Gee Sui

子 胥

Ng Gee Sui/Wu Zixu 伍子胥, whose personal name was Ng Yuen/Wu Yuan 伍員, is the most famous ancestor of the Ng clan. All branches claim him as one of their "first ancestors." The great historian Sima Qian 司馬遷 tells the story of Ng Gee Sui in his Historical Records (Shi Ji )《史記》, vol. 66. English translations are available. This brief account is based on the one contained in Ralph D. Sawyer's translation of Sun-tzu's The Art of War (Boulder: Westview Press, 1994), pp. 95-106. I have taken some of the details from Inspiring Deeds of Dutiful Children by Louis Fong Sui Hong (New York: Acme Press, 1965), pp. 49-54, as well as the genealogies previously mentioned.

Ng Gee Sui (d. 484 B.C.) lived during the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history, when the country was divided into many feudal states. His father, Ng Che/Wu She 伍奢 (d. 522. B.C.), the son (or possibly the grandson) of Ng Gui (see above), served as the tutor to Prince Gin/Jian 建, the eldest son and heir apparent of King Ping 平王 of Choh. However, King Ping showed favoritism towards his younger son. After hearing false reports that Prince Gin was going to mount a rebellion, the king imprisoned Ng Che. Fearing trouble from Ng Che's sons, Ng Seung/Wu Shang 伍尚 and Ng Yuen, the king forced Ng Che to send them a letter promising his release upon their arrival. Both brothers realized that the king was probably setting a trap but Ng Seung, wishing to obey his father's summons nonetheless, went as directed while Ng Yuen chose to flee. The king then ordered the execution of Ng Che and Ng Seung.

Ng Yuen fled first to Soong/Song 宋, then to Jeng/Zheng 鄭, and finally to Ng/Wu 吳 (present-day Gong So/Jiangsu 江蘇 Province). He experienced such fear and anxiety that at one point his hair turned white. In Ng he became a beggar on the street. Completely alone, he played his flute and sang the sad story of his father and brother.

It was not long before Ng Yuen's identity was discovered. He found favor with the king of Ng and remained there. While Ng Yuen was living in exile in Ng, King Ping of Choh died (516 B.C.) Ng Yuen wept bitterly at this news, for he could no longer avenge with his own hands the deaths of his family members.

The next king of Ng, Hup Lui/Hel?闔廬, appointed Ng Yuen hahng yun/xingren 行人 (official in charge of traveling envoys). Years later, he enlisted Ng Yuen's aid in attacking Choh. At this time Ng Yuen worked closely with the famous military strategist Suen Mo/Sun Wu 孫武, the author of The Art of War. After entering the capital of Choh and defeating the enemy, Ng Yuen ordered the tomb of King Ping opened. He then proceeded to take a whip and flail the king's corpse with 300 strokes.

Many more years of warfare passed, during which Ng Yuen gave wise but unheeded advice to a new king of Ng. This king, believing a minister's slanderous accusations against against Ng Yuen, presented him with a sword with which to commit suicide. Before he killed himself, Ng Yuen asked that his eyes be plucked out and placed above Ng's eastern gate so that he might see the state invaded by its enemies. Insulted, the king of Ng threw Ng Yuen's body into the Yangtze River. But the people of Ng felt compassion for Ng Yuen and erected a shrine to him on a mountain (Ng Sahn/Wushan 吳山) located above the river (and now in Hong Jau/Hangzhou 杭州 ). From this time on, this mountain was known as Sui Sahn/Xushan 胥山 (Mount Sui). [This is the origin of the name used for any branch of the Ng Family Association, i.e., Eng Suey Sun Association 伍胥山公所.]

In the Tong/Tang 唐 Dynasty, Ng Gee Sui received the title of Ying Lit Wong/Yingliewang 英烈王 (Heroic and Upright King).