(xiehouyu) trapped like the Hegemon King of Chu at Gaixia; describes a situation where one is isolated and under attack from all directions; the first half of a two-part allegory whose second half is [[四面楚歌|四面楚歌|si4 mian4 chu3 ge1]]

The title taken by the warlord [[项羽|項羽|xiang4 yu3]] (232-202 BC) who fought [[刘邦|劉邦|liu2 bang1]] for control of China after the fall of the Qin dynasty.