Let s take a look at ten classic pairs of rivals in Chinese history

Mondo History Updated on 2024-02-07

Although life is short, the disputes and grievances in the world never stop. From ancient times to the present, no one has been able to escape this cliché. Some people's grievances can even last for decades, which is amazing. Next, we'll take a closer look at the most famous sworn enemies in Chinese history.

1. Yellow Emperor vs Chiyou

The Yellow Emperor and Chiyou are one of the most famous rivals in Chinese history. Their feud not only had a profound impact at the time, but also left a deep imprint on Chinese culture.

The feud between the Yellow Emperor and Chiyou dates back to antiquity. According to historical records, Chi You was originally a fierce general under Emperor Yan, but because he was too brutal, Emperor Yan didn't like him, so Chi You left Emperor Yan, set up his own door, and developed his own power in the Yangtze River and Yellow River. Chiyou gathered eighty-one clans, established the "Jiuli" alliance, occupied fertile land, and developed and grew. The Yellow Emperor tribe is located in the hinterland of the Central Plains, although it has a population advantage, but it is restricted by the geographical environment and has relatively few survival resources. As a result, the Yellow Emperor and the Yan Emperor formed an alliance to fight against Chiyou together. In the end, the two sides fought fiercely in the field of Zhuolu, and the Yellow Emperor succeeded in seizing resources through the war with Chiyou, and finally defeated Chiyou.

In addition to the grievances over resources and territory, the cultural differences between the Yellow Emperor and Chiyou were also an important reason for the intensification of their conflicts. Chiyou represents nomadic and farming culture, while the Yellow Emperor represents the culture of the Central Plains. In the process of cultural integration, the conflict between the Yellow Emperor and Chiyou was inevitable. After defeating Chiyou, the Yellow Emperor not only dispersed the remaining rebels, but also absorbed the people of the Chiyou tribe and integrated their culture into his own tribe. This process of cultural integration is also one of the important reasons for the development and growth of the Yellow Emperor.

Although the relationship between the Yellow Emperor and Chiyou was full of contradictions and conflicts, the war between them also promoted the integration of various tribes and cultural exchanges, laying the foundation for the formation of the Chinese nation.

Second, Yue Wang Goujian vs Wu Wangfucha

The grievances between Goujian, the king of Yue, and the husband of Wu, can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn period.

Gou Jian was originally the king of the Yue Kingdom, but after losing the war with the Wu Kingdom, he was captured by his husband and sent to the Wu Kingdom. In order to humiliate Goujian, the husband let him live in the stable and be responsible for raising horses. Gou Jian endured humiliation in Wu State, and was very loyal to his husband on the surface, winning the trust of his husband. After a few years of lying on the salary and tasting the courage, Gou Jian was sent back to Yue by his husband.

After returning to the country, Gou Jian made great efforts to govern the country, vigorously developed agriculture and the military, and gradually restored the strength of the country. He reused Fan Li, Wen Chong and other virtuous ministers, and adopted the strategy of "ten years of life and gathering, ten years of lessons", secretly accumulating strength and preparing for revenge.

In the end, Goujian, the king of Yue, took advantage of the decline of Wu and launched a war against Wu. After a long war, the Yue State finally defeated the Wu State, and Wu Wangfu committed suicide.

The grievances between Goujian, the king of Yue, and the husband of Wu Wangfu can be said to be a story of lying on the salary and tasting courage and enduring humiliation. Through perseverance and resourcefulness, Gou Jian finally achieved revenge. Their stories have left a deep mark on Chinese history and have become spiritual symbols that inspire people to work hard and persevere.

3. Sun Bin vs Pang Juan

The story of the grievances between Sun Bin and Pang Juan originated in the Warring States Period.

Sun Bin and Pang Juan are both Guiguzi's **, learning the art of war. However, Pang Juan was jealous of Sun Bin's talent and designed to frame Sun Bin, causing him to suffer torture and lose his legs. After that, Sun Bin pretended to be crazy and stupid, deceived Pang Juan, and finally escaped from Wei.

In the State of Qi, Sun Bin was reused and served as the general of the State of Qi. He used the strategy of "besieging Wei to save Zhao" and defeated the Wei army led by Pang Juan in the Battle of Guiling. After that, Sun Bin used a strategy to reduce the focus to lure Pang Juan deep into the territory of Qi, and finally defeated the Wei army again in the Battle of Maling. Pang Juan committed suicide after his defeat.

