Xiang Yu (項羽) | 24 Histories

Overview

Xiang Yu was a Hegemon-King of Western Chu and principal rival of Liu Bang.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Xiang Ji	項籍	Xiang Ji
Nickname	Wrathful King	憤王	Fènwáng

Life and dates

Death

Authority Liu Bang (劉邦)
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 62, passage 87
BC 202 遂誅項羽滅之
Destroyed/executed by the King of Han · Authority Gaozu (高祖)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 94
BC 202 高皇帝誅項籍
destroyed/killed by the High Emperor 誅 · Authority High Emperor (高皇帝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 21
BC 202 （五年）項籍已死
Died in defeat of Chu
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 90, passage 80
BC 202 卒潤鑊伏質
Boiled exposed dismembered
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 125
BC 202 漢五年，已殺項羽，即皇帝位，論功行封，群臣爭功，歲餘不決。
Killed after defeat
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 48, passage 39

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BC 202 漢五年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 48, passage 39; Records of the Grand Historian 53, passage 26
BC 202 漢五年/六年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 91, passage 88
BC 202 漢滅項籍
Destroyed by Han
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 67
BC 202 漢滅項籍
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 95
BC 202 籍死
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 59, passage 243
At Dongcheng 東城 · Defeated at Gaixia
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 33, passage 39
灌嬰追斬羽東城
Directly stated · Book of Han 2, passage 19
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 71

Attested activity

early Han founding wars
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 53, passage 12
BC 206 漢元年二月
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 177
BC 204 漢三年秋
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 31
BC 205 to BC 202 Chu-Han contention
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 48, passage 214
BC 208 to BC 202 Chu-Han contention
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 48, passage 13
BC 209 to BC 207 二世時
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 113, passage 4

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BC 206 以入項羽軍
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 131, passages 87, 90
BC 209 to BC 202 劉、項挺興之會
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 66
BC 209 to BC 202 劉項並爭之際（史臣譬喻）
Strongly inferred · Book of Chen 11, passage 168
BC 206 劉項競逐
Strongly inferred · Book of Chen 24, passage 26
BC 205 去項羽
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 31, passage 128
BC 202 及項羽滅
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 100, passage 4
BC 209 to BC 202 彊如梁、籍
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passages 125, 130
BC 207 to BC 206 從入破秦
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 31
BC 202 從破項籍
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 196
BC 205 to BC 202 擊項籍
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 98, passages 7, 45
BC 208 to BC 202 擊項籍
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 120
BC 207 to BC 202 救趙至垓下
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 91, passages 19, 88
BC 207 於是趙王歇、張耳乃得出鉅鹿
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 176
BC 206 to BC 202 昔
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 34, passage 16
BC 206 to BC 202 東擊項籍
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 85
BC 205 東擊項籍
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 237
BC 209 to BC 202 楚漢之際
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 39, passages 164, 166; Book of Song 54, passage 23
BC 232 to BC 202 楚漢之際
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 177
BC 205 殷王反楚
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 33-34, 36-37
BC 207 沛公未入關，與項羽別
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 239
BC 208 to BC 202 沛公與項羽
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 23
BC 208 沛公與項羽引而東
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 19
BC 204 滎陽
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 89-91, 95-98
BC 204 漢三年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 53, passage 22; Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 111, 129, 133
BC 205 漢二年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 99, passages 103-104
BC 202 漢五年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 44, passages 3, 5; Records of the Grand Historian 51, passages 5, 7; Records of the Grand Historian 53, passage 26
BC 202 漢五年前後
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 21
BC 206 漢元年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 90, passage 22
BC 206 to BC 202 漢元年至漢五年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 44, passages 5, 292
BC 203 漢四年，其秋
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 165, 167
BC 203 漢四年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 44, passage 1; Records of the Grand Historian 51, passage 3
BC 202 漢滅項籍
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 42, passage 95
BC 205 to BC 202 漢王之還攻項籍
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 178-179, 184
BC 206 漢王元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 44, passage 292; Records of the Grand Historian 51, passage 2
BC 203 漢王四年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 31
BC 206 漢王與項王力西面擊秦，約先入咸陽者王之
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 54
BC 232 to BC 202 漢興
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 25, passage 104
BC 206 to BC 202 當是之時
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 114, passage 4
BC 209 to BC 202 秦末楚漢
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 120, passages 125-126
BC 202 籍死
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 59, passage 243
BC 209 to BC 202 羽興五年霸天下
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 84, passages 258-259
BC 206 to BC 202 與項籍爭
Directly stated · History of Song 359, passage 29
BC 202 遂誅項羽滅之
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 94
BC 207 鉅鹿
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 41, passage 118
BC 207 鉅鹿之圍與鉅鹿之戰
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passages 154, 157
BC 209 to BC 202 項、範交疑
Directly stated · Book of Song 70, passage 67
BC 209 to BC 202 項
Directly stated · Book of Liang 14, passage 67
BC 205 項王遷殺義帝
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 56
BC 209 to BC 202 項籍
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 117, passage 4; Book of Liang 35, passage 5
BC 206 項籍之封諸王
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 93, passage 8
BC 206 to BC 202 項籍使將兵…項籍滅
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 46, passages 2-3
BC 208 to BC 202 項籍使將兵
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 100, passage 3
BC 202 項籍已死
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 71
BC 232 to BC 202 項籍虞姬
Dated from the passage context · Book of Sui 61, passage 80
BC 209 to BC 202 項羽
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 26, passage 146
BC 206 項羽之東王彭城也
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 32
BC 206 項羽倍約，自立為西楚霸王
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 93
BC 209 to BC 202 項羽傳
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 84, passage 18
BC 209 to BC 202 項羽南面稱孤
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passages 294-295
BC 207 to BC 202 項羽已破秦…（五年）項籍已死
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 90, passages 19, 80
BC 207 to BC 202 項羽往救趙
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passages 32, 67
BC 206 項羽徙趙歇為代王
Directly stated · History of Liao 41, passage 320
BC 207 項羽救趙，擊秦軍，果虜王離
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 179
BC 209 to BC 202 項羽敗垓下
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 33, passage 39
BC 206 項羽滅秦
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 184
BC 206 項羽立諸侯
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 41, passage 138
BC 206 項羽至鴻門
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 72, 85
BC 209 to BC 202 項羽與范增時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 93, passage 58
BC 206 to BC 202 項背之亡
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 106
BC 232 to BC 202 项羽
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 89, passage 45
BC 202 高皇帝誅項籍
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 21
BC 205 高祖東擊項籍
Directly stated · Book of Han 55, passage 5
BC 205 高祖東擊項籍
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 103, passage 3
BC 209 to BC 202 高祖誅項
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Three Kingdoms 62, passage 87

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Yu Ji (虞姬)
consort 姬 · Concubinage
Directly stated · Book of Sui 61, passage 80
Kin of Xiang Bo (項伯)
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
Kin of Xiang Liang (項梁)
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

Kinship Role Xiang clan members · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 62

Key source chapters

Career and standing

deputy commander 次將
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 91, passage 19
supreme commander 上將軍
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 91, passage 20
Deputy Commander
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 148
Marquis of Chang'an
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 145
Hegemon-King of Western Chu 西楚霸王
BC 206 項羽倍約，自立為西楚霸王 · Proclaimed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 93
魯公
Directly stated · Book of Han 2, passage 22

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Duke of Lu
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 145

Places and affiliations

Chu 楚
Relation Associated with
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 90, passage 19
Chu 楚
Relation Led
Directly stated · Book of Han 59, passage 243
Chu 楚
Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Han 48, passages 14, 35; Records of the Grand Historian 53, passages 12, 22; Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 33
Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Associated with
Directly stated · Book of Han 55, passage 5
Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Commanded
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 72
Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Commanded
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passages 154, 157

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Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Led
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 196; Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 85; New Book of Tang 84, passage 106
Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Han 44, passage 1; Book of Han 46, passage 2; Book of Han 48, passages 13, 35; Records of the Grand Historian 51, passage 3; Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 111, 159; Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 32, 89-90; Records of the Grand Historian 89, passages 176, 182; Records of the Grand Historian 96, passages 27, 31; Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 31, 38
Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · History of Liao 41, passage 320; Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 179, 184; Records of the Grand Historian 120, passage 125
Polity Chu · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 41, passage 138; Records of the Grand Historian 91, passage 27
Polity Western Chu 西楚 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 39, passage 166; Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 93
Polity Western Chu 西楚 · Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 26, passage 146; Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 120
楚
Directly stated · Book of Han 2, passage 1
At Bianshan / Wuxing commandery hall 卞山／吳興郡聽事 · Relation Spirit said to dwell
Directly stated · Book of Song 54, passage 23
At Pengcheng 彭城 · Relation Capital
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 32
At the Pass 關 · Relation Entered
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 176
At Wuxing 吳興 · Relation Temple at
Directly stated · Book of Liang 26, passage 146
At Xingyang 滎陽 · Relation Besieged
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 111
Organization Xiang clan 項氏 · Relation Member of
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 62

Works and attributed material

Book of Han 漢書
Relation Opening subject
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 117, passage 4
account of Xiang Yu 項籍事
Relation Subject of
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 167

Events and relationships

Accepted surrender
BC 207 項羽已破秦，降章邯 · Military · Commander · With Zhang Han (章邯)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 90, passage 19
Attacked by
Military · Opponent · With Han King (漢王) · Mode received-tradition
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 237
Attacked Han and captured Xingyang
BC 204 漢三年秋 · Military · Commander · At Xingyang 滎陽
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 31
Attacked Qin from the west
BC 206 漢王與項王力西面擊秦 · Military · Co commander · With Liu Bang (劉邦) · At Qin 秦 · Mode quotation Speaker Li Yiji (酈食其)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 54
Battled at xingyang
Military · Opponent · With Emperor Gao (高帝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 21
Besieged
BC 204 漢三年 · Military · Besieger · With King of Han (漢王) · At Xingyang 滎陽
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 111

