Xiang Yu

Xiang Yu 项羽 (Wade-Giles: Hsiang Yü; 232 BC - 202 BC) was a prominent general during the fall of the Qin Dynasty. His name was 籍, Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Chu nobility. He took over his uncle's rebel army after his uncle was killed by Qin. His army soon became the most powerful of all the rebels. Xiang Yu self-titled as ?西楚霸王?.

Liu Bang, who later founded Han Dynasty, was the first rebel to conquer Xiangyang, the capital of Qin. But Liu was forced to hand over Xiangyang and Ying Ziying, the last ruler of Qin, to Xuang Yu. Xuang Yu then killed Ying Ziying and burned down the palace - the unique copies of many "forbidden books" in the royal library were then lost forever.

The powerful Xiang Yu soon controlled the whole China, but he lacked political expertise. He divided the country into 18 feudal states to his own satisfaction. Althrough he believed Liu Bang to be his biggest treat, he missed several chances to eliminate Liu Bang. After five years of Chu Han Contention with Liu Bang, he soon lost all of his territory. His suffered his last defeat in 垓下, where he lost his last armies. His beloved concubine 虞姬 committed suicide afterwards.

It should be mentioned he still had a great support in his homeland, but he felt he had "no face" to return home. He committed suicide besides the river 乌江口.

His heroic death at the hands of Liu Bang has made him a cultural hero in Chinese folk tales and poetry.