Ep. 111 | The Wu State
This week we delve back into the mists of ancient times to look at the State of Wu from the Spring & Autumn Period. Although they didn’t last long, the Wu State had a major impact on the development of the culture of the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai region.
There are a few Wu periods in Chinese history and today we will try to sort them all out. The terms sheet this episode is longer than usual, but that’s necessary when covering a topic as complex as this.
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Terms in Episode
| Pinyin/Term | Chinese | English/Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Battle of Boju | 柏舉之战 | The Battle of Boju in 506 BC where Wu defeated Chu |
| Battle of Bì | 邲之战 | Battle in 597 BC between Chu and Jin where Chu scored a decisive victory |
| Cao Cao | 曹操 | Controlled the State of Wei in the north during the Three Kingdoms Period |
| Chang Jiang | 长江 | What Chinese call the Yangtze |
| Changzhou | 常州 | Ancient city in Jiangsu Province |
| Chu | 楚 | The State of Chu in Hubei |
| Dabie Mountains | 大别山 | Central China Mountain chain on Hubei-Henan border |
| Di Xin | 帝辛 | King Zhou of Shang |
| Diaochan | 貂蝉 | One of the fabled beauties of ancient times, from the Three Kingdoms period. Her beauty eclipsed the moon. |
| Duke of Shen | - | Also called Wuchen, an emissary from Jin State who convinced Wu to attack Chu |
| Fuchai | 夫差 | King of Wu, son of Helü |
| Fugai | 覆盖 | Brother of King Helü |
| Guanwa Palace | 馆娃宫 | Palace built by Fuchai for Xi Shi |
| Gugong Danfu | 古公亶父 | One of King Tai of Zhou’s other names |
| Han Gou | 邗沟 | The Han Canal, precursor of The Grand Canal |
| Han River | 汉河 | Major river in Hubei |
| Hanchuan | 汉川 | Site of three battles between the forces of Wu and Chu |
| Helü | 阖闾 | King of Wu State |
| Huai River | 淮河 | Major river in China |
| Hubei Sheng Bowuguan | 湖北省博物馆 | The Hubei Provincial Museum |
| Huiwang Gou Wu | 回望勾吴 | Looking back on Gou Wu |
| Ji | 姬 | The surname of the Zhou Kings |
| Ji Chang | 姬昌 | King Wen of Zhou |
| Ji Danfu | 姬亶父 | Another posthumous name for King Tai of Zhou |
| Ji Li | 季历 | Younger brother of Taibo and Zhongyong, father of King Wen of Zhou |
| Jiangnan | 江南 | “South of the Yangzi River”, general term for the culture in the upper reaches of the Yangzi |
| Jiaxing | 嘉兴 | Ancient city in north Zhejiang Province |
| Jin | 晋 | The State of Jin (also Western Jin) |
| Jingzhou | 荆州 | City in Hubei close to the ancient Chu capital of Ying |
| King Goujian | 勾践王 | King of Yue State |
| King Ping | 楚平王 | Murderous Chu king. Had Wu Zixu’s father and brother killed. |
| Lake Tai | 太湖 | Lake in Suzhou |
| Laozi | 老子 | Lao Tzu |
| Liangzhu | 良渚文化 | Liangzhu Culture, a late neolithic culture in north Zhejiang |
| Linzi | 临淄 | Capital of Qi State in Shandong |
| Liu Bocheng | 刘伯承 | Great revolutionary and military man of the PRC and Deng ally |
| Lu | 鲁 | The State of Lu in Shandong |
| Luoyang | 洛阳 | One of China’s ancient capitals, located in Henan |
| Nang Wa | 囊瓦 | Chu State’s strongest general |
| Ou Yezi | 欧冶子 | Legendary master sword maker from Spring & Autumn period |
| Prince Guang | 公子光 | The future King Helü of Wu |
| Qi | 齐 | The State of Qi in Shandong |
| Qi Lu Liangguo | 齐鲁两国 | The States of Qi and Lu (name for east Shandong) |
| Qian | 钱 | Surname of the clan who controlled the Wuyue State |
| Qufu | 曲阜 | Capital of Lu State and burial site of Confucius |
| San Huang Wu Di | 三皇五帝 | The Three Sovereigns & Five Emperors |
| Shaoxing | 绍兴 | Ancient city in north Zhejiang Province |
| Shi Ji | 史记 | The Records of the Grand Historian, written by Sima Qian |
| Shoumeng | 寿梦 | Wu King who put them on the military path that led to their downfall |
| Si da mei nü | 四大美女 | The Four Beauties of Ancient China |
| Sun Wu | 孙武 | Also known as Sun Tzu |
| Sunzi Bingfa | 孙子兵法 | The Art of War, written by Sun Tzu |
| Suzhou | 苏州 | Ancient city in Jiangsu Province |
| Wang Zhaojun | 王昭君 | Western Han beauty from Hubei married off to a Xiongnu king. Birds fell out of the sky when they saw her beauty. |
| Wu Guo | 吴国 | The State of Wu |
| Wu She | 伍奢 | Father of Wu Zixu, killed by King Ping |
| Wu Taibo | 吴泰伯 | Founder of the Wu State and the Wu 吴 Clan |
| Wu Zixu | 伍子胥 | Influential minister during Wu State |
| Wuxi | 无锡 | Ancient city next door to Suzhou |
| Xi Shi | 西施 | Legendary beauty who Fuchai was obsessed over. |
| Xichuan | 西川 | City in Henan, site of the ancient Chu capital Ying |
| Xu Men | 胥门 | Gate in the ancient walled city of Suzhou |
| Yang Guifei | 杨贵妃 | Tang Dynasty zaftig beauty and tragic lover of Emperor Xuanzong. Many blame the Tang’s fall on her wiles. |
| Yangzhou | 扬州 | Ancient city in South Jiangsu |
| Yangzi | 扬子 | The Yangtze River |
| Ying | 郢 | Capital of Chu State, in present day Xichuan, Henan |
| Ying Zheng | 嬴政 | Name of Qin king and China’s future unifying emperor Qin Shihuang |
| Yongle | 永乐 | The Yong Le Emperor of the Ming Dynasty |
| Yuchang | 鱼肠剑 | The sword made by Ou Yezi used by Zhuan Zhu to kill King Liao |
| Yue | 越 | The Yue people and Yue state |
| Zheng He | 郑和 | The great explorer and diplomat featured in CHP 92-93-94 |
| Zhengzhou | 郑州 | Ancient city in Henan |
| Zhongyong | 仲雍 | Younger brother of Taibo and second leader of Wu State |
| Zhou Tai Wang | 周太王 | Founder of the Zhou Clan during Shang Dynasty |
| Zhou Wu Wang | 周武王 | Ji Fa, King Wu of Zhou |
| Zhuan Zhu | 专诸 | Famous Wu State assassin. Killed King Liao of Wu |
| Zhuang Zedong | 庄则栋 | PRC Table tennis great who played a major role in ping pong diplomacy |
| Zibo | 淄博 | Located in central Shandong, formerly Linzi |
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