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Boiled
BC 203 漢王四年 · Execution · Executioner · With Zhou Ke (周苛)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 31
Breached Xingyang
BC 203 漢王四年 · Military · Attacker
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 28
Broke agreement and made Han king in Hanzhong
Political · Breaker of covenant · With Liu Bang (劉邦) · At Hanzhong 漢中 · Mode quotation Speaker Li Yiji (酈食其)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 55
Broke covenant and proclaimed hegemon king
BC 206 項羽倍約，自立為西楚霸王 · Political · Usurper
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 93
Conquered to the Yellow River and destroyed Qin
BC 207 to BC 206 從入破秦 · Military · Commander · At Yellow River 河上
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 31
Contended for empire
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 113, passage 4
Defeated Zhang Han and relieved Julu
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Book of Han 41, passages 118-120
Defeated by Gaozu
Military · Opponent · With Emperor Gaozu of Han (汉高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 89, passage 45
Defeated
BC 207 果虜王離 · Military · Commander · With Wang Li (王離) · Outcome Captured Wang Li
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 179, 183
Destroyed Qin
BC 206 項羽滅之 · Military · Conqueror · At Qin 秦
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 184
Destroyed
BC 202 從破項籍 · Military · Defeated leader
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 196
Enfeoffed kings
BC 206 漢元年二月 · Political · Enfeoffing overlord
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 177
Enfeoffed Qi kings
Political · Overlord
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passages 33-35
Faced south and styled himself a lone ruler
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 294
Fought by King of Han
Military · Adversary · With Emperor Gaozu (高帝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 178
Grew deeply suspicious of Yafu after the envoys' report
Political · Agent · With Yafu (亞父)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 95-96
Grew suspicious of Zhongli Mei and other generals
Political · Agent · With Zhongli Mei (鐘離眛)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 90
Held banquet with intent to kill
Military · Host · With Liu Bang (劉邦)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 131, passage 90
Installed Zhao Xie as king of Dai
Political · Ruler · With Zhao Xie (趙歇)
Directly stated · History of Liao 41, passage 320
Installed as king
Political · Actor · With Liu Bang (劉邦)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 32
Intended to execute officers who pacified Yin
BC 205 殷王反楚 · Legal · Authority
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 36
Invoked as model
BC 209 to BC 202 劉、項挺興之會 · Allusion · Exemplar of rising in chaos
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 66
Killed song yi
Military · Commander · With Song Yi (宋義)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 91, passage 20
Led the whole army across the river and routed Zhang Han
Military · Commander · With Zhang Han (章邯)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 154
Led rabble to hegemon realm in five years
Military · Hegemon
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 39, passage 166
Northern campaign against Qi
Military · Commander · With Tian Rong (田榮)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passages 44-46
Opposed by
BC 206 to BC 202 擊項籍 · Military · Opponent · With Shentu Jia (申屠嘉)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 120
Perished with back to qin lands
BC 206 to BC 202 項背之亡 · Military · Defeated ruler
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 106
Prepared to attack
Military · Commander · With Duke of Pei (沛公) · At Hongmen 鴻門
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 72
Refused Yafu's advice to assault Xingyang at once
Military · Agent · With Yafu (亞父) · At Xingyang 滎陽
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 97
Refused to make kings
BC 206 to BC 202 當是之時 · Political · Title granter
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 114, passage 4
Relocated and killed
BC 205 項王遷殺義帝 · Political · Perpetrator · With Righteous Emperor (義帝) · Mode quotation Speaker Li Yiji (酈食其)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 56, 59
Repeatedly cut Zhang Han's supply corridor
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 154
Rescued Zhao accepted surrender sacked Xianyang
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 33
Rescued
BC 207 項羽救趙 · Military · Commander · At Zhao 趙
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 179
Rose in five years and dominated the realm
BC 209 to BC 202 羽興五年霸天下 · Military · Hegemon
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 259
Sacked and burned Xianyang
Military · Commander · At Xianyang 咸陽
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 53, passage 12
Seized and honored then boiled
Military · Captor · With Mother of Wang Ling (陵母)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 179, 184
Seized power briefly then perished
Political · Usurper strongman
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 125
Sent envoys to Han after suspecting his generals
Diplomatic · Agent
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 91
Sent Ping to subdue King of Yin
BC 205 殷王反楚 · Military · Commander · With Chen Ping (陳平)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 33
Threatened Liu Bang, sacked and burned Xianyang, and installed him as King of Han
Military · Commander · With Liu Bang (劉邦) · At Xianyang 咸陽
Directly stated · Book of Han 48, passages 13-14, 16
Was attacked by
BC 206 to BC 202 東擊項籍 · Military · Opponent · With Gaozu (高祖)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 85
Was destroyed
Military · Defeated party · With High Emperor (高皇帝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 21
Founding war · Defeated opponent · With Emperor Gaozu of Han (高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 104
Military · Contender · With Liu (劉)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 24, passage 26
Military · Defeated party · With Emperor Gaozu of Han (漢高祖)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 295
Relation Kin of · Person Xiang Liang (項梁) · Kinship Term Xiang clan 項氏
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 91, passages 13, 29
Relation Rival of · Person Liu Bang (劉邦)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 40, 54
Relation Resented · Person Tian Rong (田榮)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 32
Relation Enfeoffed · Person Zhang Er (張耳)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 177
Relation Relied on adviser · Person Fan Zeng (范增)
Directly stated · Book of Han 93, passage 58
Relation Captor of · Person Wang Li (王離)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 179, 183
Relation Rival of · Person Gaozu (高祖)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 93-94
Relation Sent · Person Xiang Han (項悍)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 34
Relation Mutual suspicion with · Person Fan (範)
Directly stated · Book of Song 70, passage 67
Relation Nephew · Person Key Xiang Liang (項梁)
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 87

Assessments and attributes

Assessment abandoned by Heaven · Mode quotation Speaker Su Jing (蘇竟)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 34, passage 16
Assessment broke agreements and bore the burden of killing the Righteous Emperor · Mode quotation Speaker Li Yiji (酈食其)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 59
Assessment Chu's strength saved Julu · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 157
Assessment even Xiang Yu's strength ends in defeat without the season of fortune · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Emperor Wu of Liang (梁高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 35, passage 5
Assessment gave no rewards for victories and no enfeoffments for captured cities · Mode quotation Speaker Li Yiji (酈食其)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 61
Assessment hoarded booty without distributing rewards; the realm rebelled and worthies would not serve him · Mode quotation Speaker Li Yiji (酈食其)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 64

Show 8 more source-backed claims

Assessment invoked as one of rival founders in historiographer analogy · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Chen 11, passage 168
Assessment local tradition held that his spirit as King of Bianshan dwelt in the Wuxing commandery hall and harmed arriving administrators · Mode rumor
Directly stated · Book of Song 54, passage 23
Assessment only Xiang clansmen could hold authority under him · Mode quotation Speaker Li Yiji (酈食其)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 62
Assessment remembered no merits and forgot no faults · Mode quotation Speaker Li Yiji (酈食其)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 60
Assessment showed no benevolence or righteousness yet prided himself on merit and victories · Mode named-person-speech Speaker the Founder (太祖)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 294
Assessment unjust in dividing the realm · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Chen Yu (陳餘)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passages 181-182
Assessment unmatched-as-a-man-but-lacked-Heaven-mandate; built hegemon realm in five years from plain cloth · Mode named-person-speech Speaker Zu Ting (祖珽)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 39, passages 165-167
Item seals 印 · Relation Had carved but would not grant · Mode quotation Speaker Li Yiji (酈食其)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 63

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 39, passage 164; Old History of the Five Dynasties 117, passage 4; Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 72, 111; Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 196; Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 176; Records of the Grand Historian 96, passages 85, 120; Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 31, 93; Book of Song 54, passage 23
Value historical
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 294
worshipped locally as Wrathful King; spirit seat formerly kept in the prefectural hall
Directly stated · Book of Liang 26, passages 146-147

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Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 39Volume 39 Biographies 31: Cui Jishu; Zu Ting · 4 passages

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帝又怒曰：「爾自作范增，以我為項羽邪！」 The emperor raged again. "You make yourself Fan Zeng and call me Xiang Yu!"

珽曰：「項羽人身亦何由可及，但天命不至耳。 Ting said, "Xiang Yu as a man—who could match him? Only Heaven's mandate never came.

項羽布衣，率烏合衆，五年而成霸王業。 Xiang Yu in plain cloth led a rabble army and in five years built a hegemon's realm.

陛下藉父兄資，財得至此，臣以項羽未易可輕。 Your Majesty, on your father's and brother's capital, reached only this. I say Xiang Yu is not to be despised lightly.

Book of Chen, Chapter 11Volume 11: Huang Faqu; Chunyu Liang; Zhang Zhaoda · 1 passage

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史臣曰：黃法抃、淳于量值梁末喪亂，劉、項未分，其有辯明暗見是非者蓋鮮，二公達向背之理，位至鼎司，亦其智也。 The historiographer writes: Huang Faqu and Chunyu Liang lived through the chaos at the end of Liang, when the realm had not yet chosen between rival founders; men who could tell right from wrong were few. Both understood which side to take and rose to the highest offices—that was their wisdom.

Book of Chen, Chapter 19Volume 19: Shen Jiong; Yu Li; Ma Shu · 1 passage

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方今周、齊鄰睦，境外無虞，并兵一向，匪朝伊夕，非劉、項競逐之機，楚、趙連從之勢，何得雍容高拱，坐論西伯？ Now Zhou and Qi are neighbors in harmony, beyond the borders without worry; joining troops in one direction is not morning or evening away—not Liu and Xiang contending, nor Chu and Zhao joining—how may one sit at ease with hands folded and discuss the Western Earl?

Book of Chen, Chapter 24Volume 24: Zhou Hongzheng; Yuan Xian · 1 passage

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乃至七國爭雄，劉項競逐，皇漢扇其俗，有晉揚其波，謙讓之道廢，多歷年所矣。 Then came the warring of the Seven States and the race of Liu and Xiang. Han fanned the fashion and Jin raised the wave. The way of yielding was cast aside for generations.

Book of Han, Chapter 1Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 1 · 92 passages

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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.

五月，項羽拔襄城還。 In the fifth month, Xiang Yu captured Xiangcheng and returned.

田榮歸，沛公、項羽追北，至城陽，攻屠其城。 Tian Rong returned. Pei Gong and Xiang Yu pursued the defeated enemy north to Chengyang and attacked, massacring the population of the city.

沛公、項羽去攻定陶。 Pei Gong and Xiang Yu left to attack Dingtao.

定陶未下，沛公與項羽西略地至雍丘，與秦軍戰，大敗之，斬三川守李由。 Dingtao had not yet fallen. Pei Gong and Xiang Yu marched west to seize territory as far as Yongqiu, where they battled Qin troops and greatly defeated them, beheading the governor of Sanchuan, Li You.

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.

呂臣軍彭城東，項羽軍彭城西，沛公軍碭。 Lü Chen's army was stationed east of Pengcheng, Xiang Yu's army west of Pengcheng, and Pei Gong's army at Dang.

後九月，懷王并呂臣、項羽軍自將之。 In the ninth month afterward, King Huai combined Lü Chen and Xiang Yu's armies and personally took command.

以羽為魯公，封長安侯，呂臣為司徒，其父呂青為令尹。 He appointed Yu as Duke of Lu and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Chang'an. Lü Chen became Minister of Works, and his father Lü Qing became Prime Minister.

趙數請救，懷王乃以宋義為上將，項羽為次將，范增為末將，北救趙。 Zhao repeatedly requested rescue, so King Huai appointed Song Yi as supreme commander, Xiang Yu as deputy commander, and Fan Zeng as rear commander, to go north and rescue Zhao.

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.

懷王諸老將皆曰：「項羽為人慓悍禍賊，嘗攻襄城，襄城無唣類，所過無不殘滅。 King Huai's veteran generals all said: "Xiang Yu is fierce and violent, a man of disaster. He once attacked Xiangcheng, leaving no survivors in Xiangcheng. Wherever he passes, nothing is left undestroyed.

項羽不可遣，獨沛公素寬大長者。」 Xiang Yu should not be sent. Only Pei Gong is habitually magnanimous and an elder."

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.

秦三年十月，齊將田都畔田榮，將兵助項羽救趙。 In the tenth month of the third year of Qin, Qi general Tian Du rebelled against Tian Rong and led troops to help Xiang Yu rescue Zhao.

十一月，項羽殺宋義，并其兵渡河，自立為上將軍，諸將黥布等皆屬。 In the eleventh month, Xiang Yu killed Song Yi and took his troops, crossed the river, and established himself as supreme commander. Generals like Ying Bu and others all came under his command.

故齊王建孫田安下濟北，從項羽救趙。 Former Qi King Jian's grandson Tian An captured Jibei and followed Xiang Yu to rescue Zhao.

羽大破秦軍鉅鹿下，虜王離，走章邯。 Xiang Yu greatly defeated the Qin army at Julu, captured Wang Li, and drove away Zhang Han.

是月章邯舉軍降項羽，羽以為雍王。 In this month, Zhang Han led his entire army to surrender to Xiang Yu, who enfeoffed him as King of Yong.

今聞章邯降項羽，羽號曰雍王，王關中。 Now we hear that Zhang Han has surrendered to Xiang Yu, who is titled King of Yong and rules Guanzhong.

十二月，項羽果帥諸侯兵欲西入關，關門閉。 In the twelfth month, Xiang Yu did indeed lead the troops of the feudal lords westward to enter the passes, but the pass gates were closed.

聞沛公已定關中，羽大怒，使黥布等攻破函谷關，遂至戲下。 When he heard that Pei Gong had already pacified Guanzhong, Xiang Yu was furious and sent Ying Bu and others to break through Hangu Pass, then advanced to Xi.

沛公左司馬曹毋傷聞羽怒，欲攻沛公，使人言羽曰：「沛公欲王關中，令子嬰相，珍寶盡有之。」 Cao Wushang, Pei Gong's Left Marshal, heard that Xiang Yu was angry and wanted to attack Pei Gong. He sent someone to tell Xiang Yu, "Pei Gong wants to become king of Guanzhong, make Zi Ying his chancellor, and keep all the precious treasures."

亞父范增說羽曰：「沛公居山東時，貪財好色，今聞其入關，珍物無所取，婦女無所幸，此其志不小。 Fan Zeng, the Second Father, advised Xiang Yu: "When Pei Gong was east of the mountains, he was greedy for wealth and fond of women. Now we hear that after entering the passes, he has taken no precious objects and favored no women. His ambitions are not small.

是時，羽兵四十萬，號百萬。 At this time, Xiang Yu's troops numbered 400,000, claiming 1,000,000.

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.

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?

羽許諾。 Xiang Yu agreed.

