or Hsiang Yü
born 232 BC, state of Chu, China
died 202 BC, Anhui province
Chinese aristocratic general and cultural hero.
He overthrew the Qin dynasty and tried to return China to a pre-Qin ruling system. His forces were overwhelmed by Liu Bang ( Gaozu ), founder of the Han dynasty , and Xiang Yu chose suicide over capture. His heroism has been glorified in Chinese stories and poetry.