Guan Yu

Guan Yu (died early 220), also known by his courtesy name Yunchang, served as a military commander under Liu Bei in the final years of the Eastern Han dynasty. Alongside Zhang Fei, he was one of Liu Bei’s first followers. In 200, after a short stint serving Cao Cao, he killed the enemy general Yan Liang at the Battle of Boma before returning to Liu Bei. Later, he took charge of Liu Bei’s troops in Jing Province. In 219, Guan Yu launched an assault on Cao Cao’s forces at Fancheng, defeating and capturing Yu Jin and killing Pang De. As the campaign pressed on, Sun Quan broke his alliance with Liu Bei and dispatched Lü Meng to take over Liu Bei’s holdings in Jing Province. Forced to retreat, Guan Yu was caught by Sun Quan’s men and put to death alongside his son Guan Ping in early 220.

After his death, Guan Yu became a figure of worship in Chinese folk religion, Taoism, Chinese Buddhism, and popular Confucian traditions. Stories, plays, and the 14th-century novel *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* shaped his legacy as a symbol of loyalty and martial bravery. In religious settings, he is often called “Lord Guan” (Guan Gong) or “Emperor Guan” (Guan Di).

The main historical source for Guan Yu’s life is the *Records of the Three Kingdoms*, written by Chen Shou in the 200s. In the 400s, Pei Songzhi added notes to this work, pulling in details from other texts and offering his own remarks. Among the sources used in those annotations are the *Shu Ji* by Wang Yin, the *Wei Shu* by Wang Chen, Xun Yi, and Ruan Ji, the *Jiang Biao Zhuan* by Yu Pu, the *Fu Zi* by Fu Xuan, the *Dianlüe* by Yu Huan, the *Wu Li* by Hu Chong, and the *Chronicles of Huayang* by Chang Qu.

No clear descriptions of Guan Yu’s looks survive in historical records. The *Records of the Three Kingdoms* does note that Zhuge Liang once called Guan Yu’s beard “peerless.” Traditionally, he is shown as a red-faced warrior with a long, thick beard. This red face may come from a passage in Chapter 1 of the 14th-century novel *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, or from opera, where red face paint stood for loyalty and righteousness. In illustrations of that novel, Guan Yu typically wears a green robe over his armor. In the novel, his weapon is a guandao called the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, said to weigh 82 catties.

Guan Yu was from Xie County (also called Hai County) in Hedong Commandery, now Yuncheng, Shanxi. His original courtesy name was Changsheng. He was a keen student, especially of the ancient history book *Zuo zhuan*, which he could recite from memory. For unknown reasons, he fled his hometown and ended up in Zhuo Commandery. When the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out in the 180s, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei joined a volunteer militia led by Liu Bei, helping a colonel named Zou Jing put down the revolt. Both were known as strong and brave men, making them skilled fighters.

When Liu Bei became Minister of Pingyuan, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were made Majors of Separate Command, each leading their own units under Liu Bei. Liu Bei treated them like brothers; the three shared a room, slept on the same mat, and ate from the same pot. Zhang Fei and Guan Yu protected Liu Bei in crowds and stood guard during meetings. They followed him through dangers and hardships, and their fighting ability earned them the label “enemy of ten-thousand.” Guan Yu was kind to his soldiers and fiercely loyal to Liu Bei, but he had little regard for the gentry and treated them rudely.

In 198, after defeating Lü Bu at the Battle of Xiapi, Liu Bei and his men went with Cao Cao to the imperial capital Xu. About a year later, Liu Bei slipped away on the pretense of attacking Yuan Shu, took over Xu Province, killed the inspector Che Zhou, and moved to Xiaopei, leaving Guan Yu in charge of the provincial capital Xiapi. In 200, Cao Cao attacked Liu Bei, beat him, and retook Xu Province. Liu Bei fled to Yuan Shao, while Guan Yu was captured and brought back to Xu. Cao Cao treated him well and had Emperor Xian appoint him a Lieutenant-General.

Later that year, Yuan Shao sent Yan Liang to attack Cao Cao’s post at Boma, defended by Liu Yan. Cao Cao sent Zhang Liao and Guan Yu as the vanguard. During the fight, Guan Yu spotted Yan Liang’s parasol, charged at him, cut off his head, and returned with it. Yan Liang’s troops could not stop him. The siege on Boma ended. On Cao Cao’s recommendation, Emperor Xian made Guan Yu the “Marquis of Hanshou Village.” Though Cao Cao admired Guan Yu, he also sensed that Guan Yu’s loyalty lay elsewhere.