沛公旦日從百餘騎見羽鴻門，謝曰：「臣與將軍戮力攻秦，將軍戰河北，臣戰河南，不自意先入關，能破秦，與將軍復相見。 The next morning, Pei Gong came with more than a hundred riders to see Xiang Yu at Hongmen and apologized: "I joined forces with the general to attack Qin. The general fought north of the Yellow River, and I fought south of it. I did not expect to enter the passes first, defeat Qin, and then meet the general again.

羽曰：「此沛公左司馬曹毋傷言之，不然，籍何以生此？」 Xiang Yu said: "This was reported by Pei Gong's left marshal Cao Wushang. Otherwise, how could such suspicions have arisen?"

羽因留沛公飲。 Xiang Yu then kept Pei Gong to drink.

范增數目羽擊沛公，羽不應。 Fan Zeng repeatedly signaled Xiang Yu to attack Pei Gong, but Xiang Yu did not respond.

羽壯之，賜以酒。 Xiang Yu admired his bravery and gave him wine.

噲因譙讓羽。 Fan Kuai took advantage to rebuke Xiang Yu.

有頃，沛公起如廁，招樊噲出，置車官屬，獨騎，與樊噲、靳彊、滕公、紀成步，從間道走軍，使張良留謝羽。 After a while, Pei Gong rose as if to use the privy and beckoned Fan Kuai out. Leaving his carriages and attendants behind, he rode off alone, while Fan Kuai, Jin Qiang, Lord Teng, and Ji Cheng went on foot. They fled the camp by a side road, and he had Zhang Liang remain to apologize to Xiang Yu.

羽問：「沛公安在？」 Xiang Yu asked: "Where is Pei Gong?"

羽受之。 Xiang Yu accepted it.

沛公歸數日，羽引兵西屠咸陽，殺秦降王子嬰，燒秦宮室，所過無不殘滅。 Several days after Pei Gong returned, Xiang Yu led his troops west, slaughtered Xianyang, killed Zi Ying, the surrendered prince of Qin, and burned the Qin palaces. Wherever he passed, everything was devastated.

羽使人還報懷王，懷王曰：「如約。」 Xiang Yu sent someone to report back to King Huai. King Huai said: "As agreed."

羽怨懷王不肯令與沛公俱西入關，而北救趙，後天下約。 Xiang Yu resented King Huai for refusing to let him enter the passes westward together with Pei Gong, instead sending him north to rescue Zhao, so that he came too late for the agreement over the realm.

春正月，陽尊懷王為義帝，實不用其命。 In the first month of spring, Xiang Yu nominally honored King Huai as the Righteous Emperor, but in reality did not obey his commands.

二月，羽自立為西楚霸王，王梁、楚地九郡，都彭城。 In the second month, Xiang Yu established himself as Hegemon-King of Western Chu, ruling the nine commanderies of Liang and Chu, with his capital at Pengcheng.

漢王怨羽之背約，欲攻之，丞相蕭何諫，乃止。 King Han resented Xiang Yu for breaking the agreement and wanted to attack him. Chancellor Xiao He advised against it, so he stopped.

羽使卒三萬人從漢王，楚子、諸侯人之慕從者數萬人，從杜南入蝕中。 Xiang Yu sent thirty thousand soldiers to accompany the King of Han, and several tens of thousands of Chu nobles and men from the feudal lords admired him and followed as well. They entered Shuzhong from south of Du.

張良辭歸韓，漢王送至褒中，因說漢王燒絕棧道，以備諸侯盜兵，亦視項羽無東意。 Zhang Liang took leave to return to Han. The King of Han escorted him as far as Baozhong, and there Zhang Liang advised him to burn and sever the plank roads, both to guard against raiding troops from the feudal lords and to show Xiang Yu that he had no intention of going east.

信對曰：「項羽背約而王君王於南鄭，是遷也。 Xin replied: "Xiang Yu broke the agreement and enfeoffed you as king in Nanzheng. This was banishment.

因陳羽可圖三秦易并之計。 He then laid out his plan for seizing the three Qin states while Xiang Yu was occupied.

田榮聞羽徙齊王市於膠東而立田都為齊王，大怒，以齊兵迎擊田都。 When Tian Rong heard that Xiang Yu had moved Tian Shi, King of Qi, to Jiaodong and installed Tian Du as King of Qi, he was furious and led the Qi troops to attack Tian Du.

羽以良從漢王，韓王成又無功，故不遣就國，與俱至彭城，殺之。 Because Zhang Liang had accompanied the King of Han (Liu Bang), and King Cheng of Han had achieved nothing, Xiang Yu would not let Cheng go to his kingdom; he brought Cheng to Pengcheng and killed him.

及聞漢王并關中，而齊、梁畔之，羽大怒，乃以故吳令鄭昌為韓王，距漢。 When Xiang Yu heard that the King of Han had taken all of Guanzhong and that Qi and Liang had rebelled against him, he was furious. He made Zheng Chang, the former magistrate of Wu, King of Han to block Han.

時張良徇韓地，遺羽書曰：「漢欲得關中，如約即止，不敢復東。」 At this time Zhang Liang was campaigning through Han territory. He sent Xiang Yu a letter: "Han only wishes to obtain Guanzhong. If the agreement is honored, we will stop and will not dare advance east again."

羽以故無西意，而北擊齊。 Xiang Yu therefore had no intention of going west, but instead attacked Qi to the north.

羽聞之，發兵距之陽夏，不得前。 Xiang Yu heard of this and sent troops to block them at Yangxia, preventing them from advancing.

二年冬十月，項羽使九江王布殺義帝於郴。 In the tenth month of winter in the second year, Xiang Yu ordered King Jiujiang Ying Bu to kill Righteous Emperor Huai at Chen.

陳餘亦怨羽獨不王己，從田榮藉助兵，以擊常山王張耳。 Chen Yu also resented that Xiang Yu had not made him a king. He borrowed troops from Tian Rong and attacked Zhang Er, King of Changshan.

春正月，羽擊田榮城陽，榮敗走平原，平原民殺之。 In spring, in the first month, Xiang Yu attacked Tian Rong at Chengyang. Rong was defeated and fled to Pingyuan, where the people killed him.

項羽為無道，放殺其主，天下之賊也。 Xiang Yu acts without righteousness, having deposed and killed his lord. He is the traitor of the world.

今項羽放殺義帝江南，大逆無道。 Now Xiang Yu has deposed and killed the Righteous Emperor in Jiangnan. This is great rebellion without righteousness.

羽雖聞漢東，既擊齊，欲遂破之而後擊漢，漢王以故得劫五諸侯兵，東伐楚。 Although Xiang Yu heard that Han was advancing east, he was already attacking Qi and wanted to crush it completely before turning against Han. The King of Han was therefore able to take command of the five feudal lords' troops and advance east to attack Chu.

漢王遂入彭城，收羽美人貨賂，置酒高會。 King Han then entered Pengcheng, took Xiang Yu's beautiful women and treasures, and held a great banquet.

羽聞之，令其將擊齊，而自以精兵三萬人從魯出胡陵，至蕭，晨擊漢軍，大戰彭城靈壁東睢水上，大破漢軍，多殺士卒，睢水為之不流。 When Xiang Yu heard of this, he ordered his generals to attack Qi, while he himself led thirty thousand picked troops from Lu through Huling to Xiao. At dawn he attacked the Han army and fought a great battle east of Pengcheng, at Lingbi on the Sui River. He inflicted a crushing defeat on Han, killing many officers and soldiers, so that the Sui River stopped flowing.

審食其從太公、呂后間行，反遇楚軍，羽常置軍中以為質。 Shen Yiji escorted the Venerable Sire and Empress Lü along hidden paths, but they encountered Chu troops. Xiang Yu kept them with the army as hostages.

漢王西過梁地，至虞，謂謁者隨何曰：「公能說九江王布使舉兵畔楚，項王必留擊之。 The King of Han passed west through Liang territory and reached Yu. He said to the usher Sui He: "Can you persuade Ying Bu, King of Jiujiang, to raise troops and rebel against Chu? Xiang Yu will certainly stay behind to attack him.

項羽數侵奪漢甬道，漢軍乏食，與酈食其謀橈楚權。 Xiang Yu repeatedly invaded and seized Han's covered walkway. The Han army lacked food. He consulted with Li Yiji about weakening Chu's power.

夏四月，項羽圍漢滎陽，漢王請和，割滎陽以西者為漢。 In the fourth month of summer, Xiang Yu surrounded Han at Xingyang. King Han requested peace, offering to divide Xingyang west as Han territory.

亞父勸項羽急攻滎陽，漢王患之。 Prime Minister Fan advised Xiang Yu to urgently attack Xingyang. King Han was troubled by this.

陳平反間既行，羽果疑亞父。 Chen Ping's reverse espionage having succeeded, Xiang Yu indeed suspected Prime Minister Fan.

羽見紀信，問：「漢王安在？」 Xiang Yu saw Ji Xin and asked: "Where is King Han?"

羽燒殺信。 Xiang Yu burned and killed Xin.

願君王出武關，項王必引兵南走，王深壁，令滎陽成皋間且得休息。 I ask Your Majesty to go out through Wuguan. Xiang Yu will certainly lead his troops south. Your Majesty should hold deep behind fortifications and let the area between Xingyang and Chenggao gain some respite.

羽聞漢王在宛，果引兵南，漢王堅壁不與戰。 Xiang Yu heard that King Han was at Wan and indeed led troops south. King Han fortified deeply and did not fight him.

羽使終公守成皋，而自東擊彭越。 Xiang Yu had Zhong Gong defend Chenggao while he himself went east to attack Peng Yue.

六月，羽已破走彭越，聞漢復軍成皋，乃引兵西拔滎陽城，生得周苛。 In the sixth month, after Xiang Yu had defeated and driven off Peng Yue, he heard that Han had again stationed troops at Chenggao. He therefore led his army west, took the city of Xingyang, and captured Zhou Ke alive.

羽謂苛：「為我將，以公為上將軍，封三萬戶。」 Xiang Yu said to Ke: "Be my general. I will make you supreme general and enfeoff you with 30,000 households."

羽亨周苛，并殺樅公，而虜韓王信，遂圍成皋。 Xiang Yu boiled Zhou Ke and also killed Lord Song. He captured King Han Xin and then surrounded Chenggao.

九月，羽謂海春侯大司馬曹咎曰：「謹守成皋。 In the ninth month, Xiang Yu said to Hai Chun Marquis Grand Marshal Cao Jiu: "Carefully guard Chenggao.

羽引兵東擊彭越。 Xiang Yu led troops east to attack Peng Yue.

項羽聞韓信破齊，且欲擊楚，使龍且救齊。 Xiang Yu heard that Han Xin had broken Qi and was about to attack Chu, so he sent Long Ju to rescue Qi.

羽下梁地十餘城，聞海春侯破，乃引兵還。 Xiang Yu took over 10 cities in Liang territory. He heard that Hai Chun Marquis was defeated, so he led troops back.

漢軍方圍鍾離辚於滎陽東，聞羽至，盡走險阻。 The Han army was surrounding Zhongli Mo east of Xingyang. When they heard Xiang Yu had arrived, they all fled to difficult terrain.

羽亦軍廣武，與漢相守。 Xiang Yu also encamped at Guangwu and confronted Han.

漢王、羽相與臨廣武之間而語。 King Han and Xiang Yu faced each other across Guangwu and spoke.

羽欲與漢王獨身挑戰，漢王數羽曰：「吾始與羽俱受命懷王，曰先定關中者王之。 Xiang Yu wanted to challenge the King of Han to single combat. The King of Han instead listed Xiang Yu's crimes: "At first, Xiang Yu and I both received King Huai's command, which said that whoever first pacified Guanzhong would be made king there.

羽負約，王我於蜀漢，罪一也。 Xiang Yu broke the agreement and enfeoffed me as king in Shu and Han. This is crime one.

羽矯殺卿子冠軍，自尊，罪二也。 Xiang Yu forged orders and killed Lord Champion of the Lords Song Yi, then exalted himself. This is crime two.

羽當以救趙還報，而擅劫諸侯兵入關，罪三也。 Xiang Yu should have returned after rescuing Zhao, but instead usurped the feudal lords' troops to enter the passes. This is crime three.

懷王約入秦無暴掠，羽燒秦宮室，掘始皇帝冢，收私其財，罪四也。 King Huai's agreement was that whoever entered Qin should commit no violence or plunder, yet Xiang Yu burned the Qin palaces, dug up the First Emperor's tomb, and took the wealth for himself. This is the fourth crime.

