Hongmen Banquet is a relatively independent fragment in Historical Records of Xiang Yu, which is the beginning of the five-year struggle between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang after the Qin Dynasty was destroyed. Although it is the beginning, it indicates the end of this struggle to some extent.
Because the author vividly reveals Xiang Yu's tragic character by describing the whole process of the banquet (including the struggle before and after the meeting): he is proud of his meritorious service and has a "woman's nature." If this character is not changed, it will inevitably end in failure. The reason why Liu Bang can turn the tide at the banquet is inseparable from his good use of each other's personality weaknesses. From this historical fact, we can see that a leader's personality plays an important role in historical development.
Extended data
The Banquet at the Hongmen is a famous work of China for two thousand years. It is included in different versions of high school Chinese textbooks and has always been a must-read for middle school students. Later generations also derived a large number of literary and artistic works or drama, film and television works according to the story of the Hongmen Banquet. There is also the film The Legend of the Hongmen Banquet directed by Li Rengang and the oil painting The Battle of Chu and Han-Hongmen Banquet created by Wang Hongjian.
The full text is centered on the confession of Liu Bang's Xiang Ying camp, which is divided into three parts: before and after the camp. Beginning with Cao's informer, Xiang Yu decided to attack, ending with Xiang Yu being attacked and Cao being punished. The story unfolds layer by layer according to whether Xiang Yu attacked and whether Liu Bang could escape safely. The plot is ups and downs, the image is vivid, the organization is careful and rigorous, and the language is concise and beautiful.
Baidu Encyclopedia-Hongmen Banquet (Biography of Sima Qian)