Qin and Han · Chu Noble

Xiang Bo 項伯

Xiàng Bó

Attested BC 218 - BC 202

Passages: 22
Chapters: 9
Histories: 7

Overview

Xiang Bo was a Chu Noble.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 218 to BC 209 居下邳為任俠
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 38-39
BC 206 楚漢之際
Directly stated · Book of Liang 16, passage 111
BC 204 漢三年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 91, passages 35, 82
BC 206 漢元年正月
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 86-87
BC 206 to BC 202 項伯歸漢
Directly stated · Book of Jin 129, passage 162
BC 206 項伯歸漢約BC206
Strongly inferred · Records of the Three Kingdoms 33, passage 48

Show 2 more source-backed claims

BC 206 to BC 202 項伯背楚，賜姓漢朝
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 12, passage 205
BC 206 項羽至鴻門
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 72, 84

Family

Kin of Xiang Yu (項羽)
uncle 季父
Xiang Bo 項伯 · paternal line
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Sui 43, passage 44; Records of the Three Kingdoms 33, passage 48

Key source chapters

Career and standing

had killed a man 嘗殺人
Homicide · Committed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 39

Places and affiliations

Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Deserted
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 12, passage 205
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Went over to
Directly stated · Book of Jin 129, passage 162
Polity Han 漢朝 · Relation Received surname
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 12, passage 205

Events and relationships

Asked for Hanzhong
Diplomatic · Petitioner · At Hanzhong 漢中 · With King of Xiang (項王)
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 88-89
Deserted Chu and was granted a surname under Han
Political · Defector
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 12, passage 205
Met
Diplomatic · Guest · With Duke of Pei (沛公)
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 82
Night visit to take away
Personal · Visitor · With Zhang Liang (張良) · At Duke of Pei's camp 沛公軍
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 72
Received gifts
Diplomatic · Recipient · With Zhang Liang (張良)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 87-88
Seized jiujiang and killed bu family
Military · Commander · With Ying Bu (英布)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 91, passage 82

Show 8 more source-backed claims

Took refuge with Zhang Liang
Flight · Fugitive · With Zhang Liang (張良)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 39
Went over to Han
Political · Defector
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 33, passage 48
Went over to Han
BC 206 to BC 202 項伯歸漢 · Defection · Defector
Directly stated · Book of Jin 129, passage 162
Relation Envoy to · Person Xiang Yu (項羽)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 84
Relation Marriage alliance with · Person Duke of Pei (沛公)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 83
Relation Client of · Person Zhang Liang (張良)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 39
Relation Intermediary for · Person King of Han (漢王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 88
Relation Paternal uncle of · Person Key Xiang Yu (項羽)
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 228

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Jin 129, passage 162; Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 72, 87
賜姓劉氏
Directly stated · Book of Han 2, passage 24

References in the histories

Search passages

History

22 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 1Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 1 · 8 passages

會羽季父左尹項伯素善張良，夜馳見張良，具告其實，欲與俱去，毋特俱死。 Xiang Yu's uncle, Left Yin Xiang Bo, had long been on good terms with Zhang Liang. He galloped at night to see Zhang Liang, told him everything in detail, and wanted Zhang Liang to leave with him rather than perish together for nothing.

乃與項伯俱見沛公。 So he went with Xiang Bo to see Pei Gong.

沛公與伯約為婚姻，曰：「吾入關，秋豪無所敢取，籍吏民，封府庫，待將軍。 Pei Gong formed a marriage alliance with Xiang Bo and said: "When I entered the passes, I dared not take even the smallest thing. I registered the officials and people, sealed the storehouses and treasuries, and waited for the general.

願伯明言不敢背德。」 I hope Xiang Bo will make this clear that I dare not betray righteousness."

項伯許諾，即夜復去。 Xiang Bo agreed and that night left again.

戒沛公曰：「旦日不可不早自來謝。」 Xiang Bo warned Pei Gong: "Tomorrow you must come early to apologize."

