Feast at Swan Goose Gate
Its location in present-day China is roughly at Hongmenbao Village, Xinfeng Town, Lintong District, Xi'an, Shaanxi.
It was one of the highlights of the power struggle between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu leading to the outbreak of the Chu–Han Contention, a violent civil war for supremacy over China which concluded with Xiang Yu's defeat and death at the Battle of Gaixia, followed by Liu Bang's establishment of the Han dynasty with himself as its founding emperor.
In late 208 BC, Xiang Liang was killed in action at the Battle of Dingtao so the Chu army came under King Huai II's control.
In late 207 BC, Liu Bang's army conquered Wu Pass and seized control of Guanzhong and the Qin capital Xianyang (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi).
After occupying Xianyang, Liu Bang gave strict orders to his men, forbidding them from looting and pillaging the city and harming the civilian populace.
When Xiang Yu arrived at Hangu Pass, he was displeased to hear that Liu Bang had already occupied Guanzhong, so he attacked and conquered the pass, pushing on to west of the Xi River (戲水; a tributary of the Wei River flowing through present-day Lintong District, Xi'an, Shaanxi).
Liu Bang and his army were based in Bashang (灞上; also known as White Deer Plain (白鹿原); about 10 km southeast of present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi) then.
Liu Bang also explained that the misunderstanding was caused by vile words from someone plotting to sow discord between him and Xiang Yu.
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.
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 was essentially reminding Liu Bang that their lives were in Xiang Yu's hands and they should escape as soon as they had a chance.
Xiang Yu committed suicide after his defeat at the Battle of Gaixia, while Liu Bang established the Han dynasty and became its founding emperor.
In Chinese culture, the term Hongmen Yan (鴻門宴 "Feast at Swan Goose Gate") is used figuratively to refer to a trap or a situation ostensibly joyous but in fact treacherous.
Another idiom that relates to the event is "Xiang Zhuang performs a sword dance; his target is the Duke of Pei" (項莊舞劍，意在沛公), which refers to somebody making a veiled attack on another person.
The Chinese title of the 2011 film White Vengeance is a reference to the Feast at Hong Gate, while the plot itself is based on this historical incident and other events in the Chu–Han Contention.