羽大怒，伏弩射中漢王。 Xiang Yu was greatly angered and had a crossbow shoot King Han.

項羽自知少助食盡，韓信又進兵擊楚，羽患之。 Xiang Yu knew that he had few allies and that his food was exhausted. Han Xin was again advancing troops to attack Chu, and Xiang Yu was troubled by this.

漢遣陸賈說羽，請太公，羽弗聽。 Han sent Lu Jia to persuade Xiang Yu to return the Duke of Tai. Xiang Yu did not listen.

漢復使侯公說羽，羽乃與漢約，中分天下，割鴻溝以西為漢，以東為楚。 Han again sent Hou Gong to persuade Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu then made an agreement with Han to divide the realm in two, assigning the lands west of Honggou to Han and those east of it to Chu.

羽解而東歸。 Xiang Yu withdrew and returned east.

Book of Han, Chapter 2Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 2 · 15 passages

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五年冬十月，漢王追項羽至陽夏南止軍，與齊王信、魏相國越期會擊楚，至固陵，不會。 In the tenth month, winter, of the fifth year, the King of Han pursued Xiang Yu and halted his army south of Yangxia. He had arranged to meet King Xin of Qi and Yue, the Chancellor of Wei, to join forces in attacking Chu, but when he reached Guling, they did not arrive.

十二月，圍羽垓下。 In the twelfth month, they surrounded Xiang Yu at Gaixia.

羽夜聞漢軍四面皆楚歌，知盡得楚地，羽與數百騎走，是以兵大敗。 At night Xiang Yu heard Han troops on all four sides singing Chu songs and knew that they had taken all Chu territory. He fled with several hundred cavalry, and so his army suffered a great defeat.

灌嬰追斬羽東城。 Guan Ying pursued and beheaded Xiang Yu at Dongcheng.

漢王引天下兵欲屠之，為其守節禮義之國，乃持羽頭示其父兄，魯乃降。 The King of Han led the troops of the world and intended to massacre them, but because Lu was a state that upheld fidelity, ritual, and righteousness, he held up Xiang Yu's head and showed it to their fathers and elder brothers. Lu then surrendered.

初，懷王封羽為魯公，及死，魯又為之堅守，故以魯公葬羽於穀城。 Initially, King Huai had enfeoffed Xiang Yu as Duke of Lu, and after his death Lu again defended firmly on his behalf. Therefore Xiang Yu was buried at Gucheng as Duke of Lu.

初項羽所立臨江王共敖前死，子尉嗣立為王，不降。 Initially, the Linjiang King Gong Ao whom Xiang Yu had established had died earlier. His son Wei succeeded as king and did not surrender.

項羽侵奪之地，謂之番君。 Xiang Yu invaded and seized his territory, calling him Fan Jun.

諸侯伐秦，亡諸身帥閩中兵以佐滅秦，項羽廢而弗立。 When the feudal lords attacked Qin, Wuzhu personally led the Minzhong troops to assist in destroying Qin. Xiang Yu deposed him and did not establish him.

高起、王陵對曰：「陛下嫚而侮人，項羽仁而敬人。 Gao Qi and Wang Ling replied: "Your Majesty is casual and insults people. Xiang Yu is benevolent and respects people.

項羽妒賢嫉能，有功者害之，賢者疑之，戰勝而不與人功，得地而不與人利，此其所以失天下也。」 Xiang Yu was jealous of the worthy and envious of the able. He harmed those with merit and doubted the worthy. He won battles but did not share credit with others; he obtained land but did not share its benefits. This is why he lost the world."

項羽有一范增而不能用，此所以為我禽也。」 Xiang Yu had one Fan Zeng but could not employ him. This is why he was captured by me."

項羽已滅，橫懼誅，與賓客亡入海。 Xiang Yu had already been destroyed. Heng feared execution and fled to the sea with his retainers.

利幾者，項羽將。 Li Ji was Xiang Yu's general.

羽敗，利幾為陳令，降，上侯之潁川。 Yu was defeated. Li Ji became magistrate of Chen and surrendered. The emperor enfeoffed him in Yingchuan.

Book of Han, Chapter 25Volume 23: Treatise on Punishment and Law · 1 passage

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漢興，高祖躬神武之材，行寬仁之厚，總攬英雄，以誅秦、項。 At Han's founding, Gaozu combined military charisma with political magnanimity, uniting talent to defeat Qin and Xiang Yu.

Book of Han, Chapter 41Volume 32: Zhang Er and Chen Yu · 9 passages

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項羽兵數絕章邯甬道，王離軍乏食。 Xiang Yu repeatedly cut Zhang Han's supply corridor, and Wang Li's forces ran short of food.

項羽悉引兵渡河，破章邯軍。 Xiang Yu then led all forces across the river and broke Zhang Han's army.

耳從項羽入關。 Zhang Er entered the passes with Xiang Yu.

項羽立諸侯，耳雅遊，多為人所稱。 When Xiang Yu enfeoffed the lords, Zhang Er was widely praised because he had long-standing connections.

項羽素亦聞耳賢，乃分趙立耳為常山王，治信都。 Xiang Yu had also heard of Zhang Er's worth and therefore made him King of Changshan, ruling at Xindu.

餘客多說項羽：「陳餘、張耳一體有功於趙。」 Many of Chen Yu's followers persuaded Xiang Yu, saying: "Chen Yu and Zhang Er were one body and had merit in Zhao."

羽以餘不從入關，聞其在南皮，即以南皮旁三縣封之。 Because Chen Yu had not entered the passes, Xiang Yu only granted him three counties near Nanpi when he heard he was there.

及齊王田榮叛楚，餘乃使夏說說田榮曰：「項羽為天下宰不平，盡王諸將善地，徙故王王惡地，今趙王乃居代！ When Qi's king Tian Rong rebelled against Chu, Chen Yu sent Xia Yue to persuade Tian Rong, saying: "Xiang Yu is unfair as steward of all under heaven. He made all his generals kings over good lands and moved former kings to bad lands; now the King of Zhao actually dwells in Dai!

耳敗走，曰：「漢王與我有故，而項王彊，立我，我欲之楚。」 Defeated, Zhang Er fled and said, "The Han king and I have old ties, but King Xiang is strong and installed me as king, so I mean to go to Chu."

Book of Han, Chapter 42Volume 33: Wei Bao, Tian Dan and Hán Xin (King of Han) · 19 passages

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項羽己破秦兵，降章邯，豹下魏二十餘城，立為魏王。 After Xiang Yu had defeated the Qin army and accepted Zhang Han's surrender, Wei Bao brought more than twenty Wei cities under control and was established as king of Wei.

豹引精兵從項羽入關。 Wei Bao then led elite troops to enter the passes with Xiang Yu.

羽封諸侯，欲有梁地，乃徙豹於河東，都平陽，為西魏王。 When Xiang Yu enfeoffed the lords, he wanted to keep Liang territory, and so he transferred Wei Bao to Hedong, set his capital at Pingyang, and made him king of Western Wei.

項羽由此怨榮。 Because of this, Xiang Yu came to resent Tian Rong.

羽既存趙，降章邯，西滅秦，立諸侯王，乃徙齊王市更王膠東，治即墨。 After Xiang Yu had preserved Zhao, accepted Zhang Han's surrender, gone west and destroyed Qin, and installed the kings among the lords, he moved King Shi of Qi and made him king of Jiaodong, with his seat at Jimo.

齊將田都從共救趙，因入關，故立都為齊王，治臨菑。 The Qi general Tian Du had taken part in the joint relief of Zhao and then entered the passes, so Xiang Yu established Du as king of Qi, with his seat at Linzi.

故齊王建孫田安，項羽方渡河救趙，安下濟北數城，引兵降項羽，羽立安為濟北王，治博陽。 Tian An, grandson of the former King Jian of Qi, had captured several cities in Jibei while Xiang Yu was crossing the river to rescue Zhao, then led his troops in surrender to Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu established An as king of Jibei, with his seat at Boyang.

二人俱怨項羽。 Both men resented Xiang Yu.

市左右曰：「項王強暴，王不就國，必危。」 King Shi's attendants said, "Lord Xiang is violent and overbearing. If you do not go to your assigned kingdom, you will be in peril."

項王聞之，大怒，乃北伐齊。 When Xiang Yu heard this, he was enraged and marched north to attack Qi.

項羽遂燒夷齊城郭，所過盡屠破。 Xiang Yu then burned and leveled Qi's cities, massacring and destroying everything along his route.

榮弟橫收齊散兵，得數萬人，反擊項羽於城陽。 Tian Rong's brother Tian Heng gathered scattered Qi troops, raised tens of thousands, and counterattacked Xiang Yu at Chengyang.

項羽聞之，乃釋齊而歸擊漢於彭城，因連與漢戰，相距滎陽。 When Xiang Yu heard this, he left Qi and returned to attack Han at Pengcheng. Thereafter he and Han fought one engagement after another, facing each other at Xingyang.

漢滅項籍，漢王立為皇帝，彭越為梁王。 After Han destroyed Xiang Ji and the Han king became emperor, Peng Yue was made king of Liang.

沛公為漢王，信從入漢中，乃說漢王曰：「項王王諸將，王獨居此，遷也。 When the Duke of Pei became king of Han, Han Xin followed him into Hanzhong and advised him, saying, "Xiang Yu has made the generals kings but has left you alone here—this is banishment.

項籍之封諸王皆就國，韓王成以不從無功，不遣之國，更封為穰侯，後又殺之。 When Xiang Ji enfeoffed the various kings, all of them went to their assigned states. Because King Cheng of Han had not followed Xiang Ji and had no merit, Xiang Ji did not allow him to go to his state, but instead changed his title to Marquis of Rang, and later killed him.

聞漢遣信略韓地，乃令故籍游吳時令鄭昌為韓王距漢。 Hearing that Han had sent Xin to seize Han territory, Xiang Ji ordered Zheng Chang, who had once served as his magistrate when he was in Wu, to become king of Han and resist Han.

已得亡歸漢，漢復以為韓王，竟從擊破項籍。 Afterward he escaped and returned to Han. Han again made him king of Han, and in the end he followed the army in defeating Xiang Ji.

滎陽之事，僕不能死，囚於項籍，此一罪也。 At Xingyang I failed to die and was taken prisoner by Xiang Yu—this was my first crime.

Book of Han, Chapter 44Volume 35: Princes of Jing, Yan and Wu · 4 passages

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漢王敗成皋，北度河，得張耳、韓信軍，軍脩武，深溝高壘，使賈將二萬人，騎數百，擊楚，度白馬津入楚地，燒其積聚，以破其業，無以給項王軍食。 After his defeat at Chenggao, the King of Han withdrew north across the river and joined the forces of Zhang Er and Han Xin. They made camp at Xiuwu behind deep moats and high walls. He dispatched Liu Jia with twenty thousand foot soldiers and several hundred cavalry to hit Chu from the flank. Liu Jia crossed the Baima Ford into Chu lands and torched their depots, shattering their logistics so that King Xiang’s troops went hungry.

漢元年，還定三秦，賈為將軍，定塞地，從東擊項籍。 In the first year of Han, after the pacification of the Three Qins, Liu Jia served as a general, secured Sai territory, and marched east against Xiang Yu.

漢王追項籍至固陵，使賈南度淮圍壽春。 Pursuing Xiang Yu as far as Guling, the King of Han ordered Liu Jia south across the Huai to invest Shouchun.

周殷反楚，佐賈舉九江，迎英布兵，皆會垓下，誅項籍。 Zhou Yin rebelled against Chu, helped Liu Jia secure Jiujiang, joined with Ying Bu’s army, and the allied hosts met at Gaixia to destroy Xiang Yu.

Book of Han, Chapter 46Volume 37: Ji Bu, Luan Bu and Tian Shu · 6 passages

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項籍使將兵，數窘漢王。 Xiang Yu put him in command of troops, and time and again he cornered the King of Han.

項籍滅，高祖購求布千金，敢有舍匿，罪三族。 After Xiang Yu fell, Gaozu posted a reward of a thousand pounds of gold for Ji Bu, with death for three generations of kin for anyone who dared hide him.

布母弟丁公，為項羽將，逐窘高祖彭城西。 Ji Bu's maternal uncle Ding Gong, a general under Xiang Yu, had pressed Gaozu hard west of Pengcheng.

