Qin and Han · Chu general and rebel leader

Xiang Liang 項梁

Xiàng Liáng

First attested BC 209; died BC 208

Passages: 50
Chapters: 17
Histories: 2

Overview

Xiang Liang was a Chu general and rebel leader.

Life and dates

Death

BC 208 章邯破殺項梁也，沛公與項羽引兵而東。
Cause Killed by Zhang Han · Authority Zhang Han (章邯)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 48, passage 162
Cause Defeated and killed by Zhang Han · With Zhang Han (章邯)
Directly stated · Book of Han 48, passage 162; Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 19
Cause Killed after defeat by Zhang Han · At Dingtao
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 138
BC 208 卒潤鑊伏質
Boiled exposed dismembered
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 125
BC 208 章邯敗殺項梁
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 59
BC 208 章邯果敗殺項梁
Killed in battle · Killed by Zhang Han (章邯)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 31

Show 1 more source-backed claim

Killed in battle · At Dingtao 定陶
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 91, passage 17

Attested activity

BC 208 anti-Qin uprising
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 48, passage 162
BC 209 二世元年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 7, 132
BC 209 及秦皇帝崩，天下大叛
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 183-184
BC 209 及陳勝、項梁等起
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 4
BC 209 to BC 208 彊如梁、籍
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passage 125
BC 209 陳勝、項梁之起
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 90, passage 34

Show 8 more source-backed claims

BC 208 章邯敗殺項梁
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 42, passage 59
BC 208 章邯破殺項梁
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 19; Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 23
BC 208 項梁之立楚後懷王
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 93, passage 2
BC 208 項梁之薛
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 101
BC 208 to BC 207 項梁定江東至定陶
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 91, passages 12, 17
BC 208 項梁立楚懷王
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 50
BC 208 項梁聞田榮之急
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passages 13, 31
BC 209 項梁舉吳
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 36

Family

Kin of Xiang Yu (項羽)
Xiang clan kin 項 · paternal line
Xiang-clan kinsman 項 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passages 125, 130; Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 23; Records of the Grand Historian 94, passages 13, 32

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Lord Wuxin 武信君
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 91, passage 16
Noted
Commoner origin
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 37
Rose without noble or senior office
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 185-186

Places and affiliations

Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Commanded
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 50
Polity Qin 秦 · Relation Rebelled against
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passages 35-36
Polity Qin 秦 · Relation Rebelled against
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 4

Events and relationships

Accepted counsel to restore Han under Han Cheng
Political · Addressee · With Zhang Liang (張良)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 51-52
Defeated Zhang Han at Dong e
Military · Commander · With Zhang Han (章邯)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 13
Installed King Huai of Chu
Political · Kingmaker · With King Huai of Chu (楚懷王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 50
Installed Xin as King of Chu
BC 209 二世元年 · Political · Kingmaker · With Xin (心)
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 7, 132
Raised revolt
Military · Leader · At Wu 吳
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 36
Raised wu
Military · Leader · At Wu 吳
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 184

Show 6 more source-backed claims

Rose in rebellion
Military · Rebel leader · With Chen She (陳涉)
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 4
Seized power briefly then perished
Political · Usurper strongman
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 125
Sent Zhang Liang to find Han Cheng and made him King of Han
Political · Authority · With Han Cheng (韓成)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 52
Relation Commander of · Person Ying Bu (英布)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 91, passage 13
Relation Overlord of · Person King Huai of Chu (楚懷王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 50
Relation Paternal uncle · Person Key Xiang Yu (項羽)
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 87

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 4; Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 184

References in the histories

Search passages

History

50 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 1Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 1 · 15 passages

是月，項梁與兄子羽起吳。 In this month, Xiang Liang and his brother's son Yu rose up in Wu.

四月，項梁擊殺景駒、秦嘉，止薛，沛公往見之。 In the fourth month, Xiang Liang attacked and killed Jing Ju and Qin Jia, then stopped at Xue. Pei Gong went to see him.

項梁益沛公卒五千人，五大夫將十人。 Xiang Liang increased Pei Gong's troops by five thousand men and ten generals of the rank of Grand Master.

