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本名失傳，春秋越人，生於苧羅山下（浙江諸暨縣南），為浣紗女。天質聰慧，五官端正，身材窈窕，弱不禁風，有國色天香之姿，傾國傾城之態。此時，吳越相爭，越國大敗。越王勾踐，被俘至吳，服賤勞役。數年後，釋歸國，臥薪嘗膽，不忘復國。十年生聚，十年教訓，選西施及鄭旦等，訓練三年，獻與吳王夫差。
西施以優美舞藝，惑吳王不理國事。伍子胥諫，夫差不納。所謂「忠言逆耳」，不幸言中，果被越所滅。夫差悔不當初，無顏見黃泉忠臣，掩面自盡。西施完成任務，遂與范蠡同泛五湖，范蠡易名為陶朱公。
評曰：
女人禍水 傾國傾城
絕色天香 昏者不明
吳王夫差 忠諫弗聽
西施任畢 隱居湖濱
又說偈曰：
忠心耿耿伍子胥 輔佐非主被斬軀
自古直言常逆耳 而今佞語善投機
造物弄人真可笑 顛倒萬類更愚癡
黑白是非難窮盡 冷眼旁觀世間棋
註解：
西施生於春秋時苧蘿山下，她的工作是浣洗織布的紗。這個女孩子天資非常聰明，容貌生得很端正，弱不禁風，常常是個病美人的樣子。她生得國色天香，像花那麼吸引人，能傾國傾城。
此時，吳越相戰，越王勾踐打敗戰，被吳王夫差俘虜。越王忍辱負重，唯命是從，感化吳王，深得吳王信任，放他回去。越王勾踐想重整國威，收復山河，再與吳國決一死戰，可是他力量薄弱，於是他養兵蓄銳，不忘復國。
十年生聚：於十年中，盡量教老百姓生育，產生兵源，訓練軍隊。越王勾踐和文種與范蠡同甘共苦，臥薪嚐膽。臥薪就是常常在柴草上睡覺，記得自己過去的不是，把國家失了；嚐膽就是刻苦自勵，為了復國盡量不享受而受苦，以實際行動來感化軍隊。
越王勾踐又選西施及鄭旦為間諜，訓練三年後獻給吳王夫差，來擾亂吳王夫差的心情。西施能歌善舞對舞蹈藝術有獨到之處。吳王夫差被西施之美姿舞藝所迷，便不理國家大事，只知飲酒聽歌，旁的事情都不顧了。
伍子胥勸吳王夫差說：「這個女人是國家不祥之物，不要為她沉迷，應該善理國政。」吳王夫差不納，忠言逆耳，叫他自盡。果然數年後，越王勾踐整軍伐吳王。吳王夫差兵敗，無臉見黃泉忠臣，遮面自殺了。這是昏君的結果。
黃泉不是地府；黃泉是人死了走的那條路是黃的，地下的水是黃的，土也是黃的，一切都是黃的。黃泉即黃色的泉源；那兒沒有日、月、星、燈的光明，黑黑暗暗的，地裡凹下去近水的地方叫黃泉。因為凹下去的土是黃色的，土下面的水亦是黃色，故叫黃泉。
吳國亡。西施完成任務後與范蠡同泛舟於五湖，即太湖。范蠡復改名為陶朱公，在太湖邊隱姓埋名做一個商人。
評曰：
「女人禍水」：有些女同志覺得這是不公平的說法。「男人是禍火」：禍的水也好，禍的火也好，總而言之，人不要生得太漂亮；生得太漂亮，不是妖怪轉世就是邪魔再生，所以總有一股妖氣把世界人類迷得顛顛倒倒。人的相貌生得好是最不幸的一件事；無論男女，相貌生得有一股邪氣，像狐狸精那樣都是不好的，到處惹出很多不如意之事。雖然這麼說，但是人還是喜歡漂亮，喜歡邪裡邪氣的，所以有的時候女的迷男的色，男的迷女的色；女狐狸精把男的給迷住了，男的狐狸精把女的給迷住了。這世界就是互相迷惑，所以女人是禍水，也可說男人也是禍水。
「傾國傾城」：她既能敗壞國家江山，又令城市保不住。
「絕色天香」：西施長得美如花。
「昏者不明」：昏者即貪色的人，無論男女，都不明白這個道理。
「吳王夫差」：吳王夫差就是一個很好的榜樣。
「忠諫弗聽」：伍子胥勸諫他，他也不聽伍子胥的話。
「西施任畢」：西施完成任務後。
「隱居湖濱」：隨范蠡隱居五湖。
又說偈曰：
「忠心耿耿伍子胥」：伍子胥是一個很忠心的臣子，可是他所遇到的君王是一個愚癡的人。
「輔佐非主被斬軀」：他盡上忠心，反被主人弄死，死不瞑目。
「自古直言常逆耳」：從古以來，聽到直言的人總覺得不順耳，所謂「苦口良藥；忠言逆耳」。
「爾今佞語善投機」：因此一般投機取巧，善於拍馬屁的奸臣盡打妄語，盡講好聽的。
「造物弄人真可笑」：天主造出一切的萬物好像戲弄人似的，是很可笑的一件事。有的時候善人受惡報；又有的時候惡人得善果，令人迷迷糊糊的。
「顛倒萬類更愚癡」：世界上的人都是顛顛倒倒的。你騙我；我騙你，互相顛倒，很愚癡的。
「黑白是非難窮盡」：世間上什麼是黑？什麼是白？什麼叫是？什麼叫非？講這個道理講到什麼時候也講不完。
「冷眼旁觀世間棋」：我們作人明白了，要冷眼旁觀，靜觀成敗，看世界人類都像下棋一樣，有時贏，有時輸；有時僥倖成功，有時一敗塗地。
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Her original name is unknown. She lived in the State of Yue during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. Born near the base of Mount Zhuluo (in the southern part of present-day Zhuji District in Zhejiang Province). She worked as a washer of silk. She was endowed with wisdom and intelligence. Her features were well
proportioned. Her build was slender, so fragile that it seemed the wind would carry her away. She possessed the poise of a "national beauty with heavenly fragrance," as well as the demeanor that could ruin nations and cities. At that time, the states of Wu and Yue clashed, and Yue suffered a major defeat. Goujian, the King of Yue, was captured and taken to Wu to do menial labor. After several years, he was released and allowed to return home. He then took to sleeping on a pile of firewood and tasting gall, and he never stopped planning the recovery of his country. For ten years he promoted child bearing among the populace; for ten years he drilled and trained. He selected Xishi and Zheng Dan, trained them for three years, and offered them to Fuchai, the King of Wu. Xishi used her graceful and beautiful dancing to entrance the King of Wu into ignoring national affairs. Wu Zixu issued warnings, but Fuchai did not take heed. As it is said, "loyal words are hard on the ears." Unfortunately his words were all too true, and Wu was eliminated by Yue. Fuchai regretted not having listened, and feeling unworthy to face his loyal ministers in the Yellow Spring, he covered his face and committed suicide. Having accomplished her mission, Xishi sailed the Lake of Five with Fan Di. Fan Di then changed his name to Lord Taozhu.
