Birthplace of Han Xin

Birthplace of Han Xin

The birthplace of Han Xin is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural heritage site.

Birthplace of Han Xin

Matou Town in Huai'an City is said to be the hometown of Han Xin, one of the "Three Heroes of the Early Han Dynasty," and lies about 20 kilometers from New Huai'an. This is a historic ancient town that already had the name Chuzhou during the Qin Dynasty. Its original appearance is now being restored.

The photo above shows a building under construction in the town dedicated to commemorating Han Xin (taken in early 2003). The original site was Matou Town Primary School. When Han Xin was young, he suffered the humiliation of crawling between a bully’s legs. According to locals in their forties, when they were children there used to be a "Crawl-Under Bridge" next to the school. That bridge disappeared over ten years ago, but there was still a wall with the three characters "Crawl-Under Bridge" written on it. By early 2003, that wall was also gone. Locals say the "Crawl-Under Bridge" was located to the right of the building in the photo. However, there is also a "Crawl-Under Bridge" historical site in Old Huai'an City.

Han Xin ( ? – 196 BCE), a military strategist of the early Han Dynasty, was a native of Huaiyin (now Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province). Orphaned at a young age and living in poverty, according to Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), the young Han Xin often went fishing by the city walls due to his family's hardships. An elderly woman who made a living washing clothes for others noticed that Han Xin often went hungry, and so she shared her food with him for dozens of days in a row. Deeply moved, Han Xin told her, "I will surely repay you handsomely in the future." The old woman replied sternly, "A young man like you can’t even make a living or have enough to eat. I feed you out of pity, not because I expect anything in return." Deeply moved by her words, Han Xin studied even harder. Later, during the Chu-Han Contention, he displayed great talent, helped Liu Bang defeat Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, and achieved immortal feats.

In 209 BCE, Han Xin joined the Western Chu army led by Xiang Liang. After Xiang Liang died in battle, Han Xin continued to serve under Xiang Yu, but was not given any important role, only serving as a ceremonial guard holding a halberd. He repeatedly offered strategic advice to Xiang Yu, but none of his suggestions were accepted. Frustrated, he fled the Chu camp and defected to Liu Bang, the King of Han. Eventually, Xiang Yu also realized that whoever could win over Han Xin would win the empire, and sent Wu She to try to persuade Han Xin to defect back, saying that Liu Bang hadn’t killed Han Xin only because Xiang Yu was still alive — once Xiang Yu was defeated, Liu Bang would eliminate Han Xin the next day. Later, Kuai Tong also tried to persuade Han Xin, but he refused both offers.

At first, Liu Bang also did not recognize Han Xin’s military talents and only appointed him as a grain administration officer. Seeing that Liu Bang would not give him an important role, Han Xin decided to leave the Han camp. As he reached the Han River, he could have crossed, but the river had swollen and become impassable. Xiao He, the chancellor, who knew of Han Xin’s abilities, immediately rode out on horseback and pursued him under the moonlight. He persuaded Han Xin to return, giving rise to the famous tale of "Xiao He Chasing Han Xin Under the Moon." Xiao He recommended Han Xin to Liu Bang as a rare talent fit to be a great general. Liu Bang personally discussed military and state affairs with Han Xin and was convinced of his extraordinary capabilities. He then built a high platform, prepared the ceremonies, and officially appointed Han Xin as Grand General.

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In December of the fifth year of Emperor Gaozu of Han (202 BCE), the Chu and Han armies engaged in a decisive battle at Gaixia (south of present-day Lingbi, Anhui). Liu Bang appointed Han Xin as the commander-in-chief to lead the unified forces. Xiang Yu commanded 100,000 Chu troops and launched a frontal assault against the Han positions. Han Xin employed a classic flanking attack strategy: he ordered the central Han forces to retreat slightly to avoid the sharp edge of the Chu offensive, while extending the flanks to carry out a pincer attack, then advancing the central forces to complete the encirclement. That night, Han Xin ordered the Han troops to sing Chu songs from all sides, which demoralized the Chu army, leading to their total annihilation at Gaixia. Seeing all was lost, Xiang Yu committed suicide by the Wu River. The five-year-long Chu-Han Contention ended with Liu Bang, the King of Han, emerging victorious and unifying the empire.