Fan Li(范蠡), who was born in the 12th year of King Chuping (517 B.C.), was from Wan of Chu State. His courtesy name was Shaobo. He was a well-known politician, military strategist and economist in the early period of history. (For more than five thousand years, feudal tradition has the social class order of “official, farmer, worker and merchant”. Officials are most respected, and merchants are belittled. Until the Song Dynasty, there were still merchants who had to wear shoes in black and white as a sign of disparagement. Although Fan Li had made brilliant achievements in his life, his experience of abandoning the post of official and being engaged in business eventually made him not be as respected as official in ancient history.)
He was born in poverty, but smart and wise. When he was young, he was wealthy in knowledge. He knew astronomy and geography well. He was full of classical texts and military strategies. However, even though Fan Li was endowed by nature with unusual intelligence, the people of Chu State, where nobles were authoritarian and politics was chaotic at that time, did not recognize him.
In the 24th year of King Jing of Zhou State (496 B.C.), the battle of Zuili (now Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province) broke out between Wu State and Yue State. King Helu of Wu was killed. Therefore, the two states contracted enmity and have fought for years. In the 26th year of King Jing of Zhou State (494 B.C.), in order to avenge for his father, Fu Chai, the son of He Lu, fought against Yue State in Fujiao (now Dongting Mountain in Taihu Lake, Jiangsu Province). Gou Jian, the King of Yue State, was defeated. Only 5,000 soldiers were alive and fled to Huiji Mountain. Then Fan Li went to Yue State when Gou Jian was at dead end. “When people are waiting for opportunity, endure their humiliation and take advantage of their defeat...” “The things we use are not infinite, and the resources of the earth should be cherished. We should try our best to help others and always be humble. In this way, we would be blessed by nature.” He told Gou Jian his assertion “Yue State will definitely win and Wu will be doomed to be defeated” and “enduring humiliation and wait for opportunity.” After being appointed as Shang Dafu (top senior official in feudal China), he accompanied Gou Jian and his wife to serve as slaves in Wu State for three years.
When they returned home three years later, Fan Li worked out nine plans of revitalizing Yue State and annihilating Wu State with Wen Zhong. He was the planner and organizer of the “ten-year-old accumulation and ten-year training” of Yue State. In order to carry out the strategy of annihilating Wu State, which was also one of the nine plans, Fan Li personally traveled through mountains and rivers, and finally visited Xi Shi, a woman with both virtue and talent, at Huansha River in Zhuluo Mountain. Xi Shi devoted herself to the King of Wu with great righteousness and courage, and finally eliminated Wu State in cooperation with Gou Jian. Fan Li worked hard for more than 20 years, and helped achieving the hegemony of Yue State. He was respected as a Shang Jiangjun (top general).
“The King of Wu died in Yuhang Mountain, and the King of Yue banqueted in Gusutai.” During the celebration of the whole state, Fan Li retreated bravely and went boating with Xi Shi, keeping his identity hidden.
Later, he traveled to Qi State and changed his name to Chiyi Zipi. He led his son and disciples to live together by the sea. After a few years, they have accumulated tens of millions of properties through hard cultivation and sideline business. He was very generous in aiding needy people, so the people of Qi State appreciated his wisdom and ability. The King of Qi invited him to Linzi, the capital of the state, to appoint him as the Prime Minister who was in charge of government affairs. He sighed, “For a common person, being a prime minister and having lots of money, he has been at the peak. I’m afraid it’s not an auspicious sign to have a long reputation.” Then, only three years later, he quitted again, returned his seal to the King of Qi State, and gave away all his property to his friends and fellow villagers.
For this time, Fan Li moved to Tao (now the northwest of Dingtao in Shandong Province) in a cloth dress and lived in the best place to do business (Tao was adjacent to Qi State and Lu State in the east; Qin State and Zheng State in the west; Jin State and Yan State in the north; Chu State and Yue State in the south). According to season, climate, local conditions and customs, he found the way of earning money. Within a few years, he became rich again and called himself Tao Zhu Gong. The local people respected Tao Zhu Gong as the God of wealth. He was the ancestor of Confucian businessmen.
Historian Sima Qian said, “Fan Li got reputation in the three migrating places.” In the history books, there are some words that summarize his life: “keeping pace with the times and being trustworthy”; people praises him as “being loyal to the country; having wisdom to protect himself; doing business to become rich, becoming famous all over the world”.
Fan Li’s military strategy was being prepared while being strong, seeking opportunity when being weak and taking advantage of the enemy’s undefended state to attack and win by surprise. It is praised and used by later generations.
