Feast at Hong Gate
Encyclopedia
The Feast at Hong Gate was a historical event (206 BC
or 205 BC
-- it happened around the new year) later often memorialized in Chinese history, novels, and drama, including in Beijing opera
. The literal translation of event is Hongmen Banquet, named after the place where it occurred, Hóngmén, because ostensibly, parties involved were joining a banquet.
The feast came about due to the jealousy and resentment of Xiang Yu
towards Liu Bang, who had conquered the heartland of Qin Dynasty
and caused its destruction; Xiang had considered the destruction of Qin to be the prize reserved only for him. Xiang was also angry that Liu, assuming that he would be made the Prince of Qin, appeared to be about to make the last ruler of Qin, Zi Ying
, his prime minister in governing Qin. Outnumbering Liu by about three-to-one and considering himself to be the superior general, and further instigated by his advisor Fan Zeng
(范增), Xiang was set to attack Liu and annihilate Liu's army.
Xiang Yu's uncle Xiang Bo
(項伯/项伯), a general in his army, found out about this plan. Being a good friend of Liu's strategist Zhang Liang
, he secretly rode to Liu's camp at night and told Zhang what was happening, trying to persuade Zhang to return to Xiang's camp with him and avoid the slaughter. Zhang, arguing that he had an obligation to Liu, refused, and further arranged a meeting between Xiang Bo and Liu. Liu flattered Xiang Bo and promised to be subservient to Xiang Yu and to pay respect to Xiang Yu the next morning, and Xiang Bo believed him. Returning to Xiang Yu's camp, Xiang Bo persuaded Xiang Yu that it was inappropriate and ungrateful to destroy Liu and his army. Instead, Xiang Yu began to set up a feast to entertain Liu the next day.
The next morning, with a small contingent of guards, Liu rode to Xiang Yu to pay respect to Xiang at Xiang's camp at Hongmen (鸿门), located in the present day Hong Men Bunker Village (Hongmenbao Cun, 鸿门堡村) of Xinfeng Town (Xin Feng Zhen, 新丰镇), 10 km to the northeast of Lintong District of Xi'an
. Hence the name Hongmen Banquet, named after the location. Liu apologized to Xiang for robbing him of his glory but at the same time extolling Xiang's valor in battle. Xiang responded with sarcastic words but then started the feast. During the feast, Xiang considered killing Liu, and Fan gave him multiple signals to do so, but Xiang could not make the decision to do so. Fan then summoned Xiang's cousin Xiang Zhuang
(項莊), giving him instructions to do a sword dance
as part of the entertainment and to stab Liu to death during the dance. With Fan's instructions, Xiang Zhuang indeed offered to do a sword dance, and with Xiang Yu's approval, started dancing. Xiang Bo, who had by this point been convinced that killing Liu was wrong, saw through the plan and started dancing as well and blocking Xiang Zhuang from being able to stab Liu.
When Zhang, who was also at the feast, saw what danger Liu was in, he went outside and summoned Liu's chief guard and brother-in-law Fan Kuai, who advanced in full armor into the feast tent despite not having been invited, interrupting the sword dance. While offended, Xiang was also impressed by Fan Kuai's bravado, and gave him an urn of wine and a pork shoulder—which Fan proceeded to eat, using his shield as a plate. Xiang was further impressed. Fan then gave a lengthy speech about Liu's accomplishments and how it would be unjust for Xiang to kill him, but also implicitly confirming that Liu would not challenge Xiang's authority. Xiang did not respond but invited Fan Kuai to join the table. Fan Kuai sat next to Zhang, and they planned an escape. Soon, when Liu was going to the latrine
, Fan accompanied him, and to avoid any means of attention, chose a horse for Liu to ride on to escape, with only Fan and several other guards--Xiahou Ying
(夏侯嬰), Jin Jiang (靳疆), and Ji Xin (紀信)--accompanying him on foot.
