Qin and Han · Chu General

Xiang Liang 項梁

Xiàng Liáng

Died BC 208

Passages: 42
Chapters: 13
Histories: 2

Overview

The translated histories identify Xiang Liang as an aristocrat, general, rebel, and statesman. This record brings together 42 passages from 13 chapters across 2 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Xiang Liang	項梁	Xiàng Liáng
Personal name	Liang	梁
Title	Lord Wuxin	武信君	Wǔxìn Jūn
Personal	Xiang Liang	項梁	Xiang Liang
Personal	Xiang Liang	項梁
Personal name	Xiang Liang	項梁	Xiàng Liáng
Personal name	Xiang Liang	項梁	Xiang Liang

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · shiji:048:s0132, shiji:094:s0013, shiji:099:s0101
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · shiji:054:s0019, shiji:057:s0023, shiji:090:s0034
Value: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:042:s0042

Roles

Aristocrat
General
Rebel
Statesman
Warlord

Life and dates

Death

Cause: defeated and killed by Zhang Han · Other Person Id: Zhang Han (章邯)
Explicit · shiji:054:s0019
Cause: killed after defeat by Zhang Han · Place: Dingtao
Explicit · hanshu:001:s0138
Manner: killed in battle · Killer Person Id: Zhang Han (章邯) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 章邯果敗殺項梁 · Western Year: BC 208
Explicit · shiji:094:s0031
Date Text: 章邯破殺項梁
Explicit · hanshu:048:s0162
Manner: killed in battle · Place: Dingtao / 定陶
Explicit · shiji:091:s0017
Text: defeated and killed by Zhang Han / 敗殺項梁
Explicit · hanshu:042:s0059

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 二世元年 · Western Year: BC 209
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:048:s0007, shiji:048:s0132
Source Date: Text: 陳勝、項梁之起 · Western Year: BC 209
Explicit · shiji:090:s0034
Source Date: Text: 章邯破殺項梁 · Western Year: BC 208
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:054:s0019, shiji:057:s0023
Source Date: Text: 項梁之薛 · Western Year: BC 208
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:099:s0101
Source Date: Text: 項梁定江東至定陶 · Western Interval: Start: BC 208 · End: BC 207
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:091:s0012, shiji:091:s0017
Source Date: Text: 項梁聞田榮之急 · Western Year: BC 208
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:094:s0013, shiji:094:s0031

Family

Kin of Xiang Yu (項羽)
Kinship Term: Xiang clan kin / 項 · Line: paternal
Kinship Term: Xiang-clan kinsman / 項 · Line: paternal

Career and standing

Title: Lord Wuxin / 武信君 · Action: held
Explicit · shiji:091:s0016

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: defeated-Zhang-Han-at-Dong-e · Other Person Id: Zhang Han (章邯)
Explicit · shiji:094:s0013
Kind: political · Role: kingmaker · Action: installed Xin as King of Chu · Other Person Id: Xin (心) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 二世元年 · Western Year: BC 209
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:048:s0007, shiji:048:s0132
Relation: commander-of · Person Id: Ying Bu (英布)
Explicit · shiji:091:s0013
Relation: paternal-uncle · Person Key: Xiang Yu (項羽)
Explicit · hanshu:001:s0087

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

故雖遭罹阨會，竊其權柄，勇如信、布，彊如梁、籍，成如王莽，然卒潤鑊伏質，亨醢分裂，又況幺{麻骨}，尚不及數子，而欲闇奸天位者虖！ Think of Xin, Bu, Xiang Yu, or even Wang Mang, who briefly seized power yet ended in the pot or on the block; petty upstarts far beneath them have even less business eyeing the throne.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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