The
Chu-Han contention was a post-
Qin DynastyThe Qin Dynasty was the ruling Chinese dynasty between 221 and 206 BC. The Qin state was named because the people of is homeland were called the qin. The Qin's strength had been consolidated by Lord Shang Yang during the Warring States Period, in the 4th century BC...
interregnum period in
ChinaChina is a cultural region, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
. During this period the rebel kings derived from the collapse of
Qin DynastyThe Qin Dynasty was the ruling Chinese dynasty between 221 and 206 BC. The Qin state was named because the people of is homeland were called the qin. The Qin's strength had been consolidated by Lord Shang Yang during the Warring States Period, in the 4th century BC...
formed two camps fighting each other. One camp was headed by Liu Bang (劉邦), King of Han, while the other was headed by
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
(項羽), Overlord of the Western Chu. Several minor kings also fought independent wars against each other during that period. The war ended with total victory of Liu Bang, who proclaimed himself emperor and established the
Han DynastyThe Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the peasant rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
.
Origin of the War
In 221 BC, the Qin Dynasty annexed all the other states in China to form the first united Chinese Empire. However, the political unification did not immediately result in a unified national identity of all Chinese people. In some former state territory, sympathy to the old states still prevailed. This might not be a huge problem had the Qin Dynasty been able to consolidate its rule over all China for a long period of time. However, Qin's rule was extremely unpopular and unbearable to most Chinese people. Insurrection followed and the Qin Dynasty collapsed within 30 years of the unification. During the collapse of Qin, many rebels rallied local people to their support under the banners of the old states. The result was that, when the Qin Dynasty ended, China was divided into many kingdoms, many with the old Warring State kingdom name and with a member of the old royal family on the throne.
At that moment, the future of China was not clear. Some people, especially many descendants of the ruling families of the old kingdoms thought the Warring States would be restored and China would be divided again among these kingdoms. However, most of the common people were tired of the endless war and hoped a united empire could end it.
Among these kingdoms, the strongest was
ChuKing of Chu was the title used by several rebellion leaders during the collapse of Qin Dynasty. Using the old name of Chu, these Kings claimed to be the rightful ruler of the old Chu territory ....
. Xiang Yu, the chief of Chu army, won the support of most of the kings following his heroic
Battle of JuluThe Battle of Julu was fought in Julu in 207 BC primarily between Qin forces led by Zhang Han, and Chu rebels led by Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu emerged victorious, defeating a large Qin army with a small number of soldiers...
(鉅鹿之戰) and became the de facto leader of all the kings, although the throne of Chu was still in the hands of the figurehead
King Huai of ChuEmperor Yi of Chu , also known as Prince Huai of Chu , personal name Mi Xin Emperor Yi of Chu (Traditional Chinese: 楚義帝, sometimes 南楚義帝, literally "the Righteous Emperor of Chu"), also known as Prince Huai of Chu (楚懷王), personal name Mi Xin (羋心) Emperor Yi of Chu (Traditional Chinese: 楚義帝,...
. In
206 BC-Roman Republic:* In the Battle of Ilipa in Spain, the Carthaginian generals, Mago Barca and Hasdrubal Gisco, are defeated by the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio. Mago retreats to Gades and then sails for the Balearic Islands.* The Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio secures Gades, thus...
, it seemed obvious that the fate of China lay in his hands. However, although a brilliant military leader, Xiang Yu was incompetent in politics. Being placed in a position to create a post-Qin order of China, he made several moves that are generally considered unwise by historians:
- First, after the bulk of the Qin army (around 200,000 soldiers) surrendered to him, Xiang Yu ruthlessly slaughtered them all. Most of them were from the Qin homeland, Guanzhong
Guanzhong , or Guanzhong Plain, historically refers to an area that was closed by:* Xiao Pass to the north,* Hangu Pass to the east,* Wu Pass to the south, and* Dasan Pass to the west,...
(關中). By doing this, Xiang Yu won the hatred of the people of Guanzhong, who later would remain loyal to Liu Bang in the following war.
- Second, Xiang Yu murdered Emperor Yi of Chu
Emperor Yi of Chu , also known as Prince Huai of Chu , personal name Mi Xin Emperor Yi of Chu (Traditional Chinese: 楚義帝, sometimes 南楚義帝, literally "the Righteous Emperor of Chu"), also known as Prince Huai of Chu (楚懷王), personal name Mi Xin (羋心) Emperor Yi of Chu (Traditional Chinese: 楚義帝,...
, the nominal leader of all the rebel kings. By doing so, Xiang Yu was considered by many as having committed regicide. This gave many people an excuse to turn against him.
- Third, Xiang Yu severely underestimated the danger of Liu Bang. Although he had the chance to get rid of Liu Bang for good, Xiang Yu let it pass.
- Fourth, Xiang Yu realigned many kingdoms to reward his favorites, a move which angered many others. Several disgruntled kingdoms soon rebelled against him. Those who were rewarded were also too busy consolidating their own rule to support Xiang Yu in the following war.
