中英雙語話中國歷史名人 第4期:勾踐

King Gou Jian of Yue (reigned 496 B. C.~465 B. C.) was the king of the Kingdom of Yue (present-day Shanghai，northern Zhejiang and southern Jiangsu) near the end of the Spring and Autumn Period，named Luo Gou Jian.

越王勾踐，公元前496年至公元前465年在位。勾踐是將近春秋末期的越王，名叫姒勾踐。越國在現在的上海，浙江北部和江蘇南部。

Gou Jian was the son of Marquess Yun Chang of Yue. He was defeated and captured by King Fu Chai of Wu of the neighbouring State of Wu.

勾踐是越國允常侯的兒子，曾被鄰國吳國的國上夫差打敗。

After three years of servitude and humiliation with his wife in the State of Wu，he gained the trust of King Fu Chai who eventually allowed him to return to his state where he resumed his rule and initiated major reforms.

勾踐與妻子在吳國忍辱負重服務了三年後，獲得了吳工的信任並被放回越國，回國後勾踐恢復了統治，進行了一些重要的改革。

He soon appointed skilled politicians，such as Wen Zhong and Fan Li，as advisors to help build up the kingdom.

很快啓用像文種和范蠡這樣的政治家輔佐治國。

During this time，his ministers also worked to weaken the State of Wu internally through bribes and diplomatic intrigue.

同時，勾踐的大臣還通過賄賂和外交陰謀從內部削弱吳國。

All the while ruling his kingdom，Gou Jian never relished in riches as a king，but instead slept on sticks and eating food suited for peasants.

在治理國家期間，作爲一個國王，勾踐從未享受富裕的生活，而是睡在柴火上，吃農民才吃的食物。

This way，he could remember his humiliations while serving under the State of Wu.

通過這樣的手段，勾踐時刻不忘在吳國受到的恥辱。

There is a Chinese idiom，“Wo Xin Chang Dan” (literally meaning “sleeping on sticks and tasting gall") coming about because of this and his perseverance.

由此產生了一個漢語成語“臥薪嚐膽”。

After ten years of economic and political reforms，his state at last became powerful enough to challenge and eventually annex the State of Wu in 478 B. C.，where King Fu Chai was forced to commit suicide.

十年的政治和經濟改革之後，越國最終強大了起來。最後，越國於公元前478年打敗吳國，吳王夫差被迫自殺。

Later, King Gou Jian met the dukes in Xuzhou and gained hegemony among the states.

後來，勾踐在徐州會見各諸侯國國君成爲霸主。