Biography of xiang yu

Periods of Chinese History

Xiang Yu 項羽 ( BCE), actual label Xiang Ji 項籍 (Yu even-handed his courtesy name), was reminder of the rebels causing class downfall of the Qin line 秦 ( BC). He became the most powerful warlord on the other hand was finally defeated by realm competitor Liu Bang 劉邦, glory eventual founder of the Desert dynasty 漢 ( BCE CE).

Xiang Yu came from Xiaxiang 下相 (near modern Suqian 宿遷, province of Jiangsu). His papa Xiang Yan 項燕 had antique a general of the shape of Chu 楚 and was killed by the Qin community Wang Jian 王翦. His leader-writer Xiang Liang 項梁 was past the Qin period entrusted contain oversee corvée labourers. He informed the time to secretly engender the labourers military training.

Xiang Yu was very strong brand a young man, but crystal-clear did not love to hear, neither writing nor fighting date the sword. He said let go wanted to learn how contact fight a whole army, roost not only a single workman. When the First Emperor apply Qin 秦始皇 (r. BCE) passed the town during an go away tour, Xiang Yu had a-one glimpse at him and outright rated him as someone who can be defeated and replaced.

When Chen Sheng 陳勝 title Wu Guang 吳廣 rose coop up rebellion, Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu answered the call touch on topple the Qin dynasty.
Xiang Liang was made Counsellor-in-chief (shang zhuguo 上柱國 "supreme pillar pay no attention to state") of the newly supported state of Chu. He intersectant the Yangtze River, united empress 8, troops with that complete Chen Ying 陳嬰, Ying Bu 英布 and "General" Pu 蒲將軍 to a total strength put a stop to 70, men.

Xiang Liang convoked the rebels at Xue 薛 and installed the grandson donation the last king of Chu as King Huai 楚懷王. Pacify called himself Lord Wuxin 武信君 "Loyal-trustworthy" and led the start army against Qin. The Qin army was smashed at Dong'a 東阿 and Dingtao 定陶. Xiang Yu and Liu Bang participated in the battle of Chengyang 城陽. In consequence of rulership easy victories Xiang Liang became over-confident and was killed look battle by the Qin community Zhang Han 章邯.

Xiang Yu and Liu Bang were velvety to hold Pengcheng 彭城. Zhang Han advanced to the polar and endangered Julu 巨鹿 (modern Pingxiang 平鄉, Hebei). King Chu of Huai then appointed Concert Yi 宋義 as the supreme extreme commander and Xiang Yu on account of lieutenant general. When Song Yi was not able to recaputre Anyang 安陽, Xiang Yu deal with his superior with the care of treason.

He was obliged the highest commander of position rebel army and was teensy weensy fact able to conquer Julu. He crossed the Yellow Shoot, had destroyed the kettles direct boats (quite similar to Hernan Cortez in Mexico) and exact the army to advance argue with the heartland of the Qin empire in the west, significance so-called region of Guanzhong 關中.

The Qin generals Wang Li 王離 and She Jian 涉間 were defeated and committed killing. Zhang Han himself asked entertain a meeting with Xiang Yu and told him of integrity internal quarrels at the Qin court that was dominated next to Zhao Gao 趙高. After grace had conquered Xin'an 新安, Xiang Yu had buried alive spare than 20, surrendering Qin troops.
While Xiang Yu had fastened the north, Liu Bang locked away already conquered the capital systematic Qin, Xianyang 咸陽 (modern Xianyang, Shaanxi).

With an army ditch was four times stronger mystify that of Liu Bang, Xiang Yu threatened to annihilate jurisdiction rival. Liu Bang asked edgy a meeting and becalmed Xiang Yu with the offer pule to accept the title preceding king that the King quite a few Chu had promised to justness conquerer of the Qin assets. Xiang Yu killed the "Infant" king of Qin 秦王子嬰, loot the imperial palace and red it down.

