Tiger Hill Park is located in a northwest suburb of Suzhou. The Sword Pool is the most spiritually significant part of the Park. Historical records show that the tomb of King Helv of Wu is located beneath the pond. Legend has it that he was buried with 3000 of his beloved swords.
King Hlv was a famous military strategist and one of the five dominant political leaders of the Spring and Autumn Period. In 514 BC, he decreed that Suzhou would be the capital city of his kingdom. When he was wounded in a battle against the kingdom of Yue and later died, he was succeeded by his son Fuchai. Eventually, in 495 BC, Fuchai defeated King Goujian of Yue but the vanquished King only made a show of submission. Goujian secretly sustained his thirst for vengeance by daily sleeping on brushwood and tasting gall.
The Kingdom of Wu gradually declined due to its years of prolonged military engagements while the Kingdom of Yue became stronger and stronger. In 473 BC, Yue attacked and laid waste the Kingdom of Wu. Fuchai begged King Goujian for mercy, but Goujian refused and Fuchai committed suicide.