The last reason was the direct cause of Chu-Han Contention. It all started with the Qi rebellion.
Political Situation at the Start of the War
In
206 BC-Roman Republic:* In the Battle of Ilipa in Spain, the Carthaginian generals, Mago Barca and Hasdrubal Gisco, are defeated by the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio. Mago retreats to Gades and then sails for the Balearic Islands.* The Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio secures Gades, thus...
the Qin Dynasty ended. China was divided into six kingdoms with the same names as the old Warring States, namely Chu, Qi, Hán (Han), Wei, Zhao and Yan. The Qin government was overthrown, and who should rule Qin remained undecided. According to the promise made by King Huai of Chu, the nominal leader of all the kings, whoever occupied Guanzhong (the Qin homeland) first should be rewarded with the kingdom of Guanzhong. This would make Liu Bang the rightful king of Guanzhong. The people of Guanzhong also supported Liu Bang, who, though a native of Chu, treated the Qin people kindly and righteously. Xiang Yu was also afraid that if Liu Bang was made the King of Guanzhong, he would become too strong for himself. When Xiang Yu moved his army into Guanzhong and met Liu Bang, Liu Bang knew it was impossible for him to oppose Xiang Yu and gave in. Xiang Yu then gave Guanzhong to several surrendered Qin generals, thereby creating the Kingdoms of
three QinsThe Three Qins refer to three of the 19 principalities created by Xiang Yu in the aftermaths of the collapse of Qin Dynasty in 206 BC...
. Liu Bang was only awarded with the relatively desolate Kingdom of Han.
During the
Battle of JuluThe Battle of Julu was fought in Julu in 207 BC primarily between Qin forces led by Zhang Han, and Chu rebels led by Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu emerged victorious, defeating a large Qin army with a small number of soldiers...
, most of the kings sent troops to support Xiang Yu. As a result, Xiang Yu was in command of the united force of several kingdoms. After overthrowing the Qin Dynasty, Xiang Yu thought that he should reward the service of the generals of those kingdoms who fought along his side. Therefore he divided all the kingdoms to give these generals their own kingdom. The Kingdom of Qi was divided into three kingdoms, Yan, Hán, Wei, Zhao each into two, Qin into the aforementioned three Qin and Han. In his own kingdom, Chu, Xiang Yu made King Huai of Chu an emperor (
Emperor Yi of ChuEmperor Yi of Chu , also known as Prince Huai of Chu , personal name Mi Xin Emperor Yi of Chu (Traditional Chinese: 楚義帝, sometimes 南楚義帝, literally "the Righteous Emperor of Chu"), also known as Prince Huai of Chu (楚懷王), personal name Mi Xin (羋心) Emperor Yi of Chu (Traditional Chinese: 楚義帝,...
), and virtually exiled him to a remote place. Xiang Yu then made himself the King of Chu (Conqueror of West Chu) and created three more kingdoms from the southwestern part of Chu territory. Generally, Xiang Yu gave the best territories to his favorites, at the expense of the original rulers. This certainly would not make him popular among them. Moreover, several generals who thought they should be made kings but were ignored by Xiang Yu also felt envious.
Those who felt slighted included Liu Bang, King of Han, Wei Bao, King of Wei, Han Guang, King of Liaodong,
Chen Yu, Lord Cheng'anChen Yu may refer to:*Chen Yu , Chinese general in Qin Dynasty*Chen Yu , Chinese badminton player*Chen Yu *Chen Yu , Chinese swimmer...
,
Peng YuePeng Yue served Liu Bang. Founding minister of Han. Marquis of Jiancheng. Chancellor of Han.-Biography:Not long after Emperor Hu Hai's ascension, an uprising began, led by Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang...
and Tian Rong. They would soon insurrect against Xiang Yu, and except for Han Guang, who was defeated quickly by his former subordinate
Zang TuZang Tu was a general of Yan who later became king of Yan.Originally a general serving under the king of Yan Han Guang, Zang Tu was sent with a force to relieve Zhao when they were under attack by Qin. Following the defeat of the Qin forces by the Chu commander Xiang Yu, Zang Tu joined him as he...
, they all had a major impact.
Start of the War: Qi Rebellion
During the collapse of the Qin Dynasty, the Kingdom of Qi was restored and now the king was Tian Shi. The prime minister of Qi was Tian Rong. Tian Rong refused to help Xiang Yu in several occasions during the war against Qin Dynasty. Therefore Xiang Yu disliked Tian Rong a lot. During the realignment of the kingdoms, Xiang Yu divided the kingdom of Qi into three kingdoms:
Kingdom of QiKing of Qi was the title used by several rebellion leaders during the collapse of Qin Dynasty. They were descendants of the old Warring State Qi royal family. The kingdom was roughly the current Shandong province....
