Zhuan Zhu (專諸; died 515 BC) was an
assassin
Assassination is the murder of a prominent or important person, such as a head of state, head of government, politician, world leader, member of a royal family or CEO. The murder of a celebrity, activist, or artist, though they may not have a ...
in the
Spring and Autumn period
The Spring and Autumn period was a period in Chinese history from approximately 770 to 476 BC (or according to some authorities until 403 BC) which corresponds roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou period. The period's name derives fr ...
. As Prince Guang (later
King Helü of Wu
King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king.
*In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the ti ...
) wanted to kill
King Liao of Wu
Liao, King of Wu (; died 515 BC), also named Zhouyu, was king of the state of Wu in the Spring and Autumn period.
Biography
Liao was the grandson of King Shoumeng. He took the throne in 526 BC. During his time as king he led several battles again ...
and take the throne himself, Zhuan Zhu was recommended to Prince Guang by
Wu Zixu. In 515 BC he managed to kill King Liao in a party with a dagger hidden in a fish. He was killed after he had completed his mission.
In folklore, the dagger he used to kill King Liao was named
Yuchang (魚腸), or "Fish intestines", because it was small enough to be hidden in a fish.
515 BC deaths
Zhou dynasty people
Chinese regicides
Year of birth unknown
Wu (state)
6th-century BC Chinese people
Chinese assassins
{{china-mil-bio-stub