Tomb of Fan Li

Tomb of Fan Li

The Tomb of Fan Li is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Tomb of Fan Li is located 15 kilometers southeast of Woyang County in Anhui Province. After their deaths, Fan Li and Xi Shi were buried together in the Tomb of Fan Li by the Xizi River. In 1981, it was included in the "Great Dictionary of Scenic Spots in China" and is a county-level key cultural relic protection unit. Also known as Fan Li's Solitary Mound, it is situated west of Xiyang Town in Woyang County and was formerly part of Mengcheng County. The "Anhui General Gazetteer" from the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty states: “The tomb of Fan Li, the Lord of Yue, is located in Fan Li Village, southeast of Woyang.” The "Mengcheng County Gazetteer" says: “Fan Li’s tomb is fifty li west of the county, surrounded by lake water, with the tomb floating within it. It is as high as an earthen hill, with a temple built on top. Statues of Fan Li and Xi Shi are enshrined inside, shaded by dense pine and cypress trees, creating an exceptionally magnificent sight that draws travelers to pause and pay their respects.” Fan Li, styled Shaobai, was a politician in the late Spring and Autumn period and an official of the Yue State. After helping Yue defeat Wu, he retired after achieving success, traveled with Xi Shi through Qi and Lu, once served as the Prime Minister of Qi under the alias Chiyi Zipi (pronounced Chi Yi Zi Pi), then soon left Qi to engage in commerce and became extremely wealthy. Over nineteen years, he amassed wealth three times, only to give it away and accumulate it again. In his later years, he settled in Taozhu, known as Tao Zhugong. Due to his noble character and financial acumen, he was later revered as the God of Wealth in Taoism.

What evidence is there that the location of Fan Li’s tomb in Woyang, Anhui, was the ancient Tao? Laozi’s hometown is in Woyang, Anhui, and the joint burial site of Fan Li and Xi Shi is also in Woyang, Anhui. Is there any connection between the two? According to research by Mr. Wang Zhenchuan, Laozi and Fan Li had a teacher-student relationship.

“Wenzi was a disciple of Laozi,” which is clearly affirmed in literature from the Han Dynasty and earlier. For example, in Wang Chong’s "Lunheng · Natural": “Even if Confucius were the ruler and Yan Yuan the minister, they could not command heaven and earth. How much less so if Laozi were the ruler and Wenzi the minister? Laozi and Wenzi are like heaven and earth!” However, Fan Li’s teacher was precisely Wenzi. The "Records of the Grand Historian, Collected Explanations" by Xu Guang states: “Jisui was Fan Li’s teacher, whose name was Yan.” Pei Yin noted: "The 'Fanzi' text says: ‘Jisui was a native of Kuqiu Pushang, of the Xin clan, styled Wen. His ancestors were princes of the fallen Jin State. He once traveled south to Yue, where Fan Li studied under him.’” This forms a chain of teacher-student relationships: Laozi – Wenzi – Fan Li. By reading historical texts such as "Records of the Grand Historian · Biography of the House of Yue," "Records of the Grand Historian · Biographies of the Money-Makers," "Discourses of the States · Accounts of Yue II," "The Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue," and "The Annals of Yue," as well as comparing these with our understanding of Fan Li’s thoughts—especially the language found in the recently unearthed "Yellow Emperor’s Four Classics"—we see a vivid image of Fan Li. His words and actions all inherit, apply, and develop Laozi’s philosophy. As Laozi said: “Weapons are ominous instruments, not the instruments of a nobleman. They are used only when one has no alternative.” (Chapter 31) When Fan Li first emerged, he advised the King of Yue: “I have heard that weapons are inauspicious tools, war goes against virtue, and contention is the lowest form of human activity. Plotting against virtue, delighting in deadly weapons, and testing oneself in the lowest pursuits are forbidden by Heaven—it brings misfortune to those who act so.” (from "Records of the Grand Historian · Biography of the House of Yue") And so on. Especially Laozi’s declarations such as: “Achieving success and then withdrawing—that is the way of Heaven!” (Chapter 9), “Having accomplished your aims, do not claim credit.” (Chapter 34), “The sage acts but does not possess; having achieved success, he does not dwell on it.” (Chapter 77)—these can be said to reflect the best practice of Fan Li’s embodiment of Laozi’s philosophy. From the thread of thought, Fan Li perfectly inherited and practiced Laozi’s ideas. In ancient times, the spread of ideas required time. For someone of the same era, just over forty years younger than Laozi—Fan Li—it would be hard to explain this alignment without the direct mentorship under Laozi.

In his later years, Fan Li took the title Tao Zhugong, conducted business in the land of Tao, and eventually died there—so it is unquestionable that he was buried in Tao. However, historical records mention three or four possible burial sites for Tao Zhugong, with the most debated being present-day Dingtao in Shandong Province and Tao Mountain in Feicheng, Shandong. Historians often refer more to Dingtao, while modern people more commonly mention Tao Mountain. But according to Mr. Wang Zhenchuan’s research, the Tomb of Fan Li in Woyang, Anhui, is the true tomb of Tao Zhugong. The “Tao” mentioned by Sima Qian, being “at the center of the world,” should be a place accessible by both land and water to all feudal states. For present-day Woyang, Anhui, historically, its east, west, and north were all parts of the ancient Central Plains, while the south was the rising territories of Wu, Chu, and Yue. Its inherent land routes and the beautiful, wide-reaching Guoshui River both fit the geographical description of being “at the center of the world.” The Guoshui River connects to the Yellow River in the northwest and to the Huai River leading to the Yangtze in the southeast. This river was still used by Cao Cao for naval training during the Three Kingdoms period. If Tao were located at Tao Mountain in Shandong, it could hardly be considered “the center of the world”—it would more accurately be described as “deep within the Qi State.” When Tao Zhugong left Qi for Tao, he engaged in “international trade,” which naturally means Tao could not have been within Qi—and Tao Mountain is indeed deep in Qi territory. Local legend has it that Fan Li’s tomb is the joint burial site of Fan Li and Xi Shi, with the earthen mound artificially piled up, covering a vast area and standing very tall. Today, the local place is called Fan Li Village, a tributary of the Guoshui River is named Xizi River, flowing past the tomb. The nearby town is called Xiyangji, formerly known as Xitao in ancient times. Mr. Wang Zhenchuan also believes that after Fan Li and Xi Shi drowned together in the Guoshui River, Laozi then departed westward through the Hangu Pass and revisited the Zhou capital. This was in 453 BC, when Laozi was 119 years old, Fan Li 74, and Xi Shi 49.