, Kingdom of Jibei and Kingdom of Jiaodong. The best part of the three, Kingdom of Qi was awarded to Tian Du, a Qi general who had disregarded Tian Rong's order and helped Xiang Yu. Tian Shi was demoted to the King of Jiaodong, a much desolate and poor territory. Kingdom of Jibei was awarded to another Qi general, Tian An. Tian Rong was left with no kingdom. In fall 206 BC, Tian Rong rose up against Xiang Yu. He quickly deposed Tian Du, and killed both Tian An and Tian Shi. After reuniting Kingdom of Qi, Tian Rong made himself the King. At that time
Peng YuePeng Yue served Liu Bang. Founding minister of Han. Marquis of Jiancheng. Chancellor of Han.-Biography:Not long after Emperor Hu Hai's ascension, an uprising began, led by Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang...
was also left without any fief, so Tian Rong named
Peng YuePeng Yue served Liu Bang. Founding minister of Han. Marquis of Jiancheng. Chancellor of Han.-Biography:Not long after Emperor Hu Hai's ascension, an uprising began, led by Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang...
(彭越) his chief of army and ordered him to attack Chu.
The Kingdom of Qi lay just north of Xiang Yu's core territory: Pengcheng (彭城). For the next year Xiang Yu would concentrate his army in the effort to suppress the Qi rebellion. Therefore he was unable to intervene at Guanzhong, where Liu Bang soon began his own insurrection.
Occupation of Guanzhong by Liu Bang
In winter
206 BC-Roman Republic:* In the Battle of Ilipa in Spain, the Carthaginian generals, Mago Barca and Hasdrubal Gisco, are defeated by the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio. Mago retreats to Gades and then sails for the Balearic Islands.* The Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio secures Gades, thus...
, Liu Bang decided to reclaim his rightful territory: Guanzhong. At that time Guanzhong was ruled by the Kings of
Three QinsThe Three Qins refer to three of the 19 principalities created by Xiang Yu in the aftermaths of the collapse of Qin Dynasty in 206 BC...
:
Zhang Han, King of YongZhang Han was a Chinese general of the Qin Dynasty.-Biography:Zhang Han defeated the peasant rebellion led by Chen Sheng and Wu Guang in 208 BC. Zhao Xie , the Prince of Zhao, and Zhang Er then led the remnants of the rebel forces to occupy Julu. Zhang Han consequently led a siege of Julu with...
, Sima Xin, King of Sai and Dong Yi, King of Di. These three kings were all old Qin generals. They surrendered their army to Xiang Yu when it was obvious the Qin's fall was inevitable. Xiang Yu ruthlessly slaughtered all the surrendered soldiers, but spared the lives of these three generals and later awarded them Guanzhong. The people of
GuanzhongGuanzhong , or Guanzhong Plain, historically refers to an area that was closed by:* Xiao Pass to the north,* Hangu Pass to the east,* Wu Pass to the south, and* Dasan Pass to the west,...
considered these three kings to be traitors who gained their kingdom by sacrificing the sons, brothers and husbands of the Qin people. On the other hand, Liu Bang was regarded by many Guanzhong people to be their ideal ruler.
Without the support of Qin's people, the Kingdom of Sai and Kingdom of Di were soon conquered by Han. The Kingdom of Yong was reduced to a few cities. Now that he occupied the strategic territory of Guanzhong, Liu Bang had a solid rear area and a reliable logistic base.
Development in Other Kingdoms
Chen Yu, Lord Cheng'anChen Yu may refer to:*Chen Yu , Chinese general in Qin Dynasty*Chen Yu , Chinese badminton player*Chen Yu *Chen Yu , Chinese swimmer...
was only awarded a territory of mere three counties by Xiang Yu while his rival Zhang Er was made the King of Zhao. Feeling robbed, Chen Yu jumped at the opportunity of Qi Rebellion. With help from Qi troops, Chen Yu managed to depose Zhang Er from the Zhao throne in the first month of
205 BC-Seleucid Empire:* Returning via the Persian provinces of Arachosia, Drangiana, and Carmania, Antiochus III arrives in Persis. He then leads a short expedition down the Persian Gulf and receives tribute of 500 talents of silver from the citizens of Gerrha, a mercantile state on the east coast of...
. Xie, King of Dai was restored to the Zhao throne by Chen Yu, while Chen Yu himself was awarded the Kingdom of Dai.
In the meantime
Zang Tu, King of YanZang Tu was a general of Yan who later became king of Yan.Originally a general serving under the king of Yan Han Guang, Zang Tu was sent with a force to relieve Zhao when they were under attack by Qin. Following the defeat of the Qin forces by the Chu commander Xiang Yu, Zang Tu joined him as he...
killed the former King of Yan Han Guang, King of Liaodong and reunited the Kingdom of Yan.
In the Kingdom of Hán, Xiang Yu killed Cheng, King of Hán and replaced him with Zheng Chang.
Battle of Pengcheng and Lingbi
In the first month of
205 BC-Seleucid Empire:* Returning via the Persian provinces of Arachosia, Drangiana, and Carmania, Antiochus III arrives in Persis. He then leads a short expedition down the Persian Gulf and receives tribute of 500 talents of silver from the citizens of Gerrha, a mercantile state on the east coast of...
