and of course the 13‘ chapters must have been written

earlier still. But at that time, and for several years after, down to the capture of Ying in 506, Q Ch‘u, and not Yiieh, was the great hereditary enemy of Wu. The two states, Ch‘u and Wu, had been constantly at war for over half a century,1 whereas the first war between Wu and Yiieh was waged only in 510,2 and even then was no more than a short interlude sandwiched in the midst 01 the fierce struggle with Ch‘u. Now Ch‘u is not mentioned in the 13 chapters at all. The natural inference is that they were written at a time when Yiieh had become the prime antagonist of Wu, that is, after Ch‘u had suffered the great humiliation of 5o6. At this point, a table of dates may be found useful.

BC. 514 Accession of Ho Lu.

512 Ho Lu attacks Ch‘u, but is dissuaded from entering 5'35 Ying, the capital. Slzz'lz C/zz' mentions Sun Wu as general.

511 Another attack on Ch‘u.

510 Wu makes a successful attack on Yfieh. This is the first war be- tween the two states.

mu _

5:; y} Ch‘u 1nvades Wu, but 15 Slgnally defeated at a E Yfi-chang. 506 Ho Lu attacks Ch‘u with the aid of T‘ang and Ts‘ai. Decisive battle of g Po-chfi, and capture of Ying. Last mention of Sun Wu in 5/2272 C/zz'. .

505 Yfieh makes a raid on Wu in the absence of its army. Wu is beaten by Ch‘in and evacuates Ying.

504 Ho Lu sends * 2:5 Fu Ch‘ai to attack Ch‘u.

497 fig Kou Chien becomes King of Yfieh.

496 Wu attacks Yfieh, but is defeated by Kou Chien at 35 Tsui-li.

Ho Lu is killed.