Xiang Yu's Biography

Xiang Yu (232 BC - 202 BC), Xiang Yu, name Yu, character Yu, a native of Xiaxiang, Chu (present-day Suqian, Jiangsu Province), grandson of Xiang Yan, a famous general of Chu, a militarist, a representative figure of the Chinese military ideology of "Military Situation" (the four potentials of the military school: Military Situation, Military Power and Counseling, Military Yin and Yang, and Military Skill). He was a representative of the Chinese military thought of "military situation" (the four forces of military situation, military power and strategy, military yin and yang, and military skill), and was also famous for his personal force.

Li Lianfang's evaluation of him was "Yu's bravery is unmatched in history". Sima Qian wrote in the Records of the Grand Historian that Xiang was a general of Chu for many generations, and that his family name was Xiang.

In his early years, Xiang Yu followed his uncle Xiang Liang to revolt against the Qin in Wuzhong (present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu Province). After Xiang Liang was killed in battle, he led his troops across the river to save Zhao Wang Xie, and then defeated the main force of the Qin army led by Zhang Han and Wang Li at the Battle of Julu. After the fall of Qin, he was called the hegemonic king of Western Chu, and set his capital at Pengcheng (present-day Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province), where he practiced the feudal system by appointing the ministers who had merited the destruction of Qin and the aristocrats of the six kingdoms as kings.

After that, Liu Bang, the King of Han, attacked Xiang Yu from Hanzhong, and Xiang Yu started the Chu-Han War with him, which lasted four years. During that time, although he repeatedly defeated Liu Bang, Xiang Yu was never able to have a fixed rear supply, and ran out of food and grass, and he was suspicious of Fan Zeng, his father, who was finally destroyed by Liu Bang. In 202 B.C., Xiang Yu was defeated in Gaixia (present-day Lingbi County, Anhui Province, south of China) and killed himself by the Wujiang River (present-day Wujiang Town, He County, Anhui Province, China).

Expanded Information:

Anecdotes

Breaking the kettle and sinking the boat: At the time of the Battle of Ju Lu. Xiang Yu led the army across the Zhangshui, ordered the boat all chiseled and sunk, the cooking utensils all destroyed, only with three days of grain and grass and the Qin army combat, Xiang Yu soldiers therefore to the heart of death to fight bravely forward, Xiang Yu army therefore the combat power has been greatly enhanced, each one to one block ten, kill the vassals and soldiers chilled, and ultimately, to obtain the victory of the Battle of Julu.

Hongmen Banquet: Xiang Yu was advised by Fan Zeng to kill Liu Bang at a banquet, and the idiom "Xiang Zhuang dances with the sword in Pei Gong" came from it.

The Song of Chu on All Sides: Xiang Yu was surrounded by Liu Bang's army on all sides after his defeat at Gaixia, and Liu Bang's army sang the song of Chu in the evening, Xiang Yu's army was very sad when they heard the song, and thought that Liu Bang had already calmed down Chu, and Xiang Yu's army's military spirit was disintegrated.

Farewell concubine: Xiang Yu had a beauty called Yu Ji, often accompanied by Xiang Yu, but Xiang Yu had to lead the elite cavalry to prepare for the siege, and had to make a song and Yu Ji farewell, Yu Ji also made a song to echo the heart of the table will die, and Xiang Yu tearful goodbye. Farewell My Concubine has been adapted for theater, film and television, novels, songs and other literary works.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Xiang Yu