, Xiang Yu had Emperor Yi of Chu assassinated. This was soon used as an excuse by Liu Bang to rally people against Xiang Yu.
After consolidating his base at Guanzhong, Liu Bang moved his army east of
Hangu PassHangu Pass was a strategic pass in ancient China just south of the great eastern bend of the Yellow River in today's Lingbao County, Henan Province...
to conquer the Henan area. Soon, the prefect of Nanyang and Henan fell into Liu Bang's hands. After that Han conquered the Kingdom of Wei and Kingdom of Yin and replaced Zheng Chang, King of Hán with
Han Xin (Prince of Han)Han Xin is a descendant of the Han royal house and general of the Western Han Dynasty. He is known historically as Han Wangxin to not be confused with another general by the same name Han Xin and same period. Emperor Gao of Han gave Han Xin the title King of Han after the founding of the...
(not to be confused with the other
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
, who was later known as Marquess of Huaiyin). Han's territory was now directly adjacent to Chu's.
Xiang Yu was at that moment busy with Qi. In the fourth month of
205 BC-Seleucid Empire:* Returning via the Persian provinces of Arachosia, Drangiana, and Carmania, Antiochus III arrives in Persis. He then leads a short expedition down the Persian Gulf and receives tribute of 500 talents of silver from the citizens of Gerrha, a mercantile state on the east coast of...
Xiang Yu defeated Tian Rong soundly in
ChengyangChengyang is a district consisting of eight villages, located 4-5 hours from Guilin, in the Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County of Guangxi province of China....
and the latter was soon killed by some local people. However, Xiang Yu failed to follow suit and appease the Qi people. Tian Heng, younger brother of Tian Rong rallied Qi people against Chu invaders, and the war remained indecisive in Qi.
Meanwhile Liu Bang had mustered a huge force (around 560,000 soldiers) with the help of the other kings. In the eighth month of
205 BC-Seleucid Empire:* Returning via the Persian provinces of Arachosia, Drangiana, and Carmania, Antiochus III arrives in Persis. He then leads a short expedition down the Persian Gulf and receives tribute of 500 talents of silver from the citizens of Gerrha, a mercantile state on the east coast of...
, the united force of Han, Zhao, Sai, Di, Hán and Wei captured Pengcheng, the capital of Chu, when Xiang Yu was fighting in Qi.
Despite the success, Liu Bang did little to advance. The coalition force spent most of its time drinking and partying in Pengcheng. This gave Xiang Yu an opportunity. Leaving a general to command the rest of Chu army in Qi, Xiang Yu took a hand-picked force of 30,000, sneaked back to Pengcheng and surprised Liu Bang and his coalition force. Panicked, many Han soldiers jumped into a river nearby and were drowned. When the defeated Han army moved south, Xiang Yu chased them to Lingbi and forced the bulk of them into another two rivers. An estimated 100,000 Han soldiers were lost. Liu Bang himself was pursued by Chu troops and was so frightened that he attempted to abandon his two children, later
Emperor Hui of HanEmperor Hui of Han was the second emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. He was the second son of the first Han emperor, Han Gaozu and Empress Dowager Lü. He is generally remembered as a weak character dominated by his mother, Empress Dowager Lü, who was personally kind and generous but unable to...
and Princess Yuan of Lu to lighten his chariot. Liu Bang's father and wife (later Empress Dowager Lü) were both captured by Chu troops.
After the Battle of Pengcheng and Lingbi, Han lost all its territorial gains in Chu, and most of the kings defected to the camp of Xiang Yu.
Recovery of Han
Liu Bang reorganized his defeated army in Yingyang (榮陽). With the reinforcements from Guanzhong, Liu Bang managed to stop Xiang Yu's advance and the war became a stalemate. In the ninth month of
205 BC-Seleucid Empire:* Returning via the Persian provinces of Arachosia, Drangiana, and Carmania, Antiochus III arrives in Persis. He then leads a short expedition down the Persian Gulf and receives tribute of 500 talents of silver from the citizens of Gerrha, a mercantile state on the east coast of...
, Han annexed the Kingdom of Yong, thus finally solidifying its hold on Guanzhong. In the meantime, Liu Bang realized that it was extremely hard to beat Xiang Yu head on. Therefore, he decided to employ a roundabout strategy suggested by
Zhang LiangZhang Liang , courtesy name Zifang , formally Marquess Wencheng of Liu , was a distinguished statesman of the early Western Han period...
(張良). In this plan, Liu Bang would deploy his own troops in Yingyang stalling Xiang Yu, while letting
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
(韓信)and
Peng YuePeng Yue served Liu Bang. Founding minister of Han. Marquis of Jiancheng. Chancellor of Han.-Biography:Not long after Emperor Hu Hai's ascension, an uprising began, led by Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang...
attack the rear area of Chu to weaken its line. Liu Bang would also rally Ying Bu (英布), King of Jiujiang, against Xiang Yu, thus pressuring Chu from the south.
