之役
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 25

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Goujian (勾踐)
wife 妻／夫人 · Primary marriage
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passages 25, 46

Career and standing

Offered
Proposed concubine of the king of Wu
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 25

Places and affiliations

Polity Yue 越 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 25

Events and relationships

Personally wove while Goujian rebuilt Yue
Labor · Worker
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 41, passage 46

References in the histories

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 41House of King Goujian of Yue · 4 passages

乃令大夫種行成於吳，膝行頓首曰：「君王亡臣句踐使陪臣種敢告下執事：句踐請為臣，妻為妾。」 He then ordered Grandee Zhong to go and make peace with Wu. Zhong walked on his knees, kowtowed, and said: “Goujian, fugitive servant of Your Majesty, sends his attendant minister Zhong to address those below you: Goujian asks to become your minister, and his wife your concubine.”

句踐欲殺妻子，燔寶器，觸戰以死。 Goujian wanted to kill his wife and children, burn his treasure vessels, and fight to the death.

不幸不赦，句踐將盡殺其妻子，燔其寶器，悉五千人觸戰，必有當也。」 If you do not pardon him, Goujian will kill his wife and children to the last, burn his treasure vessels, and send all five thousand men into a fight to the death. They will certainly resist fiercely.”

身自耕作，夫人自織，食不加肉，衣不重采，折節下賢人，厚遇賓客，振貧弔死，與百姓同其勞。 He personally tilled the fields, and his wife personally wove. His food had no extra meat, and his clothing no layered colors. He humbled himself before worthy men, treated guests generously, helped the poor, mourned the dead, and shared the labor of the common people.