項伯還，具以沛公言告羽，因曰：「沛公不先破關中兵，公巨能入乎？ Xiang Bo returned and told Xiang Yu everything Pei Gong had said, then added, "If Pei Gong had not first defeated the Guanzhong troops, could you have entered?

項伯亦起舞，常以身翼蔽沛公。 Xiang Bo also rose to dance, constantly using his body to shield Pei Gong.

Book of Han, Chapter 2Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 2 · 1 passage

封項伯等四人為列侯，賜姓劉氏。 He enfeoffed Xiang Bo and three others as marquises and granted them the surname Liu.

Book of Jin, Chapter 129Volume 129 Records 29: Juqu Mengxun · 1 passage

傉檀弟文支追項伯歸漢之義，據彼重籓，請為臣妾。 His brother Wen Zhi, like Xiang Bo who went over to Han, holds a key bastion and begs to become my subject.

Book of Liang, Chapter 16Volume 16: Wang Liang; Zhang Ji; Wang Ying · 1 passage

今獨夫自絕于天，四海已歸聖主，斯實微子去殷之時，項伯歸漢之日，可不勉哉！」 Now the tyrant has cut himself off from Heaven; the four seas already belong to the sage lord—this is Weizi leaving Yin, Xiang Bo returning to Han. You must exert yourselves!"

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 33Volume 33: Book of Shu 3: Biography of the Later Lord · 1 passage

昔輔果絕親於智氏，而蒙全宗之福，微子去殷，項伯歸漢，皆受茅土之慶。 Fu Guo broke with the Zhi and saved his whole line; Weizi left Shang; Xiang Bo went over to Han—all were enfeoffed with land.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 55House of Marquis of Liu · 7 passages

項伯嘗殺人，從良匿。 Xiang Bo, who had once committed murder, took refuge with Liang.

項羽至鴻門下，欲擊沛公，項伯乃夜馳入沛公軍，私見張良，欲與俱去。 When Xiang Yu arrived at Hongmen and prepared to attack the Duke of Pei, Xiang Bo rode through the night into the Duke's camp to see Zhang Liang in secret, intending to take him away.

良乃固要項伯。 Liang then pressed Xiang Bo to stay.

項伯見沛公。 Xiang Bo met with the Duke of Pei.

令項伯具言沛公不敢倍項羽，所以距關者，備他盜也。 He asked Xiang Bo to explain to Xiang Yu that the Duke of Pei had no intention of defying him—the reason he sealed the passes was only to guard against bandits.

漢王賜良金百鎰，珠二斗，良具以獻項伯。 The King of Han bestowed on Liang a hundred yi of gold and two dou of pearls. Liang in turn presented all of it to Xiang Bo.

漢王亦因令良厚遺項伯，使請漢中地。 The King of Han also instructed Liang to send generous gifts to Xiang Bo and to petition for the territory of Hanzhong.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 91Biography of Qing Bu · 1 passage

楚已使項伯收九江兵，盡殺布妻子。 But Chu had already dispatched Xiang Bo to seize the Jiujiang army and had put Bu's wife and children to death.

Book of Sui, Chapter 43Volume 43 Biographies 8: He Jian Wanghong, Yang Chugang, Yang Zichong, Guang De, Wang Xiong · 1 passage

夫微子紂之元兄，族實為重，項伯籍之季父，戚乃非疏，然猶去朝歌而入周，背西楚而歸漢。 Wei Zi was King Zhou of Shang's own elder brother—the tie of blood could scarcely have been closer; Xiang Bo was Xiang Ji of Western Chu's uncle—hardly a distant kinsman—yet both men left Chaoge to join King Wu of Zhou, and turned from Western Chu to serve the Han.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 12Volume 12 Biographies 4: Prince Xian of Qiyang · 1 passage

項伯背楚，賜姓漢朝。 Xiang Bo deserted Chu and was granted a surname in Han.