A verse of critique says:
Women are the waters of disaster,
Laying waste to nations and cities.
Unequalled beauty, heavenly fragrance:
Licentious individuals never understand.
Fuchai, the King of Wu,
Failed to listen to loyal advice.
Xishi, after completing her mission,
Dwelt in seclusion at the lakeshore.
Another verse says:
Wu Zixu had unswerving patriotic loyalty,
But he served the wrong master, who had him killed.
Since ancient times, blunt speech has always been hard on the ears,
While deceitful words are good for exploiting situations.
The manipulations of creation are truly laughable,
Making all the myriad, muddled beings even more foolish.
The disputes of black or white, right or wrong, never come to an end.
It is best to observe the chess games of the world with dispassionate eyes.
Commentary:
Xishi was born during the Spring-Autumn Period of Chinese history, near the base of Mount Zhuluo. She made her living by rinsing the silk used for making cloth. This girl was inherently very intelligent, and her appearance was very pleasing; she was so fragile that it seemed the wind would blow her away. She frequently exhibited the demeanor of an ill but lovely woman. Her beauty could be compared to that of the national flower of heavenly fragrance. She was as lovely as a flower and had the potential of bringing a nation or city to ruin.
At that time, the feudal states of Wu and Yue were warring against each other. Goujian, the King of Yue, suffered defeat and was taken prisoner by Fuchai, the King of Wu. The King of Yue then endured insult and adversity. Through his submissive obedience, he moved the King of Wu and earned his deep trust, and the King of Wu allowed him to return home. Goujian was determined to reestablish the former glory of his country and reclaim his territories; he was determined to engage the state of Wu in another battle to the death. However, since his means were meager and weak, he patiently developed his troops and nurtured their skills, never forgetting his will to rebuild his country. For ten years, he did all he could to encourage the people to bear children, so that the military would have a source of fresh troops, and he also saw to the training of the soldiers.
King Goujian also lived through the bitter and the sweet with his confidants, Wen Zhong and Fan Di. He took to sleeping on a pile of firewood and tasting gall. He slept on a crude bed of firewood, which served to remind him of his past mistakes that led to the loss of his homeland. To taste gall means to induce vigor by enduring pain. In order to fulfill his goal of reclaiming his state, he did his best to live without enjoyment and to accept suffering, using these actions to inspire his troops.