Zhang Liang remained at the feast. After a sufficient time period, in which he thought was enough for Liu to escape, he bowed to Xiang and apolologized on Liu's behalf for leaving, giving as the rationale that Liu had become drunk and unable to continue at the feast. He offered as gifts a precious jade
tablet for Xiang and a pair of jade measuring cups for Fan Zeng. Xiang accepted his gift, but Fan, in disgust, threw the cups on the ground and cut them to pieces with his sword, predicting that now that Xiang had failed to kill Liu when he could, Liu would eventually lead to Xiang's downfall by means of his lord's resentment towards the former. These words would evidently prove to be precise in accordance to the circumstances.
In Chinese idiomatic usage, "the Feast at Hong Gate" has often been used to refer to a trap or a situation ostensibly joyous but in fact treacherous. Another idiom that relates to the event is "Xiang Zhuang's sword dance is aimed at the Duke of Pei" (Xiang Zhuang wujian, yi zai Pei Gong; "Duke of Pei" being a title that Liu had at the time), meaning that a person's acts were intended to be a veiled attack on another person.
206 BC
Year 206 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Philo and Metellus...
or 205 BC
205 BC
Year 205 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Africanus and Dives...
-- it happened around the new year) later often memorialized in Chinese history, novels, and drama, including in Beijing opera
Beijing opera
Peking opera or Beijing opera is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty court...
. The literal translation of event is Hongmen Banquet, named after the place where it occurred, Hóngmén, because ostensibly, parties involved were joining a banquet.
The feast came about due to the jealousy and resentment of Xiang Yu
Xiang Yu
Xiang Yu was a prominent military leader and political figure during the late Qin Dynasty. His given name was Ji while his style name was Yu ....
towards Liu Bang, who had conquered the heartland of Qin Dynasty
Qin Dynasty
The Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC, during the Warring...
and caused its destruction; Xiang had considered the destruction of Qin to be the prize reserved only for him. Xiang was also angry that Liu, assuming that he would be made the Prince of Qin, appeared to be about to make the last ruler of Qin, Zi Ying
Ziying
Ziying was the last ruler of the Qin Dynasty of China, ruling as King of Qin from mid-October to the beginning of December 207 BC, and being known posthumously as Qin San Shi...
, his prime minister in governing Qin. Outnumbering Liu by about three-to-one and considering himself to be the superior general, and further instigated by his advisor Fan Zeng
Fan Zeng
Fan Zeng was an advisor to Xiang Yu during the Chu–Han contention period of Chinese history.-Starting his career:Fan Zeng was a native of Juchao . He had a keen interest towards military strategy and politics...
(范增), Xiang was set to attack Liu and annihilate Liu's army.
Xiang Yu's uncle Xiang Bo
Xiang Bo
Xiang Bo was a noble of Chu of the Seven Warring States, and an uncle of Xiang Yu. His given name was Chan while his style name was Bo ....
(項伯/项伯), a general in his army, found out about this plan. Being a good friend of Liu's strategist Zhang Liang
Zhang Liang
Zhang Liang , style name Zifang , was a strategist and statesman of the early Han Dynasty. He is also known as one of the "Three Heroes of the early Han Dynasty" , along with Han Xin and Xiao He...
, he secretly rode to Liu's camp at night and told Zhang what was happening, trying to persuade Zhang to return to Xiang's camp with him and avoid the slaughter. Zhang, arguing that he had an obligation to Liu, refused, and further arranged a meeting between Xiang Bo and Liu. Liu flattered Xiang Bo and promised to be subservient to Xiang Yu and to pay respect to Xiang Yu the next morning, and Xiang Bo believed him. Returning to Xiang Yu's camp, Xiang Bo persuaded Xiang Yu that it was inappropriate and ungrateful to destroy Liu and his army. Instead, Xiang Yu began to set up a feast to entertain Liu the next day.
The next morning, with a small contingent of guards, Liu rode to Xiang Yu to pay respect to Xiang at Xiang's camp at Hongmen (鸿门), located in the present day Hong Men Bunker Village (Hongmenbao Cun, 鸿门堡村) of Xinfeng Town (Xin Feng Zhen, 新丰镇), 10 km to the northeast of Lintong District of Xi'an
Xi'an
Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty...