項梁盡召別將。 Xiang Liang summoned all his deputy generals.

六月，沛公如薛，與項梁共立楚懷王孫心為楚懷王。 In the sixth month, Pei Gong went to Xue and together with Xiang Liang established Chu King Huai's grandson Xin as King Huai of Chu.

沛公與項梁共救田榮，大破章邯東阿。 Pei Gong and Xiang Liang together went to rescue Tian Rong and greatly defeated Zhang Han at Dong'e.

項梁再破秦軍，有驕色。 Xiang Liang defeated the Qin army again and showed arrogant bearing.

宋義諫，不聽。 Song Yi advised against it, but Xiang Liang did not listen.

九月，章邯夜銜枚擊項梁定陶，大破之，殺項梁。 In the ninth month, Zhang Han bit on wooden sticks and attacked Xiang Liang at Dingtao by night, greatly defeating him and killing Xiang Liang.

沛公、項羽方攻陳留，聞梁死，士卒恐，乃與將軍呂臣引兵而東，徙懷王自盱台都彭城。 Pei Gong and Xiang Yu were attacking Chenliu when they heard of Liang's death. The soldiers were terrified, so they joined with General Lü Chen and led troops east, moving King Huai from Xutai to Pengcheng as the capital.

章邯已破項梁，以為楚地兵不足憂，乃渡河北擊趙王歇，大破之。 Zhang Han had already defeated Xiang Liang and thought that the Chu region's troops were not worth worrying about, so he crossed north of the Yellow River to attack King Xie of Zhao, greatly defeating him.

獨羽怨秦破項梁，奮勢，願與沛公西入關。 Only Xiang Yu resented Qin for defeating Xiang Liang and was eager to go west into the pass with Pei Gong.

且楚數進取，前陳王、項梁皆敗，不如更遣長者扶義而西，告諭秦父兄。 Moreover, Chu has repeatedly advanced but the former King Chen and Xiang Liang both failed. It would be better to send an elder who upholds righteousness to go west and inform the fathers and brothers of Qin.

卒不許羽，而遣沛公西收陳王、項梁散卒。 In the end they did not permit Xiang Yu, but sent Pei Gong west to gather the scattered troops of King Chen and Xiang Liang.

初，項梁立韓後公子成為韓王，張良為韓司徒。 Initially, Xiang Liang established the Han royal descendant Cheng as King of Han, with Zhang Liang as Han tutor.

Book of Han, Chapter 42Volume 33: Wei Bao, Tian Dan and Hán Xin (King of Han) · 7 passages

項梁聞榮急，乃引兵擊破章邯東阿下。 Hearing Tian Rong was in danger, Xiang Liang led troops and broke Zhang Han below Dong'a.

章邯走而西，項梁因追之。 Zhang Han retreated west, and Xiang Liang pursued him.

項梁既追章邯，章邯兵益盛，項梁使使趣齊兵共擊章邯。 After Xiang Liang pursued Zhang Han, Qin forces grew stronger. Xiang Liang sent envoys to urge Qi to send troops for a joint attack.

章邯果敗殺項梁，破楚兵。 Zhang Han then did in fact defeat and kill Xiang Liang and rout Chu forces.

榮以負項梁，不肯助楚攻秦，故不得王。 Because Tian Rong had failed Xiang Liang and refused to aid Chu against Qin, he received no kingship.

項梁立楚懷王，燕、齊、趙、魏皆已前王，唯韓無有後，故立韓公子橫陽城君為韓王，欲以撫定韓地。 When Xiang Liang installed King Huai of Chu, Yan, Qi, Zhao, and Wei had all already restored kings, but Han alone had no successor. Therefore the Han prince Lord Hengyang was established as king of Han, in order to soothe and settle Han territory.

項梁死定陶，成奔懷王。 After Xiang Liang died at Dingtao, Lord Cheng fled to King Huai.