To carry out this plan,
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
had to conquer the Hebei area (north of Huanghe River, including Kingdoms of Wei, Zhao, Dai and Yan). In the eleventh month of
205 BC-Seleucid Empire:* Returning via the Persian provinces of Arachosia, Drangiana, and Carmania, Antiochus III arrives in Persis. He then leads a short expedition down the Persian Gulf and receives tribute of 500 talents of silver from the citizens of Gerrha, a mercantile state on the east coast of...
,
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
conquered the Kingdom of Wei, thus solidifying the Han's line from north. In the first month of
204 BC-Carthage:* Having lost his alliance with the Numidian chief Masinissa, the Carthaginian general, Hasdrubal Gisco, finds a new ally in the Numidian king Syphax, who marries Sophonisba, Hasdrubal's daughter, whom until his defection to Rome has been betrothed to Masinissa.* Roman forces under...
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
led his army into the Kingdom of Zhao, together with the deposed King of Zhao, Zhang Er. In the decisive battle in
Jingjing PassJingxing Pass is one of the major mountain passes on the Taihang Mountains, site of the famous Battle of Tao River or Battle of Jingxing where the famous general Han Xin scored one of his many victories against superior forces....
,
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
deliberately stationed his troops with their backs to a river, forcing them to fight for their survival and won the battle soundly against the united force of Zhao and Dai. Both Zhao Xie, King of Zhao and
Chen Yu, King of DaiChen Yu may refer to:*Chen Yu , Chinese general in Qin Dynasty*Chen Yu , Chinese badminton player*Chen Yu *Chen Yu , Chinese swimmer...
were killed in action.
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
then restored Zhang Er back to the throne of Zhao, with Dai united with Zhao. The Kingdom of Yan soon acknowledged the leadership of Han. Chu tried to intervene in Zhao, but their assault was fruitless. The result was that Han now had a reliable ally north of the Yellow River in Zhao and could now attack Chu's flank from the north.
Other parts of the plan also materialized when Sui He managed to persuade Ying Bu, the King of Jiujiang, to turn against
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
. In the meantime Tian Heng finally drove the Chu army out of Qi.
Chu Striking Back
Now facing Han's aggression from multiple theaters, the balance appeared to be ticking away from Chu. However,
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
would not give it up without a fight. In the third month of
204 BC-Carthage:* Having lost his alliance with the Numidian chief Masinissa, the Carthaginian general, Hasdrubal Gisco, finds a new ally in the Numidian king Syphax, who marries Sophonisba, Hasdrubal's daughter, whom until his defection to Rome has been betrothed to Masinissa.* Roman forces under...
the Chu army led by Long Qie (龍且) drove Ying Bu out of the Kingdom of Jiujiang, removing the threat from the south.
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
then concentrated his effort in beating Liu Bang in Yingyang. In the seventh month of
204 BC-Carthage:* Having lost his alliance with the Numidian chief Masinissa, the Carthaginian general, Hasdrubal Gisco, finds a new ally in the Numidian king Syphax, who marries Sophonisba, Hasdrubal's daughter, whom until his defection to Rome has been betrothed to Masinissa.* Roman forces under...
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
managed to encircle Liu Bang in Yingyang, but Liu Bang made another lucky escape and withdrew back to
GuanzhongGuanzhong , or Guanzhong Plain, historically refers to an area that was closed by:* Xiao Pass to the north,* Hangu Pass to the east,* Wu Pass to the south, and* Dasan Pass to the west,...
, leaving Yingyang besieged by the Chu army.
Although Liu Bang had been beaten squarely,
Peng YuePeng Yue served Liu Bang. Founding minister of Han. Marquis of Jiancheng. Chancellor of Han.-Biography:Not long after Emperor Hu Hai's ascension, an uprising began, led by Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang...
now appeared to be the main problem. Waging a guerrilla war against Chu for several months,
Peng YuePeng Yue served Liu Bang. Founding minister of Han. Marquis of Jiancheng. Chancellor of Han.-Biography:Not long after Emperor Hu Hai's ascension, an uprising began, led by Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang...
severely undermined Chu's supply line. When
Peng YuePeng Yue served Liu Bang. Founding minister of Han. Marquis of Jiancheng. Chancellor of Han.-Biography:Not long after Emperor Hu Hai's ascension, an uprising began, led by Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang...
defeated a Chu force in Xiapi, southeast to Pengcheng,
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
had had enough. He decided to handle
Peng YuePeng Yue served Liu Bang. Founding minister of Han. Marquis of Jiancheng. Chancellor of Han.-Biography:Not long after Emperor Hu Hai's ascension, an uprising began, led by Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang...
himself. The campaign against
Peng YuePeng Yue served Liu Bang. Founding minister of Han. Marquis of Jiancheng. Chancellor of Han.-Biography:Not long after Emperor Hu Hai's ascension, an uprising began, led by Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang...
went well, but in the west front Liu Bang attacked again and destroyed the Chu army in
ChenggaoChenggao is an ancient city in present day Sishui, which is under the jurisdiction of Xingyang City in Henan Province, People's Republic of China.-References:*Romance of the Three Kingdoms/Chapter 4...
(成皋), just west of Yingyang.
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
had to move his troops again to the west front. In the ninth month of
204 BC-Carthage:* Having lost his alliance with the Numidian chief Masinissa, the Carthaginian general, Hasdrubal Gisco, finds a new ally in the Numidian king Syphax, who marries Sophonisba, Hasdrubal's daughter, whom until his defection to Rome has been betrothed to Masinissa.* Roman forces under...
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
captured Yingyang and defeated Liu Bang again in
ChenggaoChenggao is an ancient city in present day Sishui, which is under the jurisdiction of Xingyang City in Henan Province, People's Republic of China.-References:*Romance of the Three Kingdoms/Chapter 4...
. Liu Bang abandoned his own army and fled alone to the barracks of the Zhao army commanded by
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
and Zhang Er. In dramatic fashion Liu Bang seized control of the Zhao army.
Battle of River of Si
With the Zhao army in hand, Liu Bang was able to regroup and stop the Chu army from attacking either
GuanzhongGuanzhong , or Guanzhong Plain, historically refers to an area that was closed by:* Xiao Pass to the north,* Hangu Pass to the east,* Wu Pass to the south, and* Dasan Pass to the west,...
or Hebei. Again trying to weaken
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
's flank, Liu Bang sent general
Liu JiaLiu Jia is a female Chinese-born table tennis player who now represents Austria.She competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics, reaching the third round of the singles competition. She also competed in the team competition. She was European Champíon in 2005.She was born in Beijing.-References:**. ITTF...
(later King of Jing) to help
Peng YuePeng Yue served Liu Bang. Founding minister of Han. Marquis of Jiancheng. Chancellor of Han.-Biography:Not long after Emperor Hu Hai's ascension, an uprising began, led by Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang...
in Liang (southeastern part of Kingdom of Wei), which endangered the supply line of Chu army.
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
again decided to handle
Peng YuePeng Yue served Liu Bang. Founding minister of Han. Marquis of Jiancheng. Chancellor of Han.-Biography:Not long after Emperor Hu Hai's ascension, an uprising began, led by Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang...
himself, and left Cao Jiu, Marquess of Haichun, to defend Chenggao. When
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
left, he warned the Marquess of Haichun to concentrate on defense and not to fight with the Han troops.
At first the Marquess of Haichun followed
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
's instructions strictly. He stationed his troops inside
ChenggaoChenggao is an ancient city in present day Sishui, which is under the jurisdiction of Xingyang City in Henan Province, People's Republic of China.-References:*Romance of the Three Kingdoms/Chapter 4...
and ignored the challenges from the Han army. However, when Liu Bang sent an envoy to taunt him, the Marquess of Haichun was furious and mobilized his troops to attack Liu Bang. While crossing the So river, Liu Bang ambushed him and completely defeated the Chu troops.
ChenggaoChenggao is an ancient city in present day Sishui, which is under the jurisdiction of Xingyang City in Henan Province, People's Republic of China.-References:*Romance of the Three Kingdoms/Chapter 4...
fell into the hands of Liu Bang. Liu Bang soon captured Aocang (敖倉) and its enormous storage of food. Now the Han army would not have to worry about supply problems.
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
, on the other hand, again defeated
Peng YuePeng Yue served Liu Bang. Founding minister of Han. Marquis of Jiancheng. Chancellor of Han.-Biography:Not long after Emperor Hu Hai's ascension, an uprising began, led by Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang...
in Liang. However, the loss of Chu troops in
ChenggaoChenggao is an ancient city in present day Sishui, which is under the jurisdiction of Xingyang City in Henan Province, People's Republic of China.-References:*Romance of the Three Kingdoms/Chapter 4...
made Chu's strategic position extremely unfavorable.
Conquest of Qi by Han Xin
When Liu Bang was attacking the Chu army in Chenggao, he also made diplomatic attempts to win the support of Qi. The King of Qi was convinced by the Han envoy and decided to lean towards the Han side.
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
, however, had other thoughts. Having received an early order from Liu Bang to conquer Qi and no order to rescind it,
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
decided not to care about the actual political stand of Qi. He invaded Qi in the first month of
203 BC-Carthage:* The Roman general, Publius Cornelius Scipio, while undertaking peace negotiations with the Carthaginians at Utica, makes a surprise attack on the Carthaginian camp and destroys it...
.
Qi was caught unprepared from an invasion from
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
. Most of its territory fell to
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
in a few weeks. Qi had to resort to its former enemy, Chu.
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
sent Long Qie's army to help Qi.
Facing a numerically superior united force of Qi and Chu,
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
pretended to withdraw, then built a dam to hold back the flow of a river and tricked his opponent into crossing it. While the Chu and Qi troops were crossing the river, he released the water held back by the dam. Most of them were drowned. Long Qie was killed in action.
End of the War
While
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
was conquering Qi, Liu Bang and
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
were confronting each other in Guangwu (廣武). After several months, the Chu army was out of supplies.
