Xiang Yu is one of the famous heroes in Chinese history, and he is loved for his bravery and uninhibitedness. However, the most regrettable thing in his life is his old age and the place where he died.
After Xiang Yu was defeated by Liu Bang in 202 BC, he chose to commit suicide rather than surrender. He committed suicide by the Wujiang River and became a tragic figure in Chinese history. Many people believe that if Xiang Yu can put down his dignity and bow his head to Liu Bang and beg for mercy, then he may have a better ending. However, Xiang Yu's personality dictates that he would rather choose death than submit to others. It was the last major event of his life, and one of his best known stories.
As for Xiang Yu's place of death, it is a highly controversial issue. Some historical records say that after Xiang Yu's death, his body was transported to a place north of the Yangtze River for burial, which is now Xiang Jiaji, Mizhou City, Anhui Province. This place is called the "Xiang family" because it is the place where Xiang Yu was born, and there are many historical sites related to Xiang Yu.
Another theory is that Xiang Yu's body was not transported to Anhui, but was sent back to his hometown of Suqian, Jiangsu Province, where he was buried. The legend originated from a scholar named Yang Shen in the Ming Dynasty, who said that he had seen a cemetery called "Bawangtai" in Xiang Yu's hometown, and he thought it was Xiang Yu's mausoleum. However, this claim is not widely recognized and supported.
No matter which way it is said, it cannot change the fact that Xiang Yu has died. He was a great military leader and a man with a strong personality. His failure and early death are deeply regretted and make him an important player in Chinese history.
Xiang Yu's old age and the place where he died are important contents of our study of ancient history and culture. Although the answers to these two questions are still inconclusive, we can better understand the life course of this great hero through the study of history. Hopefully, in future research, we can find more evidence to unravel these mysteries and give us a deeper understanding of this important period in ancient Chinese history.