A Song to Drown Rivers

Fanli is both the creator and lover of Xishi as well as an early savior of her life. He is himself beautiful to look at, graceful, skilled, and intelligent, described as equal parts poet and warrior. By the age of 22 he has won enough renown with his strategy and fighting skills that King Goujian appoints him his political and military advisor. He is notorious for caring only about the kingdom and is “Incorruptible. […] The last pure thing under Heaven,” (18) as he barely looks at both the women and riches the king sends him in gratitude. When Xishi meets him, she notes that there are already folk tales and poems praising his name.

His incorruptible nature is not immune to Xishi’s beauty and goodness, however, and he falls in love with her. Unlike other characters, this isn’t due to her beauty alone as his first impressions of her kindness and courage are made when she is wearing a veil. This sets him apart as a true love of the protagonist and not merely one bewitched by her beauty. While he remains incorruptible, his king is not, and Fanli suffers betrayal when the king kills Xishi. Fanli’s uncompromising loyalty to his king and his unwavering sense of duty prevent him from acting on his love until it is too late, helping develop the novel’s theme of The Dangers of Unquestioning Loyalty. It isn’t until Xishi is buried and in the underworld that he is able to kiss her in his dreams.

Fanli is a variation of the Pygmalion myth from the ancient Greece, in which a man creates the perfect yet unattainable woman and then falls in love with her. Fanli similarly molds Xishi into a perfect concubine but then is unable to compromise his own moral principles enough to act on his feelings for her. It is implied that he is reunited in death with Xishi in the afterlife, as Pygmalion is able to unite with his love after she is magically brought to life by Aphrodite.

Fanli is based on the historical figure Fan Li, the military advisor to King Goujian who was revered as an intelligent businessman after he retired to sail around Lake Tai with his wife, the original Xi Shi.

Zhengdan is Xishi’s best friend and companion. Beautiful in her own right, she is more action-oriented than Xishi and enjoys activities designated for men, such as breaking horses and sword fighting. Fierce and loyal by nature, she accomplishes her goal of avenging her father’s death by publicly humiliating his killer, General Ma. Her boldness results in her death after Ma wrongfully convicts her of stealing and has her killed in revenge for his humiliation.

She fills the role of the sidekick or best friend that occurs in both adventure and romance novels, creating multiple contrasts to highlight the character of the protagonist. While Xishi is active emotionally, Zhengdan is physically active. In her unwavering conviction about her path, she serves as a foil to Xishi’s more ambivalent feeling about her role in the war. Zhengdan, unlike her own mother, sees the virtue in dying for what she perceives as a noble cause. Aside from providing contrasts in the protagonist’s character Zhengdan is a valuable sounding board and source of encouragement for Xishi, giving the main character someone to whom she can vocalize doubts and with whom she can share plans.

King Fuchai is initially portrayed as the novel’s chief antagonist. The revelation of his more complex character, however, helps Xishi to realize that all humans are capable of love and have moral value. The Fruitless Destruction of War impacts everyone, even the king. While she begins by hating Fuchai as the leader responsible for her people’s oppression and her sister’s murder, Xishi realizes that he is in fact a lonely young man who is both handsome and capable of altruistic love. He is easily swayed by her charm and beauty, and willingly dies at her hand when he discovers her betrayal, prompting her final existential crisis as she tries to grapple with what she has done.

Fuchai’s character arc is tragic and filled with irony. His initial portrayal as a strong, decisive leader gradually unravels as he falls under Xishi’s influence, demonstrating how personal affections can lead to political vulnerability.

King Goujian of Yue emerges as a layered and complex figure whose rulership is marred by personal vendettas. Initially, Goujian presents himself as detached and calculating, particularly in his interactions with Xishi and other characters who play pivotal roles in his long-term plans against the Wu kingdom. His characterization oscillates between that of a ruthless sovereign bent on revenge and a sagacious leader who prioritizes the welfare of his state.

Through direct characterization, Goujian exhibits harshness and his ambitious nature when he dismisses the personal feelings of those around him, focusing instead on their utility in his political machinations. When he strategically allows himself to be humiliated by Fuchai, his actions showcase his ability to sacrifice immediate pride for long-term gain, highlighting his resilience and foresight.

Goujian’s character arc is one of tragic enlightenment, where his relentless pursuit of victory and the heavy costs of war lead to a hollow triumph. While he is ultimately successful in overcoming the Wu, he remains ensnared by the very hatred that fuelled his rise, illustrating the enduring the corrosive nature of revenge.

General Ma of the Wu kingdom is a formidable antagonist whose martial prowess is overshadowed by his brutal nature. As a general, his character is constructed through the fearful respect he commands from both his soldiers and enemies. His reputation precedes him, creating an aura of menace and efficiency that is confirmed by his actions on the battlefield and his ruthless suppression of opposition within the kingdom.

General Ma experiences a moment of unexpected vulnerability during his confrontation with Zhengdan, where his defeat not only shatters his aura of invincibility but also exposes the limitations of power upheld by fear alone. Although this moment offers a potential opportunity for repentance, General Ma retaliates for his humiliation by lying and accusing Zhengdan of theft, leading to her execution and showing that he has no honor or hope of changing his violent ways.