Chinese war god

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Guan Yu is one of the best known Chinese historical figures in Asia, more significantly titled as the Chinese War God, his deeds and moral qualities have been idolized by the Chinese communities for over thousands of years after his death.

Lord Guan is a red faced warrior with red ruddy complexion, standing at 7 feet tall with long lush beard of 2 feet in length. Lord Guan is described as a very impressive and majestic individual.

A Brief Account On The Life Of Guan Yu According To The Historical Novel

“Romance of the Three Kingdoms”

Guan Yu's legend started when he met with Liu Bei and Zhang Fei. The trio soon took the Oath of Fraternity in a Peach Garden to be sworn brothers. At the time of oath taking, Guan Yu was a wanted fugitive for killing a villain in his town.

Guan Yu first got famous demonstrating his skills by killing the fierce general Hua Xiong when everyone fails. Guan Yu later on served under Cao Cao for a short period of time on the condition of releasing his sisters - in law. He had accomplished a lot of deeds for Cao Cao but more notably the slaying of Yan Liang and Wen Chuo. It was a remarkable feat as Yan Liang and Wen Chou have killed a dozen of Cao Cao's generals.

When Guan Yu found out of his brothers whereabouts, he bided farewell to Cao Cao and rode off with his sisters – in laws to re united with them. When travelling across Cao Cao's territories, he was met with obstacles. He is forced to break his way through the five gates holding him while protecting his party. Resulting killings six of Cao Cao's general. Soon both met in the battlefield as enemy. The badly defeated Cao Cao pleads Guan Yu for mercy. Guan Yu couldn't bring himself to capture Cao Cao due to past relationships and thus release Cao Cao. By sending Cao Cao off, he had committed a death penalty. After much dissuasion by Liu Bei and Zhang Fei, Zhuge Liang had decided to spare Guan Yu's life for a chance to redeem.

After a series of victories, Guan Yu continues his mission to capture Fancheng. He was not only just a skillful warrior but was also a military genius. He succeeded in capturing Fancheng using tactics by flooding the entire seven armies defending it. During this expenditure, he was wound by a poisonous arrow on his arm. A famous physician Hua Tuo had offered to treat Guan Yu's wound. Upon Guan Yu requested to apply the fastest method to treat his wound, Hua Tuo cut open Guan Yu's fresh and scraps the poisons off the bone on the spot without anesthesia. Hua Tuo left without charging any thing as he had never seen any person who can resist the pain like Guan Yu.

Guan Yu's final battle was with Sun Quan, the emperor of Wu Kingdom. When Guan Yu was in Fancheng, he left some generals to guard Jingzhou. Sun Quan took the opportunities to lead a sneak attack on Jingzhou. Most of Jingzhou's territories were surrender to Sun Quan before engaging in battle. This has stopped the resources line of Guan Yu's army in Fancheng. Many soldiers desert Guan Yu's army and returned Jingzhou to reunite with their family. Guan Yu was captured by Sun Quan on Jueshi Mountain where he had only a hundred soldiers left. Sun Quan wants to win Guan Yu over but his officers had dissuaded him from doing this by relating with the history when Guan Yu was with Cao Cao. Guan Yu held high ethics and moral values and simply will never summit. After much failure attempts, Sun Quan finally execute Guan Yu and his officers.

Liu Bei and Zhang Fei immediately led the entire Shu Kingdom army to start war with Sun Quan. After he captured Jingzhou, he performed special rituals, ceremonies and offering for all the soldiers and their family who have stay with Guan Yu until death. He executes all the generals who surrendered the territories of Jingzhou to Sun Quan and placed their head as an offering in front of Guan Yu's tomb. Sun Quan immediately sends Guan Yu's head to Cao Cao as a decoy where he buried it with full honor.

Guan Yu's spirit was seen roaming on Sun Quan's territories crying out, “Return my head!” Many officers were very sick and rumored to be possessed by Guan Yu's spirit. The spirit met the Buddhist monk Pujing on Yuqian Hill. Pujing enlightened Guan Yu's spirit and the spirit manifests around the hill and protects the people from dangers.

Guan Yu's Legendary Weapon - The Green Dragon Crescent Blade

According to Romance of the Three Kingdom, after taking the oath of fraternity in Peach Garden, the three brothers forged weapons for themselves to prepare for battle. The Green Dragon Crescent Blade or Guan Dao was invented and used by Guan Yu. It is say to weight 18.04 kg. Modern day Guan Dao is from 2kg to 10kg. It is not a very popular weapon in modern day due to the amount of skills required to weld it effectively. Most martial artist today required both hand to welds it. Legends said that Guan Yu could weld it effortlessly and effectively using single hand. A 50kg Green Dragon Crescent Blade is displayed at the Purple Cloud Temple in China today. However it was believed that this was not the one Guan Yu had held.

The Red Hare was another popular procession of Guan Yu. It was the speediest horse on land. The original owner was Lu Bu. After Lu Bu's death, Cao Cao held ownership to it and offer it as a gift to Guan Yu hoping that Guan would stay loyal to him. Guan Yu kneel down to Cao after accepting the gift. Cao Cao asked Guan Yu, “Why are you kneeling?” Guan Yu replied, “Lord, because now I could ride swiftly to reunite with my brothers when I learn of their whereabouts.” When Guan Yu leaves Cao Cao, the red hare is the only procession and gift he carried with him.