Xiang Yu was a native of Xiaxiang (present-day Suqian, Jiangsu), and his family had served as renowned generals of the Chu state for generations; because they were enfeoffed in Xiangcheng, they adopted the surname Xiang.
As a young man, Xiang Yu tried his hand at reading and writing but made little progress. He then switched to swordsmanship, only to fail at that too. His uncle Xiang Liang, furious, scolded him, "Why are you so useless? You can't master anything!" Unashamed, Xiang Yu retorted boldly, "Writing is just for remembering names, and swordsmanship only works against one person—neither is worthwhile. I want to learn the art of defeating ten thousand!" Astonished by his nephew's grand ambition, Xiang Liang began teaching him the art of war. Xiang Yu was thrilled, but after grasping the basics, he refused to delve deeper. Source: *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Biography of Xiang Yu"
During an imperial tour of Kuaiji, Emperor Qin Shi Huang crossed the Qiantang River with a grand procession. Xiang Yu, watching alongside his uncle Xiang Liang, pointed at the emperor and declared, "That man—I can replace him." Xiang Liang quickly covered his nephew's mouth in shock. From that moment, Xiang Liang held Xiang Yu in high regard, believing he was destined for greatness. Xiang Liang's father, Xiang Yan, a famed general of Chu who once crushed 200,000 Qin troops, had committed suicide after losing to Qin general Wang Jian. Now, the uncle and nephew secretly gathered strength to avenge their family's honor.
Soon after, Chen Sheng raised the banner of rebellion against the Qin at Daze Township, and Xiang Yu followed Xiang Liang in raising troops at Kuaiji in response. Though Xiang Yu had not an inch of land and rose from the fields, his fierce courage and skill in battle shook the realm. Within just three years, he became the commander of all the feudal lords, dividing the empire, enfeoffing kings and nobles—every decree came from Xiang Yu alone. Proclaiming himself Hegemon-King of Western Chu, he finally achieved his dominion.
Later, the idiom "A Match for Ten Thousand" came to describe martial skill capable of defeating ten thousand enemies.
Source: *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Biography of Xiang Yu"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "万人之敌" came to describe how martial skill capable of defeating ten thousand enemies.