King Goujian also selected Lady Xishi and Lady Zheng Dan as spies. He trained them for three years and then offered them to Fuchai with the intention of provoking his passions. Lady Xishi was talented in song and dance; she had extraordinary skill in the art of dance. King Fuchai was so mesmerized by the lovely dancing of Lady Xishi that he ignored important national affairs. Oblivious to everything else, he knew only the pleasures of wine and song. His official, Wu Zixu advised, "This woman is an unlucky omen for the country; do not allow yourself to be entranced by her. You should take good care of the government." Fuchai refused to take heed. The remonstrance was hard on his ears, so he ordered Wu Zixu
to kill himself. A few years later, Goujian indeed marshalled his troops and invaded Wu, and Fuchai suffered a total defeat. Unable to face his loyal followers who were in the Yellow Spring, he covered his face in shame and committed suicide. That was the destiny of a despot.
The Yellow Spring is not synonymous with the underworld. When people die, the road they travel upon is yellow; the water flowing under the ground is also yellow, and so is the soil; everything is yellow, so the Yellow Spring is just a yellow-colored spring, where there is no illumination from the sun, moon, stars, or lamps, so everything is dark and gloomy. Also, when a depression in the ground is near water, it is also called Yellow Spring, because the soil in the depression is yellow and so is the water flowing beneath the soil.
With the state of Wu vanquished, Xishi had accomplished her mission, so she accompanied Fan Di to sail the Lake of Five, which is known today as Lake Tai. Fan Di then changed his name to Lord Taozhu and lived in relative anonymity along the shores of Lake Tai as a merchant.
A verse of critique says:
Women are the waters of disaster. Some women may find this statement unjust and retort, "Men are the fires of disaster." Be it waters or fires of disaster, in general, it is not good to be too pretty or handsome. Exceedingly attractive people are actually the reincarnations of monsters or demons, which is why they have a perverse charm that causes people in the world to become utterly infatuated. It is most unfortunate for a person to have good looks. Whether it is men or women, it is not good to have a perverse kind of aura, like that of a fox spirit, because it tends to beckon all kinds of trouble. Still, people are attracted to beauty and are fond of that perverse charm. That is why women sometimes fall for handsome men and men are sometimes bewitched by beautiful women. Female fox spirits charm men, and male fox spirits bewitch women. People in the world are deluded by one another. Thus women are the waters of disaster, and it can also be said that men are the fires of disaster.
Laying waste to nations and cities. She was capable of causing the downfall of a country, such that cities were defenseless under invasion.
Unequalled beauty, heavenly fragrance: Xishi was as beautiful as a flower.
Licentious individuals never understand. Licentious individuals are those who lust after beauty; whether they are men or women, they fail to understand this principle.
Fuchai, the King of Wu, is an excellent example of this fact. He
failed to listen to loyal advice. Wu Zixu offered him advice, but he refused to listen to Wu Zixu's words.
Xishi, after completing her mission, dwelt in seclusion at the lake-shore. When Xishi finished her mission, she followed Fan Di into seclusion by the Lake of Five.
Another verse says:
Wu Zixu had unswerving patriotic loyalty, Wu Zixu was a very loyal official, but the king he happened to serve was rather foolish.
But he served the wrong master, who had him killed. He served his king with utmost devotion, but was put to death by his master, so he died with a grudge.
Since ancient times, blunt speech has always been hard on the ears, Since ancient times, those who hear the blunt and straightforward speech always find the words difficult to listen to. Thus it is said, "What is bitter to the taste actually is good medicine; what is abrasive to the ears is really sound advice."
While deceitful words are good for exploiting situations. Therefore, treacherous and obsequious officials always try to take advantage of situations by flattering people with sweet-sounding lies.
The manipulations of creation are truly laughable. In creating the myriad things, the creator seemed to be playing a joke on people. The world is a very laughable affair. Sometimes the benevolent ones receive unpleasant retributions, while the evil people receive pleasant rewards. This makes people very confused.
Making all the myriad, muddled beings even more foolish. All the people of the world are muddled. You cheat, while I scheme. You lie to me, and I lie to you. We are all deluded and utterly foolish.
The disputes of black or white, right or wrong, never come to an end. In this world, what is black? What is white? What is right? What is wrong? We could never finish discussing these principles.
It is best to observe the chess games of the world with dispassionate eyes. We ought to realize that as humans, we should watch with dispassionate eyes and calmly observe the victories and defeats. We should perceive the activities of humankind as a game of chess: sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. Sometimes we succeed by a stroke of luck, and other times we experience complete failure.
The End
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