Epic of King Goujian
Goujian was a mighty King,
Who ruled the State of Yue.
In war he killed another King,
King Helu of the State of Wu.
His son Fuchai swore vengeance,
And gathered armies for war.
Setting out for Yue anew,
Fuchai challenged Goujian in war.
Full of confidence renewed,
King Goujian went to meet them.
After a large and desperate battle,
King Goujian was defeated.
Brought to Wu as a slave,
Goujian had only hope for the future.
King Goujian bribed for allies,
In King Fuchai's court.
He layered flattery upon Fuchai,
And promised him luxurious things.
After much of this,
King Fuchai let him go back to Yue.
After many years away,
King Goujian was back in Yue.
To remind himself of insults done,
He tasted Gall and slept on brush.
He sent Fuchai precious goods,
And was given land in return.
After years of planning,
It was time to find a sword.
He called to him a Master of swords,
And presented him with five,
He asked him to pick a precious one.
The first four were rejected,
But the fifth made the Master reel.
"When this sword was made,
Chijian Mountain burst open and brought forth tin;
Ruoye Valley solidified and brought forth bronze.
The Master of Rain swept an sprinkled.
The Lord of Thunder worked the bellows.
[The Dragon] Jiaolong served at the furnace.
The Heavenly Emperor prepared the charcoal.
The Great Unity looked down.
The Heavenly Essence descended to the place.
Thereupon [the sword-smith] Ouye, availing himself of the Essence and
Spirit of Heaven and [employing] to the utmost his proficiency and skill,
made three large and two small [swords]" (Iron and Steel in Ancient China, Page 112)
Goujian took the sword up as his own,
And left to march against the State of Wu.
After a long and bitter battle,
It was Yue that won that day.
King Fuchai killed himself,
King Goujian was Victorious.
The Sword he kept by his side,
Until the very day he died.
It lay with him for centuries,
Till modern searchers fond them.
His name is legend,
His Sword is too.
The Mighty King Goujian!
Who ruled the State of Yue.
In war he killed another King,
King Helu of the State of Wu.
His son Fuchai swore vengeance,
And gathered armies for war.
Setting out for Yue anew,
Fuchai challenged Goujian in war.
Full of confidence renewed,
King Goujian went to meet them.
After a large and desperate battle,
King Goujian was defeated.
Brought to Wu as a slave,
Goujian had only hope for the future.
King Goujian bribed for allies,
In King Fuchai's court.
He layered flattery upon Fuchai,
And promised him luxurious things.
After much of this,
King Fuchai let him go back to Yue.
After many years away,
King Goujian was back in Yue.
To remind himself of insults done,
He tasted Gall and slept on brush.
He sent Fuchai precious goods,
And was given land in return.
After years of planning,
It was time to find a sword.
He called to him a Master of swords,
And presented him with five,
He asked him to pick a precious one.
The first four were rejected,
But the fifth made the Master reel.
"When this sword was made,
Chijian Mountain burst open and brought forth tin;
Ruoye Valley solidified and brought forth bronze.
The Master of Rain swept an sprinkled.
The Lord of Thunder worked the bellows.
[The Dragon] Jiaolong served at the furnace.
The Heavenly Emperor prepared the charcoal.
The Great Unity looked down.
The Heavenly Essence descended to the place.
Thereupon [the sword-smith] Ouye, availing himself of the Essence and
Spirit of Heaven and [employing] to the utmost his proficiency and skill,
made three large and two small [swords]" (Iron and Steel in Ancient China, Page 112)
Goujian took the sword up as his own,
And left to march against the State of Wu.
After a long and bitter battle,
It was Yue that won that day.
King Fuchai killed himself,
King Goujian was Victorious.
The Sword he kept by his side,
Until the very day he died.
It lay with him for centuries,
Till modern searchers fond them.
His name is legend,
His Sword is too.
The Mighty King Goujian!