. Hence the name Hongmen Banquet, named after the location. Liu apologized to Xiang for robbing him of his glory but at the same time extolling Xiang's valor in battle. Xiang responded with sarcastic words but then started the feast. During the feast, Xiang considered killing Liu, and Fan gave him multiple signals to do so, but Xiang could not make the decision to do so. Fan then summoned Xiang's cousin Xiang Zhuang
Xiang Zhuang
Xiang Zhuang was a younger cousin of Xiang Yu, the "Hegemon-King of Western Chu". He fought on Chu's side as a military general during the Chu–Han contention, a power struggle for supremacy over China between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang...
(項莊), giving him instructions to do a sword dance
Sword dance
Sword dances are recorded from throughout world history. There are various traditions of solo and mock battle sword dances from Greece, the Middle East, Pakistan, India, China, Korea, England, Scotland and Japan...
as part of the entertainment and to stab Liu to death during the dance. With Fan's instructions, Xiang Zhuang indeed offered to do a sword dance, and with Xiang Yu's approval, started dancing. Xiang Bo, who had by this point been convinced that killing Liu was wrong, saw through the plan and started dancing as well and blocking Xiang Zhuang from being able to stab Liu.
When Zhang, who was also at the feast, saw what danger Liu was in, he went outside and summoned Liu's chief guard and brother-in-law Fan Kuai, who advanced in full armor into the feast tent despite not having been invited, interrupting the sword dance. While offended, Xiang was also impressed by Fan Kuai's bravado, and gave him an urn of wine and a pork shoulder—which Fan proceeded to eat, using his shield as a plate. Xiang was further impressed. Fan then gave a lengthy speech about Liu's accomplishments and how it would be unjust for Xiang to kill him, but also implicitly confirming that Liu would not challenge Xiang's authority. Xiang did not respond but invited Fan Kuai to join the table. Fan Kuai sat next to Zhang, and they planned an escape. Soon, when Liu was going to the latrine
Latrine
A latrine is a communal facility containing one or more commonly many toilets which may be simple pit toilets or in the case of the United States Armed Forces any toilet including modern flush toilets...
, Fan accompanied him, and to avoid any means of attention, chose a horse for Liu to ride on to escape, with only Fan and several other guards--Xiahou Ying
Xiahou Ying
Xiahou Ying was a Minister Coachman of the early Han Dynasty. He also participated in the Chu–Han contention on Liu Bang 's side and contributed to the founding of the Han Dynasty.-Biography:...
(夏侯嬰), Jin Jiang (靳疆), and Ji Xin (紀信)--accompanying him on foot.
Zhang Liang remained at the feast. After a sufficient time period, in which he thought was enough for Liu to escape, he bowed to Xiang and apolologized on Liu's behalf for leaving, giving as the rationale that Liu had become drunk and unable to continue at the feast. He offered as gifts a precious jade
Jade
Jade is an ornamental stone.The term jade is applied to two different metamorphic rocks that are made up of different silicate minerals:...
tablet for Xiang and a pair of jade measuring cups for Fan Zeng. Xiang accepted his gift, but Fan, in disgust, threw the cups on the ground and cut them to pieces with his sword, predicting that now that Xiang had failed to kill Liu when he could, Liu would eventually lead to Xiang's downfall by means of his lord's resentment towards the former. These words would evidently prove to be precise in accordance to the circumstances.
In Chinese idiomatic usage, "the Feast at Hong Gate" has often been used to refer to a trap or a situation ostensibly joyous but in fact treacherous. Another idiom that relates to the event is "Xiang Zhuang's sword dance is aimed at the Duke of Pei" (Xiang Zhuang wujian, yi zai Pei Gong; "Duke of Pei" being a title that Liu had at the time), meaning that a person's acts were intended to be a veiled attack on another person.