及項王滅，丁公謁見高祖，以丁公徇軍中，曰：「丁公為項王臣不忠，使項王失天下者也。」 After Xiang Yu fell, Ding Gong came to pay his respects; Gaozu had him paraded before the host and declared, "Ding Gong was a faithless servant to his king; he helped cost Xiang Yu the empire."

布曰：「方上之困彭城，敗滎陽、成皋間，項王所以不能遂西，徒以彭王居梁地，與漢合從苦楚也。 Luan Bu said, "When you were besieged at Pengcheng and driven from Xingyang to Chenggao, the only reason Xiang Yu could not push west was that King Peng held Liang and kept Han and Chu locked in a stalemate that wore Chu down.

贊曰：以項羽之氣，而季布以勇顯名楚，身履軍搴旗者數矣，可謂壯士。 The historian's verdict: In an age dominated by Xiang Yu's fury, Ji Bu won fame in Chu for raw courage; he repeatedly charged into battle and tore enemy banners from their poles—a true fighting man.

Book of Han, Chapter 48Volume 39: Xiao He and Cao Shen · 10 passages

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沛公既先定秦，項羽後至，欲攻沛公，沛公謝之得解。 Liu Bang was first to subdue the Qin heartland; when Xiang Yu arrived later and meant to strike him, Liu Bang apologized and defused the threat.

羽遂屠燒咸陽，與范增謀曰：「巴蜀道險，秦之遷民皆居蜀。」 Xiang Yu then sacked and torched Xianyang. With Fan Zeng he reasoned, “The routes into Ba and Shu are treacherous, and Qin’s exiles have been settled in Shu.”

漢王怒，欲謀攻項羽。 Enraged, the King of Han prepared to march against Xiang Yu.

漢三年，與項羽相距京、索間，上數使使勞苦丞相。 In the third Han year, locked with Xiang Yu between Jing and Suo, the Sovereign repeatedly sent messengers to console his weary chancellor.

漢五年，已殺項羽，即皇帝位，論功行封，群臣爭功，歲餘不決。 In the fifth Han year, with Xiang Yu dead, Liu Bang took the throne. Merit titles were debated, the ministers squabbled over precedence, and for more than a year nothing was settled.

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.

項羽至，以沛公為漢王。 When Xiang Yu came up he named the Duke of Pei King of Han.

擊項籍軍，漢軍大敗走。 There he collided with Xiang Yu’s host and the Han army was routed.

參自漢中為將軍中尉，從擊諸侯，及項王敗，還至滎陽。 From Hanzhong onward Cao Shen held the ranks of general and colonel of the guard, campaigned against the lords, and when Xiang Yu fell he was back at Xingyang.

韓信立為齊王，引兵東詣陳，與漢王共破項羽，而參留平齊未服者。 After Han Xin was made King of Qi he marched east to Chen to help the King of Han destroy Xiang Yu, while Cao Shen stayed to mop up Qi’s holdouts.

Book of Han, Chapter 51Volume 42: Zhang, Zhou, Zhao, Ren and Shentu · 4 passages

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項羽怒，亨苛。 Enraged, Xiang Yu had Zhou Ke executed in the cauldron.

常從擊破項籍。 He fought at the king's side until Xiang Yu was destroyed.

高祖立為漢王，東擊項羽，遨遷為上黨守。 After the High Ancestor became King of Han and marched east against Xiang Yu, Ren Ao was transferred to govern Shangdang.

以材官蹶張從高帝擊項籍，遷為隊率。 He served as a strong-arm crossbowman under the High Ancestor in the war against Xiang Yu and rose to platoon leader.

Book of Han, Chapter 55Volume 46: The Lords of Wan, Wei, Zhi, Zhou and Zhang · 1 passage

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高祖東擊項籍，過河內，時奮年十五，為小吏，侍高祖。 While the Supreme Ancestor was campaigning east against Xiang Yu and passed through Henei, Fen—then fifteen—held a minor clerkship and waited upon him.

Book of Han, Chapter 59Volume 50: Zhang, Feng, Ji and Zheng · 2 passages

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其先鄭君嘗事項籍，籍死而屬漢。 His forebear Lord Zheng had served Xiang Yu; when Yu died he transferred his allegiance to Han.

高祖令諸故項籍臣名籍，鄭君獨不奉詔。 Gaozu ordered Xiang Yu's old retainers to refer to him by his personal name as a sign of submission; Lord Zheng alone refused the edict.

Book of Han, Chapter 93Volume 82: Wang Shang, Shi Dan and Fu Xi · 1 passage

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忠臣，社稷之衛，魯以季友治亂，楚以子玉輕重，魏以無忌折衝，項以范增存亡。 Loyal ministers are what defend the altars of state: Lu rose or fell with Jiyou, Chu with Ziyu, Wei with Lord Xinling, and Xiang Yu with Fan Zeng.

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 2 passages

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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?

王陵之母亦見項氏之必亡，而劉氏之將興也。 Wang Ling's mother likewise saw that the Xiang clan would fall and the Liu house would rise.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 34Volume 30a: Biographies of Su Jing; Yang Hou · 1 passage

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昔智果見智伯窮兵必亡，故變名遠逝，陳平知項王為天所棄，故歸心高祖，皆智之至也。 Zhiguo saw Zhibo’s warmongering would destroy him and fled under an altered name; Chen Ping knew Xiang Yu was heaven-forsaken and gave his loyalty to Gaozu—both reached the height of discernment.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 89Volume 80a: Biographies of Writers 1 · 1 passage

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蹈沧海，跨昆仑，奋彗光，扫项军，遂济人难，荡涤于泗、沂。 He strode to the eastern sea, vaulted Kunlun, flashed like a comet across Xiang Yu's armies, lifted the people from disaster, and rinsed the Si and Yi clean of slaughter.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 131Volume 120: Treatise on Carriages and Dress, Part Two · 2 passages

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樊噲冠，漢將樊噲造次所冠，以入項羽軍。 Fan Kuai’s famous rush into Xiang Yu’s camp gave this emergency military cap its name.

或曰，樊噲常持鐵楯，聞項羽有意殺漢王，噲裂裳以裹楯，冠之入軍門，立漢王旁，視項羽。 Tradition adds that Fan Kuai wrapped his shield in a torn skirt, jammed on this cap, burst through the gate, and glared at Xiang Yu from Liu Bang’s side.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 117Volume 117 Book of Later Zhou 19: Shizong Annals 4 · 1 passage

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伏以撰《漢書》者先為項籍，編《蜀記》首序劉璋，貴神器之傳授有因，歷數之推遷得序。 It is customary, as when the Book of Han began with Xiang Yu and the Shu Annals opened with Liu Zhang, to show that the transfer of the Mandate has its logic and that dynastic succession follows a proper sequence.

Book of Liang, Chapter 14Volume 14: Jiang Yan; Ren Fang · 1 passage

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淹對曰：「昔項強而劉弱，袁衆而曹寡，羽號令諸侯，卒受一劍之辱，紹跨躡四州，終爲奔北之虜。 Yan answered, "Once Xiang Yu was strong and Liu Bang weak, Yuan Shao had numbers and Cao Cao few; Yu ruled the lords yet died by one sword, Yuan held four provinces yet fled north in defeat.

Book of Liang, Chapter 26Volume 26: Fan Xiu; Fu Zhao; Fu Ying; Xiao Chen; Lu Gao · 1 passage

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郡有項羽廟，土民名爲憤王，甚有靈驗，遂於郡廳事安施床幕爲神座，公私請禱，前後二千石皆於廳拜祠，而避居他室。 The commandery had a temple to Xiang Yu, whom locals called the Wrathful King and held in great awe; bed and curtains had been installed in the main hall as a spirit seat, and all who came to pray did so there—successive administrators worshipped in the hall and slept elsewhere.

Book of Liang, Chapter 35Volume 35: Xiao Zike; Xiao Zifan; Xiao Zixian; Xiao Ziyun · 1 passage

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苟無期運，雖有項籍之力，終亦敗亡。 Without the proper season of fortune, even with the strength of Xiang Yu, one would in the end be defeated and destroyed.

History of Liao, Chapter 41Volume 41 Treatises 11: Geography 5 · 1 passage

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項羽徙趙歇為代王，歇還趙，立陳余王代； Xiang Yu installed Zhao Xie as king of Dai; Xie returned to Zhao and Chen Yu was enthroned as king of Dai;

History of Ming, Chapter 135Volume 135 Biographies 23: Chen Yu, Ye Dui, Fan Chang, Song Siyan, Guo Jingxiang, Yang Yuangao, Ruan Hongdao, Kong Keren · 1 passage

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太祖曰：「項羽南面稱孤，仁義不施，而自矜功伐。 The Founder said, "Xiang Yu faced south and styled himself a lone ruler, showed no benevolence or righteousness, yet prided himself on merit and boasted of his victories.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 31Volume 31: Book of Shu 1: Biographies of the Two Governor Lius · 1 passage

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劉先之說劉表，退不告絕奔亡，若陳平、韓信之去項羽，而兩端攜貳，為謀不忠，罪之次也。〉〔Liu Xian〕 in counseling Liu Biao, or on retreating failed to announce a clean break before fleeing, as Chen Ping and Han Xin had done when they left Xiang Yu—yet they played both sides; such disloyal scheming is the lesser crime.

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

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昔項籍總一強眾，跨州兼土，所務者大，然卒敗垓下，死於東城，宗族如焚，為笑千載，皆不以義，陵上虐下故也。 Xiang Yu once commanded a mighty host and held half the empire, yet he fell at Gaixia, died at Dongcheng, and his clan went up like kindling—a jest for every age—because he trampled right order and tyrannized those below him.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 62Volume 62: Book of Wu 17: Biographies of Shi Yi and Hu Zong · 1 passage

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高祖誅項，四面楚歌。 Gaozu struck down Xiang Yu while Chu songs rose on every side.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 36Houses of Chen and Qi · 1 passage

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伯翳之後，至周平王時封為秦，項羽滅之，有本紀言。 Bo Yi's descendants were enfeoffed as Qin during the time of King Ping of Zhou. Xiang Yu destroyed them. Their story is told in the basic annals.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 51Houses of Jing and Yan · 4 passages

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漢王元年，還定三秦，劉賈為將軍，定塞地，從東擊項籍。 In the first year of the King of Han, after the Three Qin territories had been subdued, Liu Jia served as a general, pacifying the frontier regions before marching east to attack Xiang Ji.

漢四年，漢王之敗成皋，北渡河，得張耳、韓信軍，軍修武，深溝高壘，使劉賈將二萬人，騎數百，渡白馬津入楚地，燒其積聚，以破其業，無以給項王軍食。 In the fourth year of Han, after the King of Han suffered defeat at Chenggao and crossed the Yellow River northward, he joined forces with the armies of Zhang Er and Han Xin. He encamped at Xiuwu behind deep trenches and high ramparts, then dispatched Liu Jia with twenty thousand infantry and several hundred cavalry to cross at Baima Ford into Chu territory. There they burned the enemy's grain stores, devastating their supply lines so that Xiang Yu's army could no longer be fed.

漢五年，漢王追項籍至固陵，使劉賈南渡淮圍壽春。 In the fifth year of Han, the King of Han pursued Xiang Ji to Guling and ordered Liu Jia to cross the Huai River southward to lay siege to Shouchun.

周殷反楚，佐劉賈舉九江，迎武王黥布兵，皆會垓下，共擊項籍。 Zhou Yin turned against Chu and helped Liu Jia seize the Jiujiang region. They then welcomed the forces of King Wu, Ying Bu, and all their armies converged at Gaixia to strike against Xiang Ji.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 53House of Chancellor Xiao · 3 passages

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項王與諸侯屠燒咸陽而去。 Xiang Yu and the other lords sacked and burned Xianyang before departing.

漢三年，漢王與項羽相距京索之閒，上數使使勞苦丞相。 In the third year of Han, while the King of Han faced Xiang Yu between Jing and Suo, the emperor repeatedly sent messengers to offer his regards to the chancellor.

漢五年，既殺項羽，定天下，論功行封。 In the fifth year of Han, after Xiang Yu had been slain and the realm pacified, the court debated each man's merits and awarded fiefs accordingly.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 54House of Chancellor Cao · 6 passages

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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.

項羽至，以沛公為漢王。 When Xiang Yu arrived, he installed the Lord of Pei as King of Han.

擊項籍軍，漢軍大敗走。 In battle with Xiang Yu's army, the Han forces suffered a crushing defeat and fled.

參自漢中為將軍中尉，從擊諸侯，及項羽敗，還至滎陽，凡二歲。 From the time Cao Shen left Hanzhong as General-Commandant, following the campaigns against the feudal lords until Xiang Yu's defeat and the return to Xingyang, two full years had passed.

韓信為齊王，引兵詣陳，與漢王共破項羽，而參留平齊未服者。 When Han Xin, now King of Qi, led his forces to Chen to join the King of Han in destroying Xiang Yu, Cao Shen stayed behind to subdue the parts of Qi that had not yet submitted.

項籍已死，天下定，漢王為皇帝，韓信徙為楚王，齊為郡。 After Xiang Yu's death and the pacification of the realm, the King of Han became emperor. Han Xin was transferred to the kingship of Chu, and Qi was made a commandery.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 55House of Marquis of Liu · 9 passages

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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.

良曰：「沛公誠欲倍項羽邪？」 Liang said, 'Did you truly intend to defy Xiang Yu?'

良曰：「沛公自度能卻項羽乎？」 Liang said, 'Do you honestly believe you can withstand Xiang Yu?'

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.

及見項羽後解，語在項羽事中。 When he later met Xiang Yu, the misunderstanding was resolved. The full account is given in the chapter on Xiang Yu.

漢三年，項羽急圍漢王滎陽，漢王恐憂，與酈食其謀橈楚權。 In the third year of Han, Xiang Yu laid a tight siege around the King of Han at Xingyang. The king was fearful and anxious, and he consulted with Li Yiji about ways to undermine Chu's power.

今陛下能制項籍之死命乎？」 Can Your Majesty now claim to hold Xiang Yu's life in your hands?"

今陛下能得項籍之頭乎？」 Can Your Majesty now claim to be able to take Xiang Yu's head?"

語在項籍事中。 The full account is given in the chapter on Xiang Yu.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 56House of Chancellor Chen · 18 passages

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久之，項羽略地至河上，陳平往歸之，從入破秦，賜平爵卿。 Some time later, Xiang Yu swept through the territory as far as the Yellow River. Chen Ping went to join him, followed him into the campaign that destroyed Qin, and was rewarded with the noble rank of minister.

項羽之東王彭城也，漢王還定三秦而東，殷王反楚。 When Xiang Yu went east to rule from Pengcheng, the King of Han returned to pacify the Three Qin regions and then marched east. The King of Yin revolted against Chu.

項羽乃以平為信武君，將魏王咎客在楚者以往，擊降殷王而還。 Xiang Yu thereupon named Ping Lord of Xinwu, placed him in command of the former retainers of King Wei Jiu who had remained in Chu, and sent them to subdue the King of Yin. They forced his surrender and returned.

項王使項悍拜平為都尉，賜金二十溢。 The King of Xiang dispatched Xiang Han to formally appoint Ping as Commandant and bestow upon him twenty measures of gold.

項王怒，將誅定殷者將吏。 The King of Xiang was furious and resolved to execute the generals and officers who had been responsible for pacifying Yin.

陳平懼誅，乃封其金與印，使使歸項王，而平身閒行杖劍亡。 Chen Ping, fearing execution, sealed up his gold and official seal and sent a messenger to return them to the King of Xiang. Then, carrying only his sword, he slipped away alone.

陳平既多以金縱反閒於楚軍，宣言諸將鐘離眛等為項王將，功多矣，然而終不得裂地而王，欲與漢為一，以滅項氏而分王其地。 Chen Ping lavished the gold on double agents inside the Chu army and spread rumors that generals like Zhongli Mei had served the King of Xiang with great distinction yet had never been granted territories of their own, and now wished to join forces with Han, destroy the house of Xiang, and carve up its lands as their own kingdoms.

項羽果意不信鐘離眛等。 Sure enough, Xiang Yu grew suspicious of Zhongli Mei and the others.

項王既疑之，使使至漢。 Once his suspicions took hold, the King of Xiang dispatched envoys to Han.

見楚使，即詳驚曰：「吾以為亞父使，乃項王使！」 When the Chu envoys appeared, he feigned astonishment and exclaimed, "I thought you were envoys from Yafu—but you come from the King of Xiang!"

楚使歸，具以報項王。 When the Chu envoys returned, they reported everything to the King of Xiang.

項王果大疑亞父。 The King of Xiang, as expected, grew deeply suspicious of Yafu.

亞父欲急攻下滎陽城，項王不信，不肯聽。 When Yafu urged an immediate assault on the city of Xingyang, the King of Xiang no longer trusted him and refused to heed his advice.

亞父聞項王疑之，乃怒曰：「天下事大定矣，君王自為之！ When Yafu learned that the King of Xiang doubted him, he cried in fury, "The affairs of the realm are all but decided—let my lord manage them himself!

及漢王之還攻項籍，陵乃以兵屬漢。 Only when the King of Han returned to fight Xiang Ji did Ling bring his forces under Han's command.

項羽取陵母置軍中，陵使至，則東鄉坐陵母，欲以招陵。 Xiang Yu seized Ling's mother and held her in his camp. When Ling's envoy arrived, Xiang Yu seated Ling's mother in the place of honor facing east, hoping to use her to lure Ling over to his side.

項王怒，烹陵母。 The King of Xiang, enraged, had Ling's mother boiled alive.

其後從破項籍為侯，幸於呂太后。 Afterward he took part in the campaign that destroyed Xiang Ji and was made a marquis. He enjoyed the special favor of Empress Dowager Lu.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 57House of Zhou Bo, Marquis of Jiang · 5 passages

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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.

項羽至，以沛公為漢王。 When Xiang Yu arrived, he made the Duke of Pei the King of Han.

轉擊項籍。 Then he turned to strike against Xiang Yu.

還守敖倉，追項籍。 He returned to guard the Ao Granary, then pursued Xiang Yu.

籍已死，因東定楚地泗（川）［水］、東海郡，凡得二十二縣。 After Xiang Yu was already dead, Bo went east to pacify the former Chu territories of Sishui and Donghai Commandery, securing twenty-two counties in all.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 73Biographies of Bai Qi and Wang Jian · 2 passages

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居無何，項羽救趙，擊秦軍，果虜王離，王離軍遂降諸侯。 Before long, Xiang Yu rescued Zhao, assaulted Qin forces, and indeed captured Wang Li. Wang Li's forces surrendered to the feudal lords.

及孫王離為項羽所虜，不亦宜乎！ When his grandson Wang Li was captured by Xiang Yu, was it not fitting!

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 89Biographies of Zhang Er and Chen Yu · 8 passages

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項羽兵數絕章邯甬道，王離軍乏食，項羽悉引兵渡河，遂破章邯。 Xiang Yu's forces repeatedly cut Zhang Han's supply corridor. When Wang Li's army began to run short of provisions, Xiang Yu led his entire army across the river and routed Zhang Han.

張耳從項羽諸侯入關。 Zhang Er accompanied Xiang Yu and the other lords through the Pass into the heartland of Qin.

漢元年二月，項羽立諸侯王，張耳雅游，人多為之言，項羽亦素數聞張耳賢，乃分趙立張耳為常山王，治信都。 In the second month of the first year of Han, Xiang Yu divided the realm and enfeoffed the lords as kings. Zhang Er was well-connected, and many spoke on his behalf. Xiang Yu himself had long heard of Zhang Er's reputation, so he carved off part of Zhao and made Zhang Er King of Changshan, with his capital at Xindu.

陳餘客多說項羽曰：「陳餘、張耳一體有功於趙。」 Many of Chen Yu's retainers petitioned Xiang Yu, saying, "Chen Yu and Zhang Er served Zhao as partners with equal merit."

項羽以陳餘不從入關，聞其在南皮，即以南皮旁三縣以封之，而徙趙王歇王代。 But because Chen Yu had not accompanied the army through the Pass, Xiang Yu only granted him three counties around Nanpi, where he was residing. He transferred King Zhao Xie to rule as King of Dai.

張耳之國，陳餘愈益怒，曰：「張耳與餘功等也，今張耳王，餘獨侯，此項羽不平。」 When Zhang Er departed for his kingdom, Chen Yu's anger deepened. 'Zhang Er and I rendered equal service,' he said. 'Yet Zhang Er is made a king while I receive a mere marquisate. Xiang Yu's judgment is unjust.'

及齊王田榮畔楚，陳餘乃使夏說說田榮曰：「項羽為天下宰不平，盡王諸將善地，徙故王王惡地，今趙王乃居代！ When Tian Rong, the King of Qi, rebelled against Chu, Chen Yu sent Xia Yue to Tian Rong with this message: 'Xiang Yu has divided the realm unjustly. He grants the best territories to his own generals and banishes the rightful kings to wasteland. The King of Zhao has been exiled to Dai!

張耳敗走，念諸侯無可歸者，曰：「漢王與我有舊故，而項羽又彊，立我，我欲之楚。」 Zhang Er was routed and fled. Considering that there was no lord he could turn to, he said, 'The King of Han and I are old friends. Xiang Yu is powerful, and it was he who made me king, but I wish to go to Chu.'

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 90Biographies of Wei Bao and Peng Yue · 10 passages

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項羽已破秦，降章邯。 After Xiang Yu had defeated Qin and accepted Zhang Han's surrender.

豹引精兵從項羽入關。 Bao led his best troops to follow Xiang Yu through the passes into the heartland of Qin.

漢元年，項羽封諸侯，欲有梁地，乃徙魏王豹於河東，都平陽，為西魏王。 In the first year of the Han dynasty, when Xiang Yu parceled out domains among the lords, he coveted the Liang territory for himself and relocated King Bao of Wei to Hedong, with his capital at Pingyang, designating him King of Western Wei.

項籍入關，王諸侯，還歸，彭越眾萬餘人毋所屬。 When Xiang Ji entered the passes, installed the lords as kings, and departed, Peng Yue's force of more than ten thousand men remained without allegiance to any lord.

漢元年秋，齊王田榮畔項王，（漢）乃使人賜彭越將軍印，使下濟陰以擊楚。 In the autumn of the first year of Han, when King Tian Rong of Qi rebelled against the King of Xiang, Han sent an envoy to bestow upon Peng Yue the seal of a general and ordered him to take Jiyin and attack Chu.

漢四年冬，項王與漢王相距滎陽，彭越攻下睢陽、外黃十七城。 In the winter of the King of Han's fourth year, while the King of Xiang and the King of Han were locked in a standoff at Xingyang, Peng Yue attacked and captured seventeen cities, including Suiyang and Waihuang.

項王聞之，乃使曹咎守成皋，自東收彭越所下城邑，皆復為楚。 When the King of Xiang learned of this, he left Cao Jiu to hold Chenggao and marched east in person to reclaim the cities Peng Yue had taken, restoring them all to Chu.

漢五年秋，項王之南走陽夏，彭越復下昌邑旁二十餘城，得穀十餘萬斛，以給漢王食。 In the autumn of the fifth year of Han, when the King of Xiang retreated south to Yangxia, Peng Yue once again captured more than twenty cities around Changyi and seized over a hundred thousand bushels of grain to provision the King of Han.

漢王追楚，為項籍所敗碧陵。 The King of Han pursued Chu but was defeated by Xiang Ji at Guling.

（五年）項籍已死。 By the fifth year, Xiang Ji was dead.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 91Biography of Qing Bu · 21 passages

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懷王使宋義為上將，范曾為末將，項籍為次將，英在、蒲將軍皆為將軍，悉屬宋義，北救趙。 King Huai appointed Song Yi as supreme commander, Fan Zeng as rear general, and Xiang Ji as deputy commander. Ying Bu and General Pu were both given generalships, and all were placed under Song Yi's authority with orders to march north and relieve Zhao.

及項籍殺宋義於河上，懷王因立籍為上將軍，諸將皆屬項籍。 When Xiang Ji killed Song Yi by the river, King Huai thereupon appointed Ji as supreme commander, and all the generals were placed under his authority.

項籍使布先渡河擊秦，布數有利，籍迺悉引兵涉河從之，遂破秦軍，降章邯等。 Xiang Ji sent Bu across the river first to engage the Qin forces. Bu scored several victories, after which Ji led the full army across the river to join him. Together they crushed the Qin army and accepted the surrender of Zhang Han and his officers.

