Because he is the central figure in this political struggle. On the contrary, emperors who were really mediocre, sidelined in power and unable to play the central role of political struggle had no place in the history books.
The emperors in Historical Records all have their own unique personalities, and Xiang Yu is one of them. Xiang Yu's character is mainly reflected in the Biography of Xiang Yu. "Biography of Xiang Yu" begins with a brief introduction that Xiang Yu was born in a Chu general's family and his ancestors were killed by Qin. Family education and family feud have an influence on Xiang Yu's character and career. Young Xiang Yu learned sword, thinking that he was outnumbered, which showed that his ambition was extraordinary. He refused to learn the art of war, but he saw that he was ambitious and careless. Make a copy of the indiscretions and indiscretions in his life. Sima Qian is good at expressing the unique personality of characters with the most typical seemingly ordinary behavior and language. There is such a passage in Xiang Yu's Biography:
Qin Shihuang visited Huiji and visited Zhejiang, and Liang and his family felt the same way. Yue Ji: "He can take this place." Liang covered his mouth and said, "clans, don't talk nonsense!" " Liang regards this as a wonderful book.
The brief conversation between the two people and the action of covering their mouths vividly show the different experiences and personalities of the old and the young. Xiang Yu's calf-like ambition and heroism have hinted at his earth-shattering life; Xiang Liang, a sly old fox, kept his mouth shut. Although he was frightened by Xiang Yu's reckless accident, he appreciated Xiang Yu's ambition and showed his ambition and complicated feelings in fear and joy.
Xiang's uncle rose up against Qin, and Xiang Liang died of arrogance towards Qin, which laid the groundwork for Xiang Yu to harm others because of his family arrogance. Xiang Yu showed extraordinary perseverance and military command ability in the process of anti-Qin. For example, the following passage reads: "Xiang Yu went to the general in the morning, that is, he was beheaded under the account and sent a message to the army:' The king of Chu was ordered to punish him for plotting against Chu.' "It shows the wisdom and courage of Xiang Yu to turn the tide and the spirit of daring to control the situation. The conflict between Xiang Yu's daring to attack and Yi Song's hesitation, and the contrast between the Chu army's cross the rubicon and the vassal army's wait-and-see barrier show Xiang Yu's extraordinary courage, which is consistent with his always strong and brave character. When Uncle Xiang rebelled, Xiang Yu killed hundreds of people by himself. I am squatting in the house and dare not get up. " Later, in the battle of Dongcheng, Xiang Yu "had 28 riders", but he was still at a disadvantage. "With a loud cry, the Han army was invincible." "At the right time, Chiquan Hou rode as a general and chased Wang Xiang, who was angry. Chiquan Hou surprised both men and women and could make miles." Sima Qian grasped the most prominent characteristics of Xiang Yu's personality and made great efforts to portray it, thus creating a heroic image of an all-powerful and deserted place for us.
Sima Qian also described the bearing and "virtue" of Xiang Yu's nobles. Xiang Yu values "benevolence" and "sincerity", loves heroes, and is generous and kind. For example, "Sima was blamed, so he was imprisoned, and Chang Shixin was also the jailer of Liyang. Both of them are good at Xiang Liang, so they are hired by Xin. " Another example is the hongmen banquet. "The number of kings in Fan Zeng is three, and Wang Moran should not show it." He didn't want to murder Liu Bang, nor did he cheat in many wars. Always maintain the morality and personality that a noble should have. When Xiang Yu was besieged, he was first frightened, then disappointed, so he lamented generously, poured out his reluctant feelings for his beloved Ji and his good horse, and showed deep and sincere human feelings. Gaixia broke through and retreated to Wujiang River, but Xiang Yu refused to cross eastward and was ashamed to see his elders in Jiangdong. Before committing suicide, he gave his head to an old friend and sealed it, which showed Xiang Yu's heroic nature of being unmoved, dragging out an ignoble existence and being generous. Xiang Yu advocated the fortitude and military courage that nobles have always advocated. At the hongmen banquet, Fan Kuai rushed to the banquet. Instead of blaming him, Xiang Yu praised him as a "strong man" because he saw his sharp hair and cracked eyes. He gave him a drink and a shoulder. When I saw him, I praised him as a "strong man" and loved heroes. When Fan Kuai reprimanded Xiang Yu face to face, saying that what he did was "the continuation of the Qin Dynasty", Xiang Yu actually "failed to respond", which is probably rare in his life. Instead of saying that "people say that Chu people bathe monkeys' crowns and ears", they have formed a sharp contrast, showing Xiang Yu's deep remorse at this time. Xiang Yu only said one word to Fan Kuai: "Sit down", which fully reflected General Yu Gong's loyalty to justice.
