Xiang Yu

Powerful chinese general/emperor (Well okay general)

One mad philosphiper

Supa pimp playa

These all describe him pretty much, he wrote "The art of war" and he slaughtered many a chinaman/russianman. His specific age is not known, but he was old for that time when he died. He was very smart and had a huge influence on many military procedures and speeches.

The weird thing is, all of the terms above an be concluded on Xiang Yu, Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great (Except the young part), and Attila the Hun. (Also note they were in different parts of the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiang_Yu

my understanding was that he was a bit of a masochist...

A lot of history can fill in 500 years

Maybe Joss was using a variation on "shanshu" as it the prophecy that seems to indicate Angel would get his soul or humanity back permanently in Season 1 of "Angel."

Or he could have been teasing Disney...who knows.

BEB

Xiang Yu. Not really that cruel...