The story of the grievances between Sun Bin and Pang Juan is a typical story of wisdom, courage and revenge. With his talent and courage, Sun Bin finally succeeded in taking revenge and clearing his grievances. This story has been widely disseminated throughout Chinese history and has become a symbol of wisdom and courage.

Fourth, Su Qin vs Zhang Yi

Su Qin and Zhang Yi were both famous columnists during the Warring States period, representing the Qi and Qin states respectively.

Su Qin and Zhang Yi's grievances began with their experience of learning art together when they were young. At that time, the two were learning from each other, competing with each other, and their relationship was very complicated. Su Qin was once down, while Zhang Yi was successful, which made Su Qin jealous and tried to sabotage Zhang Yi's plan.

However, Zhang Yi was not victimized by Su Qin's schemes, but used his wisdom and eloquence to successfully resolve the crisis. After that, the two represented the state of Qi and the state of Qin respectively, and launched a fierce contest on the political stage. They used their wits and means to try to persuade the monarchs to adopt their own strategies in order to achieve their political goals.

The story of the grievances between Su Qin and Zhang Yi is a typical story of wisdom, intrigue and political struggle. The contest between them not only reflected the intensity of the political struggle during the Warring States period, but also demonstrated the resourcefulness and methods of the Zongheng family. The story has been widely disseminated throughout Chinese history and has become a symbol of wisdom and scheming.

Fifth, Liu Xiu vs Wang Mang

The feud between Liu Xiu and Wang Mang can be traced back to the end of the Western Han Dynasty.

Wang Mang was a powerful minister in the late Western Han Dynasty, who seized power by usurping the throne and established a new dynasty. In order to realize his political ideals, Wang Mang carried out a series of reforms, which, although of certain progressive significance, touched the interests of many people and caused social unrest and dissatisfaction.

Under these circumstances, Liu Xiu and other rebels launched an uprising against Wang Mang. Under the banner of restoring the Han dynasty, they gradually gathered more and more supporters, and finally defeated Wang Mang's new dynasty army and restored the Han dynasty.

The story of the grievances between Liu Xiu and Wang Mang is a typical struggle between justice and **, restoration and usurpation. Liu Xiu represented justice and the will of the people, and finally defeated Wang Mang through arduous struggles and restored the dignity and power of the Han family.

Sixth, Liu Bang vs Xiang Yu

The story of the feud between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu began during the peasant uprising at the end of the Qin Dynasty.

Liu Bang and Xiang Yu were initially allies and worked together to resist the tyrannical Qin. In the course of the uprising, the two joined forces to attack the Qin Dynasty and jointly drafted the "Three Chapters of the Covenant", which was praised by the people of the world. However, as time passed, the conflict between the two gradually deepened. Xiang Yu wants to monopolize the world, while Liu Bang wants a piece of the pie.

At the Hongmen banquet, Xiang Yu's adviser Fan Zeng suggested that Xiang Yu take the opportunity to kill Liu Bang to prevent future troubles. However, Xiang Yu let him go because of Liu Bang's humility and wit. Since then, the struggle between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu has intensified. In the Battle of Qixia, Xiang Yu was besieged by Liu Bang and committed suicide.

The story of the grievances between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu is a typical struggle between heroes and heroes, loyalty and betrayal. Although Xiang Yu was brave and unparalleled, he was too proud and stubborn, and lacked political wisdom; Liu Bang, on the other hand, is good at being flexible, sleek, and adaptable, and is good at using scheming, trickery, deception and other means to achieve his goals. In the end, Liu Bang, with his wisdom and courage, successfully defeated Xiang Yu and established the Han Dynasty. The story has been widely disseminated throughout Chinese history and has become a symbol of loyalty and betrayal, wisdom and courage.

Seven, Zhuge Liang vs Sima Yi

The story of the feud between Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi originated in the Three Kingdoms period.

Zhuge Liang was the prime minister of Shu Han, and in order to restore the Han dynasty, he made many northern expeditions and fought many fierce battles with Cao Wei's army. Sima Yi, on the other hand, was Cao Wei's general and was responsible for resisting the attacks of the Shu Han army. The two have faced each other many times on the battlefield, winning and losing each other.

