king gou jian of yue

King Gou Jian of Yue (died 465 BC) was the king of the State of Yue near the end of the Spring and Autumn Period. Son of King Yun Chang of Yue, he took his throne in 497 BC. Once, he was defeated by King Fu Chai of Wu and he himself was captured. After years of servitude in the State of Wu, he came back his state and started a great reform. He appointed skilled politicians, such as Wen Zhong and Fan Li, as advisors. During this time, his ministers worked to weaken the State of Yue internally through bribes and diplomatic intrigue. After ten years of economic and political reforms, his state at last became strong and annexed the state of Wu. King Gou Jian met the dukes in Xuzhou and gained hegemony among the states.

King Gou Jian Of Yue

See also