Xiang Liang
Encyclopedia
Xiang Liang was a military leader who led a rebellion against the Qin Dynasty
.
, Jiangsu
). Xiang was a descendant of a family who served the Chu state
for generations. Xiang's father, Xiang Yan, was a famous military commander, who led the Chu army to resist the invading Qin
forces led by Wang Jian, and was killed in action in 223 BC when Qin annexed Chu.
After the fall of Chu, Xiang and his brothers became commoners and lived under the Qin Dynasty
's rule by years. When Xiang's older brother Xiang Chao died, Xiang took Xiang Chao's son, Xiang Yu
, under his care. Xiang doted on Xiang Yu and had his nephew instructed in scholarly arts and swordsmanship
, but Xiang Yu did not master what he was taught and Xiang Liang was very displeased with his nephew. When Xiang Yu expressed interest in military strategy
, Xiang Liang tried to educate him but Xiang Yu stopped learning after grasping the main concepts, for he believed that learning them was only treating warfare like a game of chess. Xiang Liang gave up on his nephew eventually, who showed no sign of motivation or apparent talent apart from his great strength, and he let Xiang Yu decide his own destiny.
) to evade the authorities. At that time, Qin Shi Huang
was on an inspection tour in that area and Xiang watched the emperor's procession pass by together with his nephew. Xiang Yu said, "I can replace him (Qin Shi Huang)." (彼可取而代之). Xiang Liang was shocked and immediately covered his nephew's mouth with his hand. Since then, Xiang began to see his nephew in a different light. Xiang became an influential man in Wu due to his noble lineage and he became a representative for the people when dealing with the local authorities. Xiang also made use of his fame and popularity to rally a group of supporters and build a personal army secretly.
In 209 BC, during the reign of Qin Er Shi
, peasant rebellions erupted throughout China to overthrow the Qin Dynasty
, plunging China into a state of anarchy
. Of these uprisings, the most early one was led by Chen Sheng
and Wu Guang
. Yin Tong
, Grand Administrator of Kuaiji, wanted to start a rebellion as well, so he invited Xiang to meet him and discuss their plans. However, the Xiangs killed Yin instead and Xiang initiated the rebellion himself and rallied about 8000 men to support him. Xiang Liang proclaimed himself Grand Administrator of Kuaiji and appointed Xiang Yu as Major-General.
Xiang led his men across the Yangtze River
later and built his new base at Xiapi. At that time, some other rebel forces pledged allegiance to him, further increasing the size of his army to between 60,000 to 70,000. In 208 BC, following the advice of Fan Zeng
, Xiang sent his men to search for Mi Huai
, the grandson of King Huai I of Chu, and enthroned him as King Huai II of Chu. The king was actually a puppet ruler under Xiang Liang's control then, and was used by Xiang to rally support from people eager to help him overthrow the Qin Dynasty and restore the former Chu state
. Xiang scored some victories against the Qin armies in a few battles.
in the Battle of Julu
, Xiang Yu had the 200,000 surrendered Qin soldiers buried alive
as a sacrifice to his late uncle's spirit.
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...
.
Early life
Xiang was a native of Xiaxiang (present-day SuqianSuqian
Suqian is a prefecture-level city in northern Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China. It borders Xuzhou to the northwest, Lianyungang to the northeast, Huai'an to the south, and the province of Anhui to the west.-Administration:...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
). Xiang was a descendant of a family who served the Chu state
Chu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
for generations. Xiang's father, Xiang Yan, was a famous military commander, who led the Chu army to resist the invading Qin
Qin (state)
The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...
forces led by Wang Jian, and was killed in action in 223 BC when Qin annexed Chu.
After the fall of Chu, Xiang and his brothers became commoners and lived under the 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...
's rule by years. When Xiang's older brother Xiang Chao died, Xiang took Xiang Chao's son, 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 ....
, under his care. Xiang doted on Xiang Yu and had his nephew instructed in scholarly arts and swordsmanship
Swordsmanship
Swordsmanship refers to the skills of a swordsman, a person versed in the art of the sword. The term is modern, and as such was mainly used to refer to smallsword fencing, but by extension it can also be applied to any martial art involving the use of a sword...
