伍子胥散论

Random Notes on Wu Zixu

伍子胥是吴国的忠臣,他从长远考虑,竭力主张灭越,但他的意见未被夫差采纳,反而被夫差杀害。后来吴国遭到越国的偷袭,夫差这才意识到自己错杀了伍子胥,于是他为伍子胥立庙设祭,即是忏悔,又是安抚。吴人和越人都尊伍子胥为江海涛神,是怕屈死的伍子胥亡灵变成厉鬼作祟。伍子胥在筑吴国都城和伐楚战争方面是有功于吴国的,然而他是楚人,他为了报家仇而不惜引敌国之兵攻入祖国,烧杀抢掠、奸淫妇女,还惨无人道地鞭尸,实在不值得后人称道。

Wu Zixu was a loyal minister of the State of Wu, but was put to death by the emperor Fu Cai. When his kingdom was later attacked by the State of Yue, the emperor realized that he had wronged Wu Zixu. So he built up a temple in his memeory. People of the two countries worshipped Wu Zixu as a god of rivers and seas for fear that he might haunt them as a ghost of the wronged. It is true that Wu Zixu had great achievements to his credit in building up the capital city and in a war against the State of Chu. But as a refugee from Chu, he avenged himself and his family by leading the enemy troops to invade his own motherland, burning, killing, looting and raping. He was even savage enough to whip the dead bodies of his enemies. His such conducts evoke only criticism and condemnation.