Book of Han, Chapter 48Volume 39: Xiao He and Cao Shen · 1 passage

章邯破殺項梁也，沛公與項羽引兵而東。 After Zhang Han destroyed Xiang Liang, the Duke of Pei and Xiang Yu led their troops eastward.

Book of Han, Chapter 75Volume 64b: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 2 · 1 passage

陳勝、吳廣舉陳，武臣、張耳舉趙，項梁舉吳，田儋舉齊，景駒舉郢，周市舉魏，韓廣舉燕，窮山通谷，豪士並起，不可勝載也。 Chen Sheng and Wu Guang seized Chen, Wu Chen and Zhang Er raised Zhao, Xiang Liang rose in Wu, Tian Dan in Qi, Jing Ju in Ying, Zhou Shi in Wei, Han Guang in Yan—bold leaders sprang up in every ravine and pass, too many to list.

Book of Han, Chapter 96Volume 85: Gu Yong and Du Ye · 1 passage

外則為諸夏下土將有樊並、蘇令、陳勝、項梁奮臂之禍。 Without, the realm will face the calamity of Fan Bing, Su Ling, Chen Sheng, and Xiang Liang raising their arms.

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 1 passage

故雖遭罹阨會，竊其權柄，勇如信、布，彊如梁、籍，成如王莽，然卒潤鑊伏質，亨醢分裂，又況幺{麻骨}，尚不及數子，而欲闇奸天位者虖！ Though men may seize power in a moment of crisis, even those as brave as Han Xin and Ying Bu, as strong as Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu, or as successful as Wang Mang ended boiled in cauldrons, laid on the block, pickled, or torn apart. How much less should petty men beneath them covertly covet the throne?

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 48House of Chen She · 1 passage

會項梁立懷王孫心為楚王。 At this juncture, Xiang Liang installed Xin, a grandson of King Huai of Chu, as the new King of Chu.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 54House of Chancellor Cao · 1 passage

秦將章邯破殺項梁也，沛公與項羽引而東。 After the Qin general Zhang Han defeated and killed Xiang Liang, the Lord of Pei and Xiang Yu withdrew their forces eastward.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 55House of Marquis of Liu · 4 passages

及沛公之薛，見項梁。 When the Duke of Pei reached Xue, he had an audience with Xiang Liang.

項梁立楚懷王。 Xiang Liang had installed King Huai of Chu on the throne.

良乃說項梁曰：「君已立楚後，而韓諸公子橫陽君成賢，可立為王，益樹黨。」 Liang then counseled Xiang Liang, 'You have already set up a successor to Chu. Among the princes of Han, Lord Hengyang, Han Cheng, is a worthy man. If you install him as King of Han, it will strengthen your alliances.'

項梁使良求韓成，立以為韓王。 Xiang Liang sent Liang to find Han Cheng and installed him as King of Han.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 57House of Zhou Bo, Marquis of Jiang · 1 passage

後章邯破殺項梁，沛公與項羽引兵東如碭。 Later, Zhang Han defeated and killed Xiang Liang, and the Duke of Pei and Xiang Yu led their troops east to Dang.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 90Biographies of Wei Bao and Peng Yue · 1 passage

陳勝、項梁之起，少年或謂越曰：「諸豪桀相立畔秦，仲可以來，亦效之。」 When Chen Sheng and Xiang Liang rose in revolt, some young men said to Yue, "The heroes everywhere are setting themselves up and rebelling against Qin. You could join them and follow their example, Zhong."

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 91Biography of Qing Bu · 6 passages

聞項梁定江東會稽，涉江而西。 Upon hearing that Xiang Liang had established control over Jiangdong and Kuaiji, he crossed the Yangtze and headed west to join him.

陳嬰以項氏世為楚將，乃以兵屬項梁，渡淮南，英布、蒲將軍亦以兵屬項梁。 Chen Ying, recognizing that the Xiang family had served as generals of Chu for generations, placed his forces under Xiang Liang's command and crossed south of the Huai River. Ying Bu and General Pu likewise pledged their troops to Xiang Liang.