In the course of Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition, Sima Yi took a defensive position and gradually gained an advantage by consuming the grain, grass and strength of the Shu Han army. In the end, Zhuge Liang died of illness in Wuzhangyuan, and the Shu Han army was forced to retreat.

Although Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi were opponents on the battlefield, there are also some historical records that there was some friendly relationship between them. According to the "Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms", Sima Yi once praised Zhuge Liang as a "genius in the world" and said that he was inferior to Zhuge Liang. The relationship between the two is also rumored to be a good story.

Eighth, Niu Monk vs Li Deyu

The story of the grievances between Niu Shengyu and Li Deyu originated from the "Niu Li Party Dispute" in the Tang Dynasty.

Niu Shengru and Li Deyu were both ** of the Tang Dynasty, representing different political factions. Niu Shengyu is the leader of the "Niu Party", representing the ** who was born in the imperial examination, advocating a defensive position against the feudal towns and opposing policies that weaken the power of the feudal towns. And Li Deyu is the leader of the "Li Party", representing the ** of the world, advocating an offensive against the feudal towns and weakening the power of the feudal towns to maintain the centralization of power.

The struggle between the two parties began during the reign of Tang Xianzong and continued until the reign of Tang Xuanzong. During this struggle that lasted for more than 40 years, the two parties attacked each other and competed for power and profit, which seriously weakened the ruling power of the Tang Dynasty and accelerated its decline.

Nine, Yue Fei vs Jin Wushu

Yue Fei and Jin Wushu represented the Southern Song Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty, respectively.

Yue Fei was a famous general during the Southern Song Dynasty who dedicated himself to resisting the Jin invasion and regaining lost territory. Jin Wushu, on the other hand, was a general of the Jin Dynasty and one of Yue Fei's main opponents. In the long-term war, Yue Fei and Jin Wushu clashed many times, winning and losing each other.

The story of the feud between Yue Fei and Jin Wushu mainly stems from the war between the Southern Song Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty. The Southern Song Dynasty was politically corrupt and incompetent, and gradually declined economically, leading the Jin Dynasty to take the opportunity to invade the south. The Southern Song Dynasty army led by Yue Fei fought many fierce battles with the Jin Dynasty army led by Jin Wushu in the process of resisting the invasion of the Jin Dynasty.

The most famous of these is the "Battle of Yuncheng", where Yue Fei led a small number of his own soldiers to raid the Jin army camp, and Jin Wushu gathered 100,000 troops to besiege it. Yue Fei took the lead and personally led his own soldiers to rush into the enemy formation, killing the Jin army and annihilating a large number of living forces of the Jin army. It is also one of the famous battles in history where less wins more.

In addition to the confrontations on the battlefield, Yue Fei and Jin Wushu also had some intersections in politics and diplomacy. For example, in the process of the Shaoxing peace talks, Yue Fei once wrote against the peace talks, believing that the resistance to Jin should continue, but in the end the peace talks were reached. This also laid the groundwork for Yue Fei's later tragedy.

Eventually, the Golden Vulture achieved the victory and territorial expansion he craved, however, his opponent Yue Fei won the respect and affection of countless generations of people.

10. Zhu Qi vs He Kun

The story of the grievances between Zhu Qi and He Shen originated during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty.

Zhu Jue was a famous general at that time, known for his loyalty and bravery. He once made great achievements in quelling the national uprisings in the south, and was deeply trusted and appreciated by Emperor Qianlong. And He Shen was a celebrity around Emperor Qianlong, who won the emperor's favor with his intelligence and wit, and gradually grasped the power of the imperial court.

The grievances between Zhu Jue and He Shen mainly stem from the contradictions between political positions and power struggles. Zhu Jue is an upright person, loyal to the imperial court, not afraid of power, and dares to speak out. He was deeply dissatisfied with the corruption and abuse of power of He Shen and others, and wrote to He Shen many times to expose his crimes. And He Shen regarded Zhu Jue as a thorn in the eye and a thorn in the flesh, and tried every possible means to exclude, suppress or even get rid of Zhu Jue.

The struggle between the two in the imperial court intensified, and finally after the Jiaqing Emperor ascended the throne, He Shen was convicted and imprisoned, and Zhu Jue was appointed Minister of Military Aircraft, becoming an important auxiliary minister of the Jiaqing Emperor. Zhu's victory also marked the victory of justice and loyalty, and his character and talent were widely praised and celebrated.

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