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
tried to force Han's army into a decisive battle, but Liu Bang would not give him the chance. The fall of Qi shook
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
deeply. Brave as
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
was, his situation was nearly hopeless. In a desperate move to improve his position,
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
tried to persuade
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
to defect to his side. At that point the strength and strategic value of the Kingdom of Qi made it the deciding factor of the war. Be it Han or Chu, whoever had the support of
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
and his kingdom would certainly win.
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
remained loyal to Han and rejected this offer. He later rejected another suggestion that he remain neutral and virtually make China divided into the three kingdoms of Han, Chu and Qi.
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
's fate was sealed.
Only one obstacle remained in Liu Bang's way. Liu Bang's father and wife were still held as hostage in Chu's barracks. After reaching a peace treaty with
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
for the return of these two hostages, this obstacle was removed.
In the first month of
202 BC-Carthage:* Accused of treason by the Carthaginians after being defeated by the Romans at the Battle of the Great Plains, Hasdrubal Gisco commits suicide to avoid being lynched by a Carthaginian mob....
, Liu Bang broke the peace treaty and attacked
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
again in Guling. Fighting for his own survival,
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
won another battle against Han troops. This victory proved to be nothing but a tactical one. When
Peng YuePeng Yue served Liu Bang. Founding minister of Han. Marquis of Jiancheng. Chancellor of Han.-Biography:Not long after Emperor Hu Hai's ascension, an uprising began, led by Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang...
and
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
sent their troops alongside Liu Bang, the outcome of the war was finally decided.
In the third month of
202 BC-Carthage:* Accused of treason by the Carthaginians after being defeated by the Romans at the Battle of the Great Plains, Hasdrubal Gisco commits suicide to avoid being lynched by a Carthaginian mob....
,
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
found himself besieged in the
Battle of GaixiaThe Battle of Gaixia was a Chinese battle in 202 BC, during the Chu-Han contention between rival rulers of China which followed the collapse of the Qin Dynasty...
(垓下), by the coalition force of Han and the other kings. Jiujiang fell to Ying Bu and
Liu JiaLiu Jia is a female Chinese-born table tennis player who now represents Austria.She competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics, reaching the third round of the singles competition. She also competed in the team competition. She was European Champíon in 2005.She was born in Beijing.-References:**. ITTF...
the preceding month, and most of the Kingdom of Chu was occupied by the Han army. When he heard the besieging troops singing songs in the Chu accent,
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
knew his kingdom had fallen (this incident gave birth to the Chinese idiom: 四面楚歌). Defiant to the very end, he broke out of the siege and fled to the bank of
Wu River- In People's Republic of China :*Wu Jiang, the largest Wu River, is a tributary of the Yangtze River and flows through Guizhou and Sichuan.*Wu Shui is a tributary and one of the headwaters of the Yuan River flowing through Guizhou and Hunan....
(烏江) in heroic fashion, where he committed suicide.
After beating
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
, Liu Bang made
Peng YuePeng Yue served Liu Bang. Founding minister of Han. Marquis of Jiancheng. Chancellor of Han.-Biography:Not long after Emperor Hu Hai's ascension, an uprising began, led by Chen Sheng and Wu Kuang...
King of LiangThe King of Liang or Prince of Liang is the English translation of several different titles, applied to different regions and during different eras, in ancient China.-King of Liang :...
and Ying Bu
King of HuainanKing of Huainan was a noble title during the Han Dynasty in China. It was created by Liu Bang, King of Han, later Emperor Gao of Han in 202 BC for Ying Bu , former King of Jiujiang. Ying Bu rebelled against Emperor Gao of Han in 196 BC and was killed in action...
.
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
was also moved from King of Qi to King of Chu. Chu's former territory was now ruled by these three kings.
In the fourth month of
202 BC-Carthage:* Accused of treason by the Carthaginians after being defeated by the Romans at the Battle of the Great Plains, Hasdrubal Gisco commits suicide to avoid being lynched by a Carthaginian mob....
, upon the petition of all the kings, Liu Bang claimed himself Emperor of Han. This was the start of the
Han DynastyThe Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the peasant rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
.
Aftermath
The Chu-Han Contention ended with Liu Bang's total victory. China was reunited under the new Han empire, which was to become one of the strongest empires in the history of the world.
This war did not eliminate all the kingdoms within China. However, most of the old ruling families of these kingdoms were no longer on the throne, and the kings were mostly former commoners. The old noble families would still be a factor in Han Dynasty politics, but their role would never be as significant as in the past.
Legends
Xiang YuXiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
won almost every battle he participated in, but still lost the war. Later he was often depicted as a fallen hero.
On the contrary, although he suffered defeat after defeat, Liu Bang fought on and finally won it all. Later in Chinese literature he was often used as an example to advise people to never give up, just like the story of Robert the Bruce (or, for that matter,
the Tortoise and the HareThe Tortoise and the Hare is a fable attributed to Aesop. The story concerns a hare who ridicules a slow-moving tortoise. In response, the tortoise challenges his swift mocker to a race. The hare soon leaves the tortoise far behind and, confident of winning, he decides to take a nap midway through...
