Xiang Liang

Xiang Liang (died 208 BC) was a military leader who led a rebellion against the Qin dynasty.

Early life

Xiang Liang was from Xiaxiang (下相; present-day Suqian, Jiangsu) and was a descendant of a family who served the Chu state in the Warring States period. Xiang Liang's father, Xiang Yan (項燕), was a famous general who led the Chu army to resist the invading Qin forces led by Wang Jian, and was killed in action in 223 BC when Qin annexed Chu.

After the fall of Chu, Xiang Liang and his brothers became commoners and lived under Qin rule for years. When Xiang Liang's elder brother Xiang Chao (項超) died, Xiang Liang took Xiang Chao's son, Xiang Yu, under his care. Xiang Liang doted on Xiang Yu and had his nephew instructed in scholarly arts and swordsmanship, but Xiang Yu did not master what he was taught and Xiang Liang was very displeased with him. When Xiang Yu expressed interest in military strategy, Xiang Liang tried to educate him but Xiang Yu stopped learning after grasping the main concepts, for he believed that learning them was only treating warfare like a game of chess. Xiang Liang gave up on his nephew eventually, who showed no sign of motivation or apparent talent apart from his great strength, and he let Xiang Yu decide his own destiny.