| 6 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 浣纱庙 | Silk-Washing Temple[1] | |
吴越相谋计策多， 浣纱神女已相和。 一双笑靥才回面， 十万精兵尽倒戈。 范蠡功成身隐遁， 伍胥谏死国消磨。 只今诸暨长江畔， 空有青山号苎萝。 |
As the states of Wu and Yue piled plot upon plot, the silk-washing goddess offered ease; a pair of laughing dimples turned the prince’s head, and a hundred thousand soldiers let fall their shining spears. Fan Li, having succeeded, went into retirement; Wu Xu died for his advice, and his country was wiped out. And yet, today, by the long river at Zhuji, there’s nothing but a green hill named Zhu Luo. |
[1]This poem is based on a very well-known episode that took place during the Spring and Autumn period (c. 772–481 BCE). The temple is dedicated to Xi Shi, one of the legendary Four Beauties of Ancient China, who originally laundered silk for a living (hence the title "silk-washing goddess" in line 2) in Zhuji (line 7), capital of the state of Yue. King Gou Jian of Yue, acting on the advice of his minister Fan Li (line 5), had her trained in seduction and espionage and sent her as a gift to King Fu Chai of the neighbouring state of Wu. Fu Chai was seduced by her, forgot all about state affairs, and killed his advisor Wu Zixu at her instigation (line 6). Yue then successfully invaded and conquered Wu. The current Xi Shi Temple stands at the foot of the Zhu Luo hill (line 8), on the banks of the Huansha River.
