page_title: Feast at Swan Goose Gate
section_title: Feast
hierarchical_section_title: Feast at Swan Goose Gate / Feast
caption_attribution_description: Met, female dancer, western han dynasty, 2nd century BC
context_page_description: The Feast at Swan Goose Gate, also known as the Banquet at Hongmen, Hongmen Banquet, Hongmen Feast and other similar renditions, was a historical event that took place in 206 BC at Hong Gate outside Xianyang, the capital of the Qin dynasty. Its location in present-day China is roughly at Hongmenbao Village, Xinfeng Town, Lintong District, Xi'an, Shaanxi province. The main parties involved in the banquet were Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, two prominent leaders of insurgent forces who rebelled against the Qin dynasty from 209–206 BC.
  The Feast at Hong Gate is often memorialised in Chinese history, fiction and popular culture. The event was one of the highlights of power struggle between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu leading up to the outbreak of the Chu–Han Contention, a violent civil war for supremacy over China which concluded with Xiang Yu's death in the Battle of Gaixia and Liu Bang's ascension as the founding emperor of the newly established Han dynasty.
context_section_description: The following day, Liu Bang brought around 100 men with him to meet Xiang Yu at Hong Gate (鴻門), where Xiang had prepared a banquet to entertain him. Liu Bang explained that he managed to enter Guanzhong first because of sheer luck, and apologised to Xiang Yu for robbing him of his glory while extolling Xiang's valour in battle. Liu Bang also explained that the misunderstanding was caused by vile words from someone plotting to sow discord between him and Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu then pointed out that it was Cao Wushang who told him about Liu Bang's supposed intentions. He invited Liu Bang to partake in the banquet.
  The main parties involved in the feast were seated in the following arrangement: Xiang Yu and Xiang Bo faced east; Fan Zeng faced south; Liu Bang faced north; Zhang Liang faced west (known as servant's seat).  By the custom of Qin, the east-facing seat is the most respectable place, usually reserved for the guest (in this case would have been Liu Bang), while south-facing seat is reserved for the Emperor, while his servant ministers would be facing north; thus, the seating arrangement indicates that Xiang Yu merely treat Liu Bang as one of his underling; while Liu Bang, by taking the north facing seat, accepted his subservient role and thus would not harm Xiang Yu.
  During the banquet, Fan Zeng made signals and hinted many times to Xiang Yu to kill Liu Bang, but Xiang ignored him. Fan Zeng then summoned Xiang Yu's cousin Xiang Zhuang, instructing him to pretend to perform a sword dance to entertain the guests and find an opportunity to assassinate Liu Bang. Xiang Zhuang started dancing after Xiang Yu approved, but Xiang Bo offered to join the performance and he blocked Xiang Zhuang with his body whenever the latter thrust his sword towards Liu Bang.
  In the meantime, Zhang Liang left the feast and went outside to summon Liu Bang's general Fan Kuai. He gave some instructions to Fan Kuai and returned to his seat. Fan Kuai then burst into the banquet area despite not being invited, dressed in full armour and armed with his sword and shield, interrupting the sword dance and glaring at Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu was impressed with Fan Kuai's bravado and asked for his name, calling him a "brave warrior" (壯士). He ordered his men to give Fan Kuai a goblet of wine, which Fan gulped down. Xiang Yu then offered Fan Kuai a cut of meat (a pork shoulder). Fan Kuai placed the meat on his shield and used his sword to cut off chunks and eat. Xiang Yu was even more impressed and he asked Fan Kuai if he wanted more wine. Fan Kuai then made a lengthy speech about Liu Bang's accomplishments, stating how it would be unjust for Xiang Yu to kill Liu, but also implicitly affirming that Liu would not challenge Xiang's authority.
  I do not fear death. A cup of wine is sufficient for me. The King of Qin had a heart like that of a tiger and a wolf — he killed countless people and meted out all sorts of tortures. This caused everyone to rebel against him. King Huai previously made an agreement with all the generals that whoever conquered Qin and entered Xianyang first would be king. Now that the Duke of Pei (Liu Bang) had subjugated Qin and occupied Xianyang, he did not harm the people, but instead sealed the palace and moved his army to Bashang to await your arrival. The reason why he sent troops to guard the passes is because bandits are rampant around this area. Such is the hard work he has done, but he has yet to receive any reward. Now, after listening to rumours, when you intend to kill someone who has made such achievements, you are actually taking the same path that led to the downfall of Qin.
  — Fan Kuai 
  Xiang Yu did not respond and he invited Fan Kuai to join the banquet.
caption: A Western Han female dancer in silk robes, 2nd century BC, Metropolitan Museum of Art
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