Guanyu, Guan Gong, and Guan Sheng (Proceedings of the Academic Symposium on Guanyu in Chinese Historical and Cultural Studies)

Author: Compiler: Lu Xiaoheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: The Wei Emperor and his ministers all called Guan Yu the "preeminent general of Shu." Does this praise align with historical reality? The answer should be affirmative. Cao Cao's renowned strategist Guo Jia said: "Zhang Fei and Guan Yu are both enemies of ten thousand." The famous Wei minister Cheng Yu also said: "Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are both enemies of ten thousand." Chen Shou, the author of Records of the Three Kingdoms, remarked: "Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are both enemies of ten thousand, formidable tiger-kings of the world." People of that time often praised warriors as "enemies of ten thousand" and strategists as "the brightest among ten thousand." Here, "ten thousand" was an approximate term for a large number. Warriors spoke of their extraordinary martial prowess and courage, while strategists spoke of their ability to establish and govern states, surpassing others in both literary and martial wisdom. Cao Wei strategist Liu Bei further stated: "Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are the bravest in the entire army." The famous strategist Zhou Yu of Sun Wu called Guan Yu "a bear and tiger general." Lu Meng repeatedly praised: "Guan Yu is indeed a bear and tiger." "Guan Yu is naturally brave and difficult to oppose"; "Guan Yu is fierce and valiant." Lu Xun called Guan Yu "a formidable figure of the age"; Guan Yu possessed "fierce spirit." Here, "bear and tiger" referred to the king of beasts and the most ferocious among animals, used to describe Guan Yu as the finest among warriors. For example, Cao Cao's fierce warrior Xu Chu was hailed as the "Tiger Marquis," and his were called "Tiger Warriors." Sun Quan also called his renowned general Zhou Tai "fierce as a bear and tiger, unafraid to risk his life." This shared the same sentiment. The terms "formidable figure," "fierce and valiant," and "fierce spirit" all referred to Guan Yu's heroic bravery and demeanor befitting a great general. In summary, the various praises heaped upon Guan Yu by these individuals demonstrated that he embodied the extraordinary heroism, unparalleled martial skills, and invincible spirit expected of a great general. Historical records state that Guan Yu was shot in his left arm by an arrow, which later healed but caused him constant pain during rainy weather. The doctor advised: "The arrowhead is poisoned, and the venom has entered the bone. We must cut open the arm, scrape out the poison, and only then can this ailment be cured." Guan Yu resolutely extended his arm and said: "Let the doctor cut it open." At that moment, he was dining with his generals, with blood flowing from his arm, filling the plate, yet Guan Yu continued to cut meat and drink wine, remaining composed and cheerful. This incident, in his endurance of physical pain, showcased Guan Yu's resolute character and heroic spirit as a great general. Guan Yu's great general demeanor was most evident in his battle against Yan Liang, a major general of Yuan Shao. In the fourth month of Jian'an 5 (200 AD), the two major military factions of Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, while vying for control of the Central Plains, were locked in battle at Guandu (now Zhongmou County, Henan). Yuan Shao sent his general Yan Liang to attack Liu Yan, the governor of Cao Cao's Dongjun Commandery, at Baima (now Hebi County, Henan). Cao Cao dispatched Zhang Liao and Guan Yu as vanguards to block Yan Liang's army. According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms: Shu Biography of Guan Yu, Guan