, but Xiang Yu did not master what he was taught and Xiang Liang was very displeased with his nephew. When Xiang Yu expressed interest in military strategy
Military strategy
Military strategy is a set of ideas implemented by military organizations to pursue desired strategic goals. Derived from the Greek strategos, strategy when it appeared in use during the 18th century, was seen in its narrow sense as the "art of the general", 'the art of arrangement' of troops...
, Xiang Liang tried to educate him but Xiang Yu stopped learning after grasping the main concepts, for he believed that learning them was only treating warfare like a game of chess. Xiang Liang gave up on his nephew eventually, who showed no sign of motivation or apparent talent apart from his great strength, and he let Xiang Yu decide his own destiny.
Rebellion against the Qin Dynasty
Once, Xiang killed someone and he fled with his family to Wu (present-day southern JiangsuJiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
) to evade the authorities. At that time, Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC...
was on an inspection tour in that area and Xiang watched the emperor's procession pass by together with his nephew. Xiang Yu said, "I can replace him (Qin Shi Huang)." (彼可取而代之). Xiang Liang was shocked and immediately covered his nephew's mouth with his hand. Since then, Xiang began to see his nephew in a different light. Xiang became an influential man in Wu due to his noble lineage and he became a representative for the people when dealing with the local authorities. Xiang also made use of his fame and popularity to rally a group of supporters and build a personal army secretly.
In 209 BC, during the reign of Qin Er Shi
Qin Er Shi
Qin Er Shi , literally Second Emperor of Qin Dynasty, personal name Huhai, was emperor of the Qin Dynasty in China from 210 BC until 207 BC.-Name:...
, peasant rebellions erupted throughout China to overthrow the 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...
, plunging China into a state of anarchy
Anarchy
Anarchy , has more than one colloquial definition. In the United States, the term "anarchy" typically is meant to refer to a society which lacks publicly recognized government or violently enforced political authority...
. Of these uprisings, the most early one was led by Chen Sheng
Chen Sheng
Chen Sheng , also known in some sources as Chen She , was the leader of the first rebellion, known as Daze Village Uprising, against the Qin Dynasty during the reign of Qin Er Shi.-Start of the rebellion:...
and Wu Guang
Wu Guang
Wu Guang was a leader of the first rebellion against Qin Dynasty during the reign of Qin Er Shi, following the death of Qin Shi Huang. Less is known about him than Chen Sheng.-Biography:Wu was born in Yangxia...
. Yin Tong
Yin Tong
Yin Tong was a politician and military personnel in the Republic of China. He was an important person during the Provisional Government of the Republic of China and Wang Jingwei regime. Adult Name was Tongsheng...
, Grand Administrator of Kuaiji, wanted to start a rebellion as well, so he invited Xiang to meet him and discuss their plans. However, the Xiangs killed Yin instead and Xiang initiated the rebellion himself and rallied about 8000 men to support him. Xiang Liang proclaimed himself Grand Administrator of Kuaiji and appointed Xiang Yu as Major-General.
Xiang led his men across the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
later and built his new base at Xiapi. At that time, some other rebel forces pledged allegiance to him, further increasing the size of his army to between 60,000 to 70,000. In 208 BC, following the advice of 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...
, Xiang sent his men to search for Mi Huai
Emperor Yi of Chu
Emperor Yi of Chu , also known as King Huai II of Chu , personal name Xiong Xin was the ruler of the Chu state during the late Qin Dynasty...
, the grandson of King Huai I of Chu, and enthroned him as King Huai II of Chu. The king was actually a puppet ruler under Xiang Liang's control then, and was used by Xiang to rally support from people eager to help him overthrow the Qin Dynasty and restore the former Chu state
Chu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
. Xiang scored some victories against the Qin armies in a few battles.
Death
In 208 BC, Xiang led his army to attack the Qin forces led by Zhang Han at the Battle of Dingtao. Xiang underestimated the enemy and was killed in action. When Zhang Han was defeated later by Xiang YuXiang 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 ....
in the Battle of Julu
Battle of Julu
The 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...
, Xiang Yu had the 200,000 surrendered Qin soldiers buried alive
Premature burial
Premature burial, also known as live burial, burial alive, or vivisepulture, means to be buried while still alive. Animals or humans may be buried alive accidentally or intentionally...
as a sacrifice to his late uncle's spirit.