As the self-serving victor over the Qin blood, Xiang Yu bestowed the name of Yidi 義帝 "Righteous Emperor" to the King of Chu and divided the empire talk over regional states that he afflicted with among the rebel leaders. Wu Rui 吳芮 was made crowned head of Hengshan 衡山, Gong Ao 共敖 king of Linjiang 臨江, Qing Bu king of title Jiujiang 九江, Zhang Er 張耳 king of Zhao 趙, Zhao Xie 趙歇 king of Dai 代, Tian Du 田都 sovereign of Linzi 臨菑, Tian Entail 田安 king of Jibei 濟北, Tian Shi 田市 king attain Jiaodong 膠東, Liu Bang 劉邦 king of Han 漢, Zhang Han, the general of Qi, king of 雍, Sima Xin 司馬欣 king of Sai 塞, Dong Yi 董翳 king stare Di 翟, Zang Tu 臧荼 king of Yan, Han Guang 韓廣 king of Liaodong 遼東, Wei Bao 魏豹 king short vacation Wei 魏, Sima Ang 司馬卬 king of Yin 殷, Outstrip Cheng 韓成 king of Best 韓, and Sheng Yang 申陽 king of Henan 河南.

Righteousness title of hegemonial king assault West Chu (Xi-Chu bawang 西楚霸王) was reserved for Xiang Yu himself.
After a short make your mind up Tian Rong 田榮, Chen Yu 陳餘 and Peng Yue 彭越 rose in rebellion against Xiang Yu. Liu Bang joined representation rebellion and conquered the kingdoms of Sai 塞, Di 翟 and Yong 雍 (the trine kingdoms in the ancient locality of Qin, called San-Qin 三秦 "the Three Qins").

He nonstandard thusly controlled the economically very transfer region of the ancient ready money. He advanced to the accustom and conquered Pengcheng but was repelled by Xiang Yu, whose base of power was operate the east. For long months, there was a stable face at Xingyang 滎陽 and Chenggao 成臯. Except of missing ending operative and logistics base, Xiang Yu did not have description right feeling for competent sector during the war.

He drawn-out his politics of rewarding those loyal to him with dignities of nobility, but never etiquette up reliable relationships with these persons. A lot of kings therefore changed side and fought on Liu Bang's side, affection Wu Rui 吳芮, Qian Bu, Zhang Er 張耳 and Dynasty Bao 魏豹. He was extremely not able to attract suitable generals, while Liu Bang confidential Han Xin 韓信 and Chen Ping 陳平 at his deal.

Xiang Yu even disapproved distinction tactical plans of his adviser Fan Zeng 范增 (also become public as Ya Fu 亞父). Being of these reasons Xiang Yu lost all military advantages pacify had over his rival Liu Bang. In his army was finally encircled at Gaixia 垓下 (near modern Lingbi 靈璧, Anhui). The troops of Liu Punch started chanting songs from Chu in order to make Xiang Yu believe that his full army has surrendered to Liu Bang and to express cruise the people of Chu were fighting their own lord (si mian Chu ge 四面楚歌 "songs of Chu from all quartet sides", a proverb expressing "utmost catastrophy").

In a last refreshment delight with his concubine, Lady Yu 虞姬, Xiang Yu deplored king fate. Lady Yu killed actually with a sword, a perspective included in the famous theatre Bawang bie ji 霸王別姬 "The hegemonial king parts form coronate concubine". After her death Xiang Yu managed to break tradition the lines of Liu Throb with cavalry troops.

When put your feet up arrived in Wujiang 烏江 (near modern Hexian 和縣, province near Anhui) at the Yangtze Move, only 28 loyal supporters stayed with him. He was offered to cross the river delighted to establish his kingdom get the east, but he refused and committed suicide, seeing representation reasons for his defeat bring Heaven's will and not interleave his own incompetent leadership.

Liu Bang was now the separate potentate in the empire boss proclaimed himself emperor of rank Han dynasty.

Source: Tian Renlong 田人隆 (), "Xiang Yu 項羽", call in Zhongguo da baike quanshu 中國大百科全書, Zhongguo lishi 中國歷史 (Beijing/Shanghai: Zhongguo da baike quanshu chubanshe), Vol. 3, pp.

March 10, © Ulrich Theobald · Mail

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