項籍之引兵西至新安，又使布等夜擊阬章邯秦卒二十餘萬人。 When Xiang Ji led his army westward to Xin'an, he ordered Bu and others to carry out a nighttime massacre, burying alive over two hundred thousand of Zhang Han's surrendered Qin soldiers.

至關，不得入，又使布等先從閒道破關下軍，遂得入，至咸陽。 When they arrived at the pass and found it blocked, Xiang Ji sent Bu and others ahead through a hidden route to smash the defending garrison below the pass. With the way cleared, the army entered and advanced to Xianyang.

項王封諸將，立布為九江王，都六。 When the King of Xiang enfeoffed the generals, he made Bu the King of Jiujiang and established his capital at Liu.

漢二年，齊王田榮畔楚，項王往擊齊，徵兵九江，九江王布稱病不往，遣將將數千人行。 In the second year of Han, Tian Rong, the King of Qi, rebelled against Chu. The King of Xiang marched to attack Qi and demanded troops from Jiujiang, but Bu, the King of Jiujiang, pleaded illness and refused to go in person, dispatching only a general with several thousand men.

項王由此怨布，數使使者誚讓召布，布愈恐，不敢往。 From this point on, the King of Xiang bore a grudge against Bu. He repeatedly dispatched envoys to reprimand and summon him, but Bu only grew more fearful and dared not comply.

項王方北憂齊、趙，西患漢，所與者獨九江王，又多布材，欲親用之，以故未擊。 The King of Xiang was preoccupied with threats from Qi and Zhao in the north and from Han in the west. His sole remaining ally was the King of Jiujiang, and he prized Bu's military talent and wished to retain his services. For these reasons, he held off from attacking him.

漢王曰：「孰能為我使淮南，令之發兵倍楚，留項王於齊數月，我之取天下可以百全。」 The King of Han replied, "Who can go as my envoy to the King of Huainan and persuade him to raise his army and turn against Chu, thereby pinning the King of Xiang in Qi for several months? If that could be done, my conquest of the empire would be assured."

隨何曰：「大王與項王俱列為諸侯，北鄉而臣事之，必以楚為彊，可以託國也。 Sui He said, "Your Majesty and the King of Xiang were both enfeoffed as feudal lords, yet you face north and serve him as a vassal. This can only be because you consider Chu powerful enough to entrust your kingdom to.

項王伐齊，身負板筑，以為士卒先，大王宜悉淮南之眾，身自將之，為楚軍前鋒，今乃發四千人以助楚。 When the King of Xiang campaigned against Qi, he personally shouldered planks and rammed earth alongside his men, leading from the very front. If you truly serve him, Your Majesty ought to have mustered every soldier in Huainan and personally led them as the vanguard of Chu's army. Instead, you sent a mere four thousand men to assist.

夫漢王戰於彭城，項王未出齊也，大王宜騷淮南之兵渡淮，日夜會戰彭城下，大王撫萬人之眾，無一人渡淮者，垂拱而觀其孰勝。 When the King of Han was fighting at Pengcheng, the King of Xiang was still in Qi. Your Majesty should have rallied the forces of Huainan to cross the Huai River and rush to join battle at Pengcheng day and night. Yet with tens of thousands of troops at your command, you did not send a single soldier across the Huai, content to fold your arms and watch from the sidelines to see who would prevail.

然而楚王恃戰勝自彊，漢王收諸侯，還守成皋、滎陽，下蜀、漢之粟，深溝壁壘，分卒守徼乘塞，楚人還兵，閒以梁地，深入敵國八九百里，欲戰則不得，攻城則力不能，老弱轉糧千里之外； The King of Chu may rely on his battle victories to assert his strength, but the King of Han has rallied the feudal lords, fortified Chenggao and Xingyang, and secured the grain supplies of Shu and Han. He has dug deep trenches, raised high ramparts, and stationed troops at every pass and strategic point. The Chu army, meanwhile, must march through the territory of Liang, advancing eight or nine hundred li deep into hostile territory. They seek battle but cannot force it; they attack fortified cities but lack the strength to take them. Their old and infirm must haul supplies over a thousand li;

夫大王發兵而倍楚，項王必留； But if Your Majesty raises an army and turns against Chu, the King of Xiang will be forced to stay and deal with you.

楚使項聲、龍且攻淮南，項王留而攻下邑。 Chu dispatched Xiang Sheng and Long Ju to attack Huainan, while the King of Xiang remained behind to assault Xiayi.

布欲引兵走漢，恐楚王殺之，故閒行與何俱歸漢。 Bu wished to lead his forces to join Han, but feared the King of Chu would have him killed. He therefore slipped away in secret and traveled with Sui He back to the Han court.

四年七月，立布為淮南王，與擊項籍。 In the seventh month of the fourth year, Bu was formally installed as the King of Huainan and joined the campaign against Xiang Ji.

項籍死，天下定，上置酒。 After Xiang Ji's death, the empire was at last pacified, and the Emperor held a grand banquet.

隨何跪曰：「夫陛下引兵攻彭城，楚王未去齊也，陛下發步卒五萬人，騎五千，能以取淮南乎？」 Sui He knelt and said, "When Your Majesty led the army against Pengcheng while the King of Chu was still in Qi, could you have taken Huainan with fifty thousand foot soldiers and five thousand cavalry?"

布兵精甚，上乃壁庸城，望布軍置陳如項籍軍，上惡之。 Bu's forces were formidable in their discipline. The Emperor fortified his position at Yong City, and when he observed Bu's formations arranged in the same manner as Xiang Ji had once deployed his troops, he was deeply troubled.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 93Biographies of Han Xin (King of Han) and Lu Wan · 7 passages

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沛公立為漢王，韓信從入漢中，乃說漢王曰：「項王王諸將近地，而王獨遠居此，此左遷也。 When the Lord of Pei was established as King of Han, Han Xin followed him into Hanzhong. He counseled the King of Han, saying: 'The King of Xiang has enfeoffed all his other generals with territories close at hand, yet Your Majesty alone has been banished to this remote place. This is a demotion.

項籍之封諸王皆就國，韓王成以不從無功，不遣就國，更以為列侯。 When Xiang Ji enfeoffed all the kings and they went to their domains, King Cheng of Han had not accompanied Xiang Ji and had no merit to his name, so he was not allowed to proceed to his domain. Instead, he was demoted to the rank of marquis.

及聞漢遣韓信略韓地，乃令故項籍游吳時吳令鄭昌為韓王以距漢。 When Xiang Ji heard that Han had dispatched Han Xin to take the Han territories, he appointed Zheng Chang, who had served as the Magistrate of Wu when Xiang Ji was traveling in Wu, as King of Han to resist the Han forces.

及楚敗滎陽，信降楚，已而得亡，復歸漢，漢復立以為韓王，竟從擊破項籍，天下定。 When Chu defeated Xingyang, Xin surrendered to Chu. Later he managed to escape and returned to Han, and the Han court restored him as King of Han. He ultimately joined in the campaign that defeated Xiang Ji, and the realm was settled.

滎陽之事，仆不能死，囚於項籍，此一罪也。 At the siege of Xingyang, I could not manage to die but was taken prisoner by Xiang Ji. That is my first crime.

從東擊項籍，以太尉常從，出入臥內，衣被飲食賞賜，群臣莫敢望，雖蕭曹等，特以事見禮，至其親幸，莫及盧綰。 He followed the eastward campaign against Xiang Ji, serving as Grand Commandant and constantly at the Emperor's side, even entering the private chambers. In clothing, bedding, food, drink, and gifts bestowed, no minister dared aspire to his level. Even Xiao He and Cao Shen were only accorded respect on account of their official duties—when it came to intimate favor, none could match Lu Wan.

漢五年冬，以破項籍，乃使盧綰別將，與劉賈擊臨江王共尉，破之。 In the winter of the fifth year of the Han dynasty, after the defeat of Xiang Ji, the Emperor dispatched Lu Wan to command a separate force. Together with Liu Jia, he attacked and defeated Gong Wei, the King of Linjiang.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 94Biography of Tian Dan, King of Qi · 14 passages

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項羽往救趙，由此怨田榮。 Xiang Yu marched to Zhao's rescue, and from that time bore a deep grudge against Tian Rong.

項羽既存趙，降章邯等，西屠咸陽，滅秦而立侯王也，乃徙齊王田市更王膠東，治即墨。 After Xiang Yu saved Zhao and accepted the surrender of Zhang Han and his forces, he marched west to sack Xianyang, destroyed Qin, and parceled out the realm among the lords. He transferred King Tian Shi of Qi to the Kingdom of Jiaodong, with his seat at Jimo.

故齊王建孫田安，項羽方渡河救趙，田安下濟北數城，引兵降項羽，項羽立田安為濟北王，治博陽。 Tian An, a grandson of the former King Jian of Qi, had seized several cities in Jibei while Xiang Yu was crossing the river to relieve Zhao, and brought his forces over in submission. For this, Xiang Yu made him King of Jibei, with his seat at Boyang.

趙將陳餘亦失職，不得王：二人俱怨項王。 The Zhao general Chen Yu had likewise been passed over and denied a kingdom. Both men harbored a deep resentment toward King Xiang.

頊王既歸，諸侯各就國，田榮使人將兵助陳餘，令反趙地，而榮亦發兵以距擊田都，田都亡走楚。 Once King Xiang returned west and the lords dispersed to their kingdoms, Tian Rong sent troops to aid Chen Yu, directing him to seize Zhao. At the same time, Rong raised his own forces and attacked Tian Du, who fled to Chu.

市之左右曰：「項王彊暴，而王當之膠東，不就國，必危。」 Shi's attendants warned him, "King Xiang is powerful and ruthless. You have been assigned to Jiaodong—if you do not go to your kingdom, you will surely be in danger."

項王聞之，大怒，乃北伐齊。 When King Xiang learned of this, he flew into a rage and marched north to punish Qi.

項王遂燒夷齊城郭，所過者盡屠之。 King Xiang then burned and leveled the cities of Qi, putting to the sword everyone in his path.

榮弟橫，收齊散兵，得數萬人，反擊項羽於城陽。 Rong's younger brother Tian Heng rallied the scattered soldiers of Qi, assembling tens of thousands of men, and struck back against Xiang Yu at Chengyang.

項羽聞之，乃醳齊而歸，擊漢於彭城，因連與漢戰，相距滎陽。 When Xiang Yu learned of this, he abandoned the Qi campaign and rushed south to strike the Han forces at Pengcheng. From then on, the two sides fought a protracted war, facing off at Xingyang.

以故田橫復得收齊城邑，立田榮子廣為齊王，而橫相之，專國政，政無巨細皆斷於相。 With Xiang Yu's attention diverted, Tian Heng recovered the cities of Qi. He installed Tian Rong's son Guang as King of Qi and served as his chancellor, concentrating all power in his own hands. Every affair of state, great or small, was decided by the chancellor.

後歲餘，漢滅項籍，漢王立為皇帝，以彭越為梁王。 More than a year later, Han destroyed Xiang Ji. The King of Han ascended as Emperor and made Peng Yue King of Liang.

通善齊人安期生，安期生嘗干項羽，項羽不能用其筴。 Tong was on good terms with An Qisheng, a man of Qi. An Qisheng once offered his counsel to Xiang Yu, but Xiang Yu proved unable to make use of his stratagems.

已而項羽欲封此兩人，兩人終不肯受，亡去。 Later, Xiang Yu wished to enfeoff both men, but they refused to accept and disappeared.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 96Biography of Chancellor Zhang · 4 passages

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項羽怒，亨周苛。 Xiang Yu, enraged, had Zhou Ke boiled alive.

常從擊破項籍。 He regularly accompanied the campaigns that defeated Xiang Ji.

及高祖初起，敖以客從為御史，守豐二歲，高祖立為漢王，東擊項籍，敖遷為上黨守。 When Gaozu first rose in rebellion, Ao joined him as a retainer and served as a censor. He defended Feng for two years. After Gaozu was established as King of Han and marched east against Xiang Ji, Ao was transferred to serve as Governor of Shangdang.

申屠丞相嘉者，梁人，以材官蹶張從高帝擊項籍，遷為隊率。 Chancellor Shentu Jia was a native of Liang. As a crossbowman in the garrison forces, he followed Emperor Gao in the campaign against Xiang Ji and was promoted to squad leader.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 97Biographies of Li Yiji and Lu Jia · 9 passages

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漢三年秋，項羽擊漢，拔滎陽，漢兵遁保鞏、洛。 In the autumn of the third year of Han, Xiang Yu attacked Han and took Xingyang. The Han forces retreated to hold Gong and Luo.