Sima Qian wrote that Xiang Yu, a young aristocrat, was brave and fearless, and listened quietly, as if it were a slap in the face. Write about a woman's kindness and think about it quietly. It seems to see the goodness and spirit of the text, which goes straight through the back of the paper. At the same time, Sima Qian also described Xiang Yu's strong patriarchal view, local view and headstrong personality characteristics. The social forces that the army relied on were different from those of Chen Sheng and Liu Bang. Chen Sheng called the garrison from Lu Zuo, while Liu Bang relied on the outlaws. "Liang Naizhao was called your official". Fan Zeng claimed that the State of Chu was proclaimed emperor after its establishment, which was also his favorite, and made herding sheep righteous emperor, which was determined by Xiang's aristocratic patriarchal concept. Xiang Yu employs people. According to the principle of patriarchal clan system and hierarchy, almost all princes are aristocrats, while Han Xin, a great strategist of humble origin, was only appointed as a "doctor". After the Qin Dynasty was destroyed, Xiang Yu had reached the point of "autonomy". However, he regarded the vigorous people's war against Qin as a war in which the six countries retaliated against Qin, and had no unified ambition. He only wanted to be the overlord of the Warring States, calling himself the overlord of the West Chu, and established princes in different parts of the world, which embodied the concept of aristocratic patriarchal clan system, put himself on the opposite side of historical development and began the tragic fate of extinction.
When Xiang started his army, he "got 8,000 chosen men" and later "crossed the river and marched 8,000 westward". When Xiang Yu committed suicide in Wujiang, he was still thinking about "eight thousand sons in Jiangdong", which shows how narrow Xiang Yu's local concept is. He loved "Jiangdong fathers and brothers", and when he left Chu, he slaughtered Guo Hang and fell to his death. For example, "I slaughtered Xianyang in the west, killed Qin and surrendered, burned the palace of Qin, and kept the treasure of women in the east", which was no different from the war plundered by the warring States governors, which made the world disgusted and the people miserable. He doesn't listen to the suggestion that others occupy the rich state of Qin and dominate the world. "He wants to go back to the East with his thoughts and says,' Riches never return to his hometown, like clothes embroidered at night, but who knows!' ""profoundly shows the essential characteristics of local concepts.
Xiang Yu's image is different from that of Xiang Liang and other nobles, because he has his own unique experience and shows his unique personality everywhere among the nobles. When I learned that Pei Gong Liu Bang had broken Xianyang. "Xiang Yu was furious and said,' I am willing to fight for the soldiers in order to defeat Pei Gong's army!' "He is arrogant." Fan Zeng said of Xiang Yu's day: "Pei Gong ... his ambition is not small, and I hope he will be angry. He is a dragon and tiger, and he will be angry. Don't lose your temper. " It shows Fan Zeng's foresight, and highlights Xiang Yu's ordinary and brave characteristics. When Xiang Yu first began to listen to the report of Sajima and Cao, Pei Gong, he looked grumpy and wished Liu Bang could be dismembered immediately. However, when Pei Gong made a false apology at the Hongmen banquet, Xiang Yu was so headstrong and complacent. His clever words made him happy, his flattery softened his confusion, and his little taste made him infatuated with the image of a general. Although Xiang Yu still maintained his consistent heroism and courage in the battle of Gaixia and Dongcheng, he was malicious, unable to retreat for progress, and soft-hearted, which further highlighted his self-destructive character.
Sima Qian firmly grasped the personality characteristics of the characters and created a heroic image like Xiang Yu. Li Wanfang in the Qing Dynasty praised: "The courage of feathers is unparalleled throughout the ages; Tai Shigong wrote a brave man with a brave pen. It is also eternal. I still feel that I am a hero after reading it so far, riding for several pages and driving a million soldiers, like the wind, amazing. " The image of Xiang Yu is like this, and other characters in the historical records also have their own demeanor and distinctive personality characteristics. Especially those kings, the author tore off their sacred disguise, or wrote that they were striving for progress, rejuvenating the country and strengthening the country, or that they were stupid and incompetent, or that they were cruel and hypocritical, or that they were dissolute and crazy, giving the king a vivid mortal character and his own unique personality.