Fan Li’s work is Ji Ran Pian. The title of the book is recorded in chapter “Part I of Yue Sate” of Discourses of States, and “Biographies of Merchants” in Records of the Historian. There are two articles of Fan Li’s art of war in chapter “On Works” of The History of Han Dynasty, but it has been lost.
Annals of Fan Li’s Life Events
In 536 B.C. (6th year of Duke Zhao of Lu State, fifth year of King Ling of Chu State), Fan Li was born in Sanhu of Wan. Confucius was fifteen years old at that time.
In 516 B.C. (25th year of Duke Zhao of Lu State, 13th year of King Ping of Chu State and eleven year of King Liao of Wu State), Wen Zhong met Fan Li, who was twenty years old.
In 511 B.C. (31th year of Duke Zhao of Lu State, fifth year of King Zhao of Chu State and fourth year of King Helu of Wu State), at the age of 25, Fan Li invited Wen Zhong to Yue State.
In 494 B.C. (third year of Duke Ai of Lu State, 22th year of King Zhao of Chu State, third year of King Gou Jian of Yue State), Gou Jian’s army was defeated to the west of Huiji Mountain and began to appoint Fan Li and Wen Zhong. At that time, Fan Li was 42 years old.
In 493 B.C. (second year of Duke Ai of Lu State, 23th year of King Zhao of Chu State, fourth year of King Gou Jian of Yue State), Fan Li was 43 years old, Gou Jian and Fan Li served Wu State as slaves.
In 490 B.C. (5th year of Duke Ai of Lu State, 26th year of King Zhao of Chu State, 7th year of King Gou Jian of Yue State, 6th year of King Fu Chai of Wu State), Gou Jian and Fan Li left Wu State and returned to Yue State at the age of 46.
In 486 B.C. (9th year of Duke Ai of Lu State, third year of King Hui of Chu State, 11th year of King Gou Jian of Yue State, 10th year of King Fu Chai of Wu State), Gou Jian intended to start a war against Wu State. Fan Li dissuaded him at the age of 50.
In 484 B.C. (11th year of Duke Ai of Lu State, 5th year of King Hui of Chu State, 13th year of King Gou Jian of Yue State, 11th year of King Fu Chai of Wu State), Wu once again invaded Qi State and occupied Ailing. When the King of Yue State and his officials met the King of Wu State, they bribed the King of Wu State, which further dropped Fu Chai’s (the king of Wu State) guard. Fu Chai killed Wu Zixu. Fan Li was 52 years old.
In 482 B.C. (13th year of Duke Ai of Lu State, 7th year of King Hui of Chu State, 15th year of King Gou Jian of Yue State, 14th year of King Fu Chai of Wu State), at the meeting of Wu State and Jin State in Huangchi, the army of Yue State took the opportunity to attack Wu State and killed the prince of Wu State. At the end of the year, Wu State and Yue State made peace. Fan Li was 54 years old.
In 479 B.C. (16th year of Duke Ai of Lu State, 10th year of King Hui of Chu State, 18th year of King Gou Jian of Yue State, 17th year of King Fu Chai of Wu State), Yue State invaded Wu State. Fan Li was 57 years old.
In 478 B.C. (17th year of Duke Ai of Lu State, 11th year of King Hui of Chu State, 19th year of King Gou Jian of Yue State, 18th year of King Fu Chai of Wu State), in March, the army of Yue State and Wu State fought in Lize and Wusong River, and Wu State was defeated utterly. Fan Li was 58 years old.
In 475 B.C. (20th year of Duke Ai of Lu State, 14th year of King Hui of Chu State, 22th year of King Gou Jian of Yue State, 21th year of King Fu Chai of Wu State), in November, Yue State besieged Wu State and Fan Li adopted the strategy of besieging but not attacking, which made Wu State self-defeat. Fan Li was 61 years old.
In 473 B.C. (22th year of Duke Ai of Lu State, 16th year of King Hui of Chu State, 24th year of King Gou Jian of Yue State, 23th year of King Fu Chai of Wu State), at the end of the year, Wu State was destroyed by Yue State and Fu Chai committed suicide. Fan Li was 63 years old.
In 468 B.C. (27th year of Duke Ai of Lu State, 21th year of King Hui of Chu State, 29th year of King Gou Jian of Yue State), the King of Yue achieved hegemony. Fan Li was 68 years old when he was boating on the Five Lakes.
In 465 B.C., King Gou Jian of Yue State died. Fan Li was 71 years old.
In 448 B.C., Fan Li died at the age of 88 years old.