項梁涉淮而西，擊景駒、秦嘉等，布常冠軍。 Xiang Liang crossed the Huai River and pushed westward, attacking Jing Ju, Qin Jia, and their allies. In every engagement, Bu distinguished himself as the foremost warrior.

項梁至薛，聞陳王定死，迺立楚懷王。 When Xiang Liang arrived at Xue, he received confirmation of King Chen's death and thereupon enthroned King Huai of Chu.

項梁號為武信君，英布為當陽君。 Xiang Liang took the title of Lord Wuxin, and Ying Bu was granted the title of Lord Dangyang.

項梁敗死定陶，懷王徙都彭城，諸將英布亦皆保聚彭城。 After Xiang Liang was defeated and killed at Dingtao, King Huai relocated the capital to Pengcheng. The generals, Ying Bu among them, all withdrew and regrouped at Pengcheng.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 93Biographies of Han Xin (King of Han) and Lu Wan · 2 passages

及項梁之立楚後懷王也，燕、齊、趙、魏皆已前王，唯韓無有後，故立韓諸公子橫陽君成為韓王，欲以撫定韓故地。 When Xiang Liang installed the later King Huai of Chu, the states of Yan, Qi, Zhao, and Wei had all already restored their former royal lines. Only Han had no surviving heir, so they established Cheng, the Lord of Hengyang and a prince of the Han royal house, as King of Han, intending to pacify and settle the former Han territories.

項梁敗死定陶，成奔懷王。 When Xiang Liang was defeated and killed at Dingtao, Cheng fled to King Huai.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 94Biography of Tian Dan, King of Qi · 5 passages

項梁聞田榮之急，乃引兵擊破章邯軍東阿下。 Xiang Liang, hearing of Tian Rong's dire straits, brought his forces to bear and shattered Zhang Han's army beneath the walls of Dong'e.

章邯走而西，項梁因追之。 Zhang Han fled westward, and Xiang Liang gave pursuit.

項梁既追章邯，章邯兵益盛，項梁使使告趙、齊，發兵共擊章邯。 As Xiang Liang continued to pursue Zhang Han, Zhang Han's forces grew ever stronger. Xiang Liang sent envoys to Zhao and Qi, urging them to commit troops for a joint attack on Zhang Han.

章邯果敗殺項梁，破楚兵，楚兵東走，而章邯渡河圍趙於鉅鹿。 Sure enough, Zhang Han defeated and killed Xiang Liang, shattering the Chu forces and sending them fleeing east. Zhang Han then crossed the Yellow River and besieged Zhao at Julu.

田榮以負項梁不肯出兵助楚、趙攻秦，故不得王； Tian Rong, because he had failed Xiang Liang and refused to send troops to aid Chu and Zhao against Qin, was denied a kingdom.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 97Biographies of Li Yiji and Lu Jia · 1 passage

及陳勝、項梁等起，諸將徇地過高陽者數十人，酈生聞其將皆握齱好苛禮自用，不能聽大度之言，酈生乃深自藏匿。 When Chen Sheng, Xiang Liang, and the other rebel leaders rose up, dozens of generals passed through Gaoyang while seizing territory. Li Yiji heard that these generals were all petty men fond of rigid etiquette who acted on their own judgment and could not tolerate broad-minded counsel, so he went deep into hiding.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 99Biographies of Liu Jing and Shusun Tong · 1 passage

及項梁之薛，叔孫通從之。 When Xiang Liang came to Xue, Shusun Tong attached himself to him.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 112Biographies of the Marquis of Pingjin and Zhufu · 1 passage

陳勝、吳廣舉陳，武臣、張耳舉趙，項梁舉吳，田儋舉齊，景駒舉郢，周市舉魏，韓廣舉燕，窮山通谷豪士并起，不可勝載也。 Chen Sheng and Wu Guang raised the banner in Chen; Wu Chen and Zhang Er in Zhao; Xiang Liang in Wu; Tian Dan in Qi; Jing Ju in Ying; Zhou Shi in Wei; Han Guang in Yan. From every remote mountain and hidden valley, men of ambition rose up simultaneously—too many to record.