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Biography & Historical Record
Yu Ji (虞姬, Ngu Cơ), historically known as Consort Yu, was the beloved concubine of the hegemon-king Xiang Yu (项羽, Hạng Vũ) during the Chu-Han Contention. While historical records in the Records of the Grand Historian provide limited details regarding her origins, she remains one of the most iconic figures in Chinese history, symbolizing tragic beauty and absolute loyalty. She is famously associated with the ‘Song of Gaixia,’ where Xiang Yu expressed his deep despair as his army was encircled by the forces of Liu Bang (刘邦, Lưu Bang). According to tradition, Yu Ji performed a sword dance while singing a counter-verse to Xiang Yu’s lament before taking her own life to prevent herself from becoming a burden or a political liability to her lord during their final desperate escape attempt.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
While the Romance of the Three Kingdoms is set centuries after her death, her story is frequently referenced by characters (such as Guan Yu (关羽, Quan Vũ) or various strategists) as a cautionary tale of tragic devotion and the inevitability of fate. She does not appear as a character in the narrative, but her historical legend informs the cultural consciousness of the warlords and scholars within the Three Kingdoms era.
Yu Ji — Historical & Literary Timeline
202 BC
The Siege of Gaixia
As the forces of the Han dynasty surround the Chu army, Yu Ji remains by Xiang Yu’s side. She performs the famous ‘Farewell My Concubine’ dance and subsequently ends her life to allow Xiang Yu to focus on his final breakout.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Yu Ji on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
- Xiang Yu (项羽, Hạng Vũ)
- Her primary spouse and the Hegemon-King of Western Chu; their relationship is celebrated in literature as one of the most romantic and tragic pairings in Chinese history.
- Liu Bang (刘邦, Lưu Bang)
- The founder of the Han dynasty and the adversary of her husband; it was Liu Bang’s strategy of ‘Four Sides Singing Chu Songs’ that led to the psychological collapse of the Chu troops and the subsequent final moments of Yu Ji.