Only conflicting later estimates exist
Taiwan's Ministry of Education dictionary states that Fan Li's birth and death years are unknown. The Palace Museum uses about 517 BCE, while another common later convention uses about 536 BCE. The House of King Goujian of Yue and Biographies of Merchants in the Shiji give no birth year, month, day, or hour. This page therefore treats 536 BCE as a displayed approximation, not a verified birth year. Astronomical year -535 corresponds to civil 536 BCE in the data model, and 1 January is an internal sorting value rather than a birthday. The broad state of Chu provenance is retained; the specific birthplace is disputed.
What the Shiji confirms
The Shiji records Fan Li's service to King Goujian, his departure after Yue defeated Wu, names including Chiyi Zipi and Tao Zhugong, and later commercial activity. It also says that in nineteen years he accumulated a fortune three times and repeatedly distributed wealth among poor friends and distant relatives. These statements define the source-bounded biography; they do not establish a chart.
Why no chart is published
The current BaZi engine does not support BCE years. This page therefore publishes no Pillars, stems and branches, Day Master, pattern, strength, Ten Gods, auxiliary stars, luck cycles, or annual-cycle conclusions. It does not infer a chart from government service, departure from Yue, commerce, or wealth narratives. For supported dates, use the free BaZi chart. Traditional BaZi is a symbolic interpretive framework and is not health, financial, or legal advice.