Skip to main content

Secondary sourcePainting206 BCE (event); mural Western Han period

Feast at Hong Gate

Sima Qian (text); unknown painter (mural) · 206 BCE (event); mural Western Han period

Sima Qian's account of the banquet where Xiang Yu nearly killed Liu Bang, showing his escape from danger through allies and humility.

Depicts the banquet where Liu Bang, the future Emperor Gaozu, narrowly escaped assassination by his rival Xiang Yu.

Ask Liu Bang (Gaozu of Han) about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
Two painted panels of a Western Han tomb mural in wooden frames, showing figures in a banquet scene: at top, seated and standing people with pale robes and red-purple accents; below, two standing figures with swords or weapons and a figure in a bent pose at right.
Western Han tomb mural depicting the Hongmen Banquet. Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum.

About this source

What it is

This is a famous episode recorded in early Chinese histories, describing a banquet in 206 BCE at Swan Goose Gate near Xianyang. The two rebel leaders Xiang Yu and Liu Bang (later Emperor Gaozu) met there after the fall of the Qin dynasty. The image shown is a Western Han tomb mural depicting the scene, discovered in a tomb near Luoyang and now held in the Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum.

Why it matters

The feast is a turning point in the struggle between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang for control of China after Qin's collapse. The story, as told by the historian Sima Qian, contrasts Xiang Yu's pride and impulsiveness with Liu Bang's caution and reliance on advisers like Zhang Liang and the warrior Fan Kuai. It shows how Liu Bang's survival skills and humility helped him later become the founder of the Han dynasty.

Look closer

  • Why might later generations have wanted to retell and paint this dramatic moment?
  • What does the mural choose to show, and what might it leave out of the full story?
  • How does the story serve the Han dynasty's own image of its founder?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Liu Bang (Gaozu of Han) on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

More Liu Bang (Gaozu of Han) sources

Meet the AI Liu Bang (Gaozu of Han) →
Several old Chinese books with open pages and paper labels reading 明刻本 (Ming edition) are displayed in a glass case. Pages show dense vertical columns of printed characters. Stacks of more volumes sit behind them.Book

Secondary source

Book of Han

Ban Gu (with Ban Zhao and Ban Biao) · finished 111 CE

A large grassy earthen mound rises against a pale sky, with a dirt path zigzagging up its right side. In the foreground, rows of young conifers and deciduous trees border a dirt track.Artifact

Primary source

Changling Mausoleum of Emperor Gaozu

Han imperial court · c. 202–195 BC

Museum display panel titled Classics with Chinese and English text describing Chu bamboo slips held by Shanghai Museum and Han bamboo slips of He Lu from Zhangjiashan. Bundles of bamboo slips with ink characters are mounted beside the text, labeled a, b, c and listed below.Document

Primary source

Zhangjiashan Han bamboo texts

Western Han officials · c. 202–186 BCE

A large brown sign with gold Chinese characters and English text reading 'Archaeological Park of Weiyang Palace in Chang'an City of the Western Han Dynasty' stands on a grass lawn under a blue sky with clouds and trees behind it.Artifact

Primary source

Weiyang Palace

Xiao He for Emperor Gaozu · 200 BC

Two views of a corroded green-brown bronze coin with a square central hole. The left side shows raised characters and a small cross-like mark near the hole; the right side is plainer with a square hole and worn surface, on dark fabric.Artifact

Primary source

Early Han Ban Liang coin

Han mints · c. 206–195 BC

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Liu Bang (Gaozu of Han) now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for freeGet a quote for institutions