) in Western literature.
The expression "Bei shui yi zhan" (背水一戰), literally "fighting with the river at your back", was often used to mean "either win or die". This expression came from the battle of Jingjingkou, in which
Han XinHan Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...
deliberately stationed his troops facing the enemy, with their backs to the river, leaving no escape route. The knowledge that there was no way out but victory or death inspired the soldiers to fight harder.
Liu Bang and his officers are often favored in Chinese history book because Liu Bang started out as a peasant. They are often referred as people who worked their way to the top starting with nothing, like a rags-to-riches story.
It has been known that when Liu Bang's wife and father was taken hostage by Xiang Yu, he threatened to kill and eat them, unless Liu Bang agrees to have a single hand to hand
duelAs practiced from the 11th to 20th centuries in Western societies, a duel is an engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with their combat doctrines. In the modern application, the term is applied to aerial warfare between fighter pilots...
(Xiang Yu is famous in single combat and weaponry). Knowing that, Liu Bang rejected the challenge and boldly replied back "Killing my father and my wife will be an unfilial act, since we both have sworn into brotherhood. But if you must eat them, please share me a bowl." With that Xiang Yu shot an arrow and hit Liu Bang armoured chest, seriously wounding him.
Impact on Chinese culture
- Chinese Chess is usually referred to as Chu-Han contention. The red side is usually Han while the Green side is usually called Chu. The middle part which divides the players' sides is called the "Chu-Han borderline" (楚河漢界, literally "Chu river and Han border").
- The last stand of Xiang Yu is often called Farewell My Concubine
Farewell My Concubine is the common English title of a famous Chinese Peking Opera. A more accurate translation of the Chinese title is Hegemon King says Farewell to his Queen....
(霸王別姬) in Chinese operaChinese opera is a popular form of drama and musical theatre in China with roots going back as far as the third century CE. There are numerous regional branches of Chinese opera, of which the Beijing opera is one of the most notable.-Dynastic periods:Canjun opera of the Three Kingdoms period was...
.
- The incident of the Feast at Hong Gate
The Feast at Hong Gate was a historical event later often memorialized in Chinese history, novels, and drama, including in Beijing opera...
was made into a proverb.
- Many Chinese four-character proverbs and short stories come from the Chu-Han war. Most of the stories are related to Han Xin and Zhang Liang.
- The 36 Strategies make many Chu-Han War references.
- Liu Bang is respected in Chinese history because he created the Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the peasant rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
which is considered a golden age period for China, militarily. The other golden age period is Tang DynastyThe Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
(the golden age of Chinese culture).
- There have been TV series made in mainland China and Hong Kong TVB about the Chu-Han contention. Keeping with traditional views, Liu Bang is seen as the hero while Xiang Yu is seen as an arrogant warmonger.
- The Chu-Han contention is often seen as a battle of intelligence and moral edict, rather than bravery and heroism as in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms , written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based upon events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of China, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in 280.It is...
.
- Japanese game maker KOEI
Koei Co., Ltd. , formerly 光栄 ) is a Japanese video game publisher, developer, and distributor founded in 1978...
made a strategy game set during the Chu-Han contention. The title of this game is Rise of the PhoenixRise of the Phoenix is a strategy game made by KOEI. The game is set in ancient China during the historically accurate Chu-Han Contention between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu....
. It was released on the SNES during 1994. The player can choose to be either Liu Bang or Xiang Yu. The story is set in a five-year timespan, in accordance with the historical timeline. Also, the historical background is fairly accurate. There is no current published computer game about the war, but a major plot point in a role-playing gameA role-playing game is a game in which the participants assume the roles of fictional characters. Participants determine the actions of their characters based on their characterization, and the actions succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines...
named Prince of Qin involves an alternative timeline where FusuFusu was the first son of the First Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, and hence the heir apparent. He believed that society would be impeccably run if everyone shared perfect knowledge ....
did not commit suicide and helped Liu Bang destroy Qin.
Notable Figures
- Liu Bang
- Xiang Yu
Xiang Yu was one of the most prominent generals in Chinese history. His name was Ji , Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Xiang Yan , a general of Chu nobility. He was a dominating military tactician, and it took him only a few years to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, but he was poor at...
- Zhang Liang
Zhang Liang , courtesy name Zifang , formally Marquess Wencheng of Liu , was a distinguished statesman of the early Western Han period...
- Xiao He
Xiao He was a key figure in Liu Bang's rise to power after the fall of the Qin Dynasty. He remained loyal to Liu Bang throughout his life and later became prime minister of the Han Dynasty. He was born in the same place, Pei County as Liu Bang...
- Han Xin
Han Xin , also known as Marquess of Huaiyin , was a capable military commander who served under Liu Bang.- Early life and career :Han's father died early, and, like many Chinese at the time, he lived a childhood in destitution...