曰：「漢王與項王力西面擊秦，約先入咸陽者王之。 Li Sheng explained: 'The Han King and Xiang Yu jointly attacked Qin from the west, agreeing that whoever entered Xianyang first would become king.

漢王先入咸陽，項王負約不與而王之漢中。 The King of Han was the first to enter Xianyang, but the King of Xiang broke the covenant and, instead of granting him that kingship, made him king of Hanzhong.

項王遷殺義帝，漢王聞之，起蜀漢之兵擊三秦，出關而責義帝之處，收天下之兵，立諸侯之後。 Xiang Yu relocated and assassinated the Righteous Emperor. When the Han King heard of this, he raised troops from Shu and Han to attack the Three Qins, emerged from the pass to demand justice for the Righteous Emperor's death, gathered armies from all quarters, and restored the descendants of the feudal lords to their positions.

項王有倍約之名，殺義帝之負； Xiang Yu bore the reputation of breaking agreements and the burden of assassinating the Righteous Emperor;

項羽倍約，自立為西楚霸王，諸侯皆屬，可謂至彊。 Xiang Yu broke the covenant and proclaimed himself Hegemon-King of Western Chu. All the feudal lords submitted to him, and he could truly be called supreme in power.

然漢王起巴蜀，鞭笞天下，劫略諸侯，遂誅項羽滅之。 Yet the King of Han rose from Ba and Shu, scourged the realm, subdued the feudal lords one by one, and finally destroyed Xiang Yu and extinguished his line.

太史公曰：世之傳酈生書，多曰漢王已拔三秦，東擊項籍而引軍於鞏洛之閒，酈生被儒衣往說漢王。 The Grand Historian says: The world's transmitted books about Li Sheng mostly say that the Han King had already taken the Three Qins, attacked Xiang Ji to the east, and was leading his army between Gong and Luo when Li Sheng, wearing scholar's clothes, went to persuade the Han King.

自沛公未入關，與項羽別而至高陽，得酈生兄弟。 Before the Lord of Pei had entered the passes, after parting ways with Xiang Yu, he came to Gaoyang and gained the services of the Li Yiji brothers.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 98Biographies of Fu, Jin, and the Marquis of Kuaicheng · 4 passages

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從擊項籍，待懷，賜爵通德侯。 In the campaign against Xiang Ji, he was stationed at Huai and granted the title Marquis of Tongde.

還軍敖倉，破項籍軍成皋南，擊絕楚饟道，起滎陽至襄邑。 Returning the army to Aocang, he defeated Xiang Ji's forces south of Chenggao and cut off the Chu supply line from Xingyang to Xiangyi.

還擊項籍陳下，破之。 Turning back, he attacked Xiang Ji at Chen and defeated him.

太史公曰：陽陵侯傅寬、信武侯靳歙皆高爵，從高祖起山東，攻項籍，誅殺名將，破軍降城以十數，未嘗困辱，此亦天授也。 The Grand Historian says: The Marquis of Yangling, Fu Kuan, and the Marquis of Xinwu, Jin Xi, both held high noble ranks. They followed Gaozu in rising from Shandong, attacked Xiang Ji, executed famous generals, broke armies, and induced the surrender of cities numbering in the tens, and never experienced distress or humiliation. This too was heaven's bestowal.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 99Biographies of Liu Jing and Shusun Tong · 2 passages

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今陛下起豐沛，收卒三千人，以之徑往而卷蜀漢，定三秦，與項羽戰滎陽，爭成皋之口，大戰七十，小戰四十，使天下之民肝腦涂地，父子暴骨中野，不可勝數，哭泣之聲未絕，傷痍者未起，而欲比隆於成康之時，臣竊以為不侔也。 Now Your Majesty arose from Feng and Pei, gathered three thousand soldiers, and with them swept through Shu and Han, pacified the Three Qins, battled Xiang Yu at Xingyang, and fought for the pass at Chenggao. In seventy great battles and forty small battles, the people of the realm had their livers and brains smeared on the ground, and fathers and sons exposed their bones in the fields beyond counting. The sound of weeping has not ceased, the wounded have not yet risen, and yet you wish to compare your flourishing age with the time of Cheng and Kang. I privately think they are not equal.

懷王為義帝，徙長沙，叔孫通留事項王。 When King Huai was made the Righteous Emperor and relocated to Changsha, Shusun Tong remained behind to serve King Xiang.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 100Biographies of Ji Bu and Luan Bu · 10 passages

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項籍使將兵，數窘漢王。 Xiang Ji appointed him to command troops, and on multiple occasions he drove the King of Han into desperate straits.

及項羽滅，高祖購求布千金，敢有舍匿，罪及三族。 After the fall of Xiang Yu, Emperor Gaozu posted a bounty of a thousand gold pieces for Ji Bu's capture, decreeing that anyone who dared shelter or conceal him would have the punishment extended to three generations of their clan.

滕公曰：「布數為項羽窘上，上怨之，故必欲得之。」 Teng Gong said, "Ji Bu repeatedly put the Sovereign in dire straits while serving Xiang Yu; the Sovereign resents him, and therefore is determined to capture him."

朱家曰：「臣各為其主用，季布為項籍用，職耳。 Zhu Jia said, 'Each minister serves his own lord. Ji Bu served Xiang Ji—that was merely his duty.

項氏臣可盡誅邪？ Should all Xiang Yu's ministers be executed?

丁公為項羽逐窘高祖彭城西，短兵接，高祖急，顧丁公曰：「兩賢豈相戹哉！」 Ding Gong, serving Xiang Yu, pursued and cornered Emperor Gaozu west of Pengcheng. They met in close combat; the Emperor was in peril and looked back at Ding Gong, saying, "How can two worthy men afflict each other!"

及項王滅，丁公謁見高祖。 After the fall of Xiang Yu, Ding Gong sought an audience with Emperor Gaozu.

高祖以丁公徇軍中，曰：「丁公為項王臣不忠，使項王失天下者，乃丁公也。」 Emperor Gaozu had Ding Gong paraded through the army and said, "Ding Gong served King Xiang as a minister without loyalty; the one who caused King Xiang to lose the empire is Ding Gong."

布曰：「方上之困於彭城，敗滎陽、成皋閒，項王所以（遂）不能［遂］西，徒以彭王居梁地，與漢合從苦楚也。 Bu said, 'When the Sovereign was distressed at Pengcheng and defeated between Xingyang and Chenggao, the reason Xiang Yu could not advance west was only because the Peng King dwelt in Liang lands and allied with Han to afflict Chu.

太史公曰：以項羽之氣，而季布以勇顯於楚，身屨（典）軍搴旗者數矣，可謂壯士。 The Grand Historian said: In the age of Xiang Yu's fierce power, Ji Bu became renowned in Chu for his bravery; he personally commanded troops and seized enemy banners several times. He can indeed be called a stalwart warrior.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 103Biographies of Wan Shi and Zhang Shu · 1 passage

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高祖東擊項籍，過河內，時奮年十五，為小吏，侍高祖。 When Gaozu marched east to attack Xiang Ji and passed through Henei, Fen was fifteen years old, serving as a minor functionary in attendance on Gaozu.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 113Treatise on the Nanyue · 1 passage

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至二世時，南海尉任囂病且死，召龍川令趙佗語曰：「聞陳勝等作亂，秦為無道，天下苦之，項羽、劉季、陳勝、吳廣等州郡各共興軍聚眾，虎爭天下，中國擾亂，未知所安，豪傑畔秦相立。 When the Second Emperor's reign began, the Commandant of Nanhai, Ren Xiao, fell gravely ill and lay near death. He summoned Zhao Tuo, the Magistrate of Longchuan, and told him: "I have heard that Chen Sheng and the others have risen in revolt. Qin has ruled without the Way, and the whole realm suffers for it. Xiang Yu, Liu Ji, Chen Sheng, Wu Guang, and men across the commanderies and districts have all raised armies and gathered followers, fighting over the empire like tigers. The Central Plains are thrown into chaos, and no one knows where peace will come from. Great men everywhere have turned against Qin and set themselves up as rival lords.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 114Treatise on the Eastern Yue · 2 passages

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當是之時，項籍主命，弗王，以故不附楚。 At that time, Xiang Yu held the power to bestow titles but did not make them kings, and so they never aligned themselves with Chu.

漢擊項籍，無諸、搖率越人佐漢。 When the Han forces campaigned against Xiang Yu, Wuzhu and Yao led their Yue warriors to fight on the side of Han.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 120Biographies of Ji and Zheng · 3 passages

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其先鄭君嘗為項籍將； His forebear, Lord Zheng, had once served as a general under Xiang Yu;

籍死，已而屬漢。 After Xiang Yu's death, the family came under the allegiance of the Han.

高祖令諸故項籍臣名籍，鄭君獨不奉詔。 When Emperor Gaozu ordered all former officers of Xiang Yu to register their names, Lord Zheng alone refused to comply.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 121Biographies of Confucian Scholars · 1 passage

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及高皇帝誅項籍，舉兵圍魯，魯中諸儒尚講誦習禮樂，弦歌之音不絕，豈非聖人之遺化，好禮樂之國哉？ When the High Emperor defeated Xiang Yu and his armies laid siege to Lu, the Confucian scholars within the city were still lecturing, reciting, and practicing the rites and music; the sounds of strings and song never ceased. Was this not the enduring legacy of the sage — a land truly devoted to ritual and music?

History of Song, Chapter 359Volume 359 Biographies 118: Li Gang 2 · 2 passages

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高祖先保關中，故能東向與項籍爭。 Gaozu of Han first secured Guanzhong, and only then was able to turn east and contend with Xiang Yu.

既割鴻溝，羽引而東，遂有垓下之亡。 Once the Hong Canal agreement was drawn and Xiang Yu withdrew eastward, he met destruction at Gaixia.

Book of Song, Chapter 54Volume 54 Biographies 14: Kong Jigong, Yang Xuanbao, Shen Tanqing · 1 passage

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先是，吳興頻喪太守，云項羽神為卞山王，居郡聽事，二千石至，常避之，季恭居聽事，竟無害也。 Previously Wuxing had lost one administrator after another. People said the spirit of Xiang Yu, as King of Bianshan, dwelt in the commandery hall and that incoming two-thousand-bushel officials always avoided it. Jigong took up residence in the hall and came to no harm.

Book of Song, Chapter 70Volume 70 Biographies 30: Yuan Shu · 1 passage

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必府鬲土崩，枝幹瓦裂，故燕、樂相悔，項、範交疑矣。 Surely the storehouse collapses, trunk splits like tile—Yan and Yue regret each other, Xiang and Fan grow doubt.

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

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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 Sui, Chapter 61Volume 61 Biographies 26: Yu Wenshu, Guo Yan · 1 passage

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項籍虞姬，即其故事。」 Xiang Yu and Yu Ji are precisely such an example."

New Book of Tang, Chapter 84Volume 84 Biographies 9: Li, Mi · 5 passages

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問所讀，曰：「《項羽傳》。」 When asked what he was reading, he replied, "The Biography of Xiang Yu."

時東郡賊翟讓聚黨萬人，密因介其徒王伯當以策幹讓曰：「今主昏於上，人怨於下，銳兵盡之遼海，和親絕於突厥，南巡流連，空棄關輔，此實劉、項挺興之會。 At that time Zhai Rang of Dongjun had gathered a band of ten thousand men. Mi sent his follower Wang Bodang with a plan to approach Rang. "The ruler is benighted above and the people resentful below," he said. "Sharp troops are exhausted at the Liao coast, peace with the Turks is broken, the southern tour drags on, and the capital region is abandoned—this is truly the moment for a Liu Bang or Xiang Yu to rise.

護軍柴孝和說密曰：「秦地阻山帶河，項背之亡，漢得之王。 Protector Chai Xiaohe counseled Mi. "The Qin lands are blocked by mountains and girded by rivers," he said. "When Xiang Yu perished with his back to them, the Han obtained them and became king.

【贊】贊曰：或稱密似項羽，非也。 [Commentary] The commentary says: Some call Mi similar to Xiang Yu—but it is not so.

羽興五年霸天下，密連兵數十百戰不能取東都。 Yu rose in five years and dominated the realm. Mi fought in succession for dozens and hundreds of battles yet could not take the Eastern Capital.