Tomb of Xiang Liang

Tomb of Xiang Liang

The Tomb of Xiang Liang is a Shandong Provincial Cultural Heritage Site.

About 2.5 kilometers northeast of Dingtao County lies a village named Liugudui. One hundred meters south of the village is an oval-shaped earthen mound, 130 meters long from north to south, 52 meters wide from east to west, and 5 meters at its highest point. Covering an area of over 10 acres, this is the county-level cultural heritage site known as the Tomb of Xiang Liang.

Xiang Liang, a native of Xiàxiāng (present-day Suqian, Jiangsu), was of noble descent from the Chu Kingdom, the son of the famed general Xiang Yan. He and his nephew Xiang Yu went into hiding in Wúzhōng (present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu) to escape vengeance after being involved in a homicide. Why is he buried in Dingtao? To understand that, we must go back to the uprising led by Chen Sheng and Wu Guang in Dazexiang.

In July of the first year of the reign of Qin Er Shi (209 BCE), Chen Sheng and Wu Guang launched an uprising in Dazexiang, rallying under the slogan “Overthrow the tyrannical rule and punish the cruel Qin.” After capturing Chen (present-day Huaiyang, Henan), Chen Sheng declared himself “King” and established the “Zhangchu” regime. As this anti-Qin wave swept toward the regions south of the Yangtze River, Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu killed the Qin commandery governor Yin Tong in Kuaiji and rose in rebellion in Wu. They conquered cities and territories, quickly taking control of the Jiangdong region.

In February of the second year of Qin Er Shi (208 BCE), Xiang Liang led eight thousand soldiers from Jiangdong across the river heading north. Along the way, he incorporated rebel forces led by Chen Ying and others, rapidly expanding his army to 60–70 thousand troops. By then, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang had already been killed by their own subordinates. In June, upon confirming Chen Sheng’s death, Xiang Yu convened a meeting of rebel leaders at Xuecheng. It was decided to unite against the Qin and to enthrone Xiong Xin, the grandson of King Huai of Chu (later known as Lord Yi), with his capital in Xuyi (now part of Jiangsu). The Xuecheng assembly ignited a fervent anti-Qin movement. In August, Xiang Liang led his army to attack Dingtao and once again defeated the Qin forces. The Chu army’s consecutive victories went to Xiang Liang’s head, making him arrogant. At the time, continuous rain fell, and to facilitate the siege, Xiang Liang spent his days drinking in his camp, neglecting military discipline. The entire camp grew lax and carefree. This state of affairs did not escape the notice of Qin spies, who reported it to Zhang Han. Fearing insufficient manpower, Zhang Han hesitated to act rashly but began gathering reinforcements from various regions to prepare for a decisive battle against Xiang Liang.

Late one night, while the Chu army slept, they were suddenly jolted awake by deafening battle cries outside the camp, as if a massive army were charging in. The Chu soldiers scrambled to their feet only to find the surroundings ablaze with firelight, illuminating everything. Enemy troops stormed into the camp from all directions, slashing everyone in sight. The Chu soldiers, caught off guard, could barely hold their ground. Some managed to grab weapons and resist, but they were no match for the enemy. Most terrifying of all was a formidable general leading the charge—clad in golden helmet and iron armor, riding a horse and wielding a blade, leaving a trail of blood and flesh in his wake. The mere sight of him struck terror into the hearts of the Chu troops. Clad in plain clothes and armed with just a short sword, Xiang Liang dashed out of his tent in a panic, trying to fight his way through and escape. But fate played a cruel trick—he ran straight into that very general. A fierce duel ensued. One side wielded a long blade, its slashes fierce and dazzling; the other, a short sword, struggled to parry, fear gripping the heart. Moments later, the identity of the enemy general was revealed: none other than the Qin commander Zhang Han. Having mustered his forces despite the stormy night, Zhang Han launched a surprise raid on the Chu camp. Caught completely off guard, Xiang Liang fell into the trap. His death alone would have been tragic enough, but it also led to the decimation of his entire army—proof that overconfidence leads to defeat. After Xiang Liang’s death, his body was buried east of Dingtao city. Local residents, in honor of this hero, held memorial ceremonies year after year and continuously added earth to the mound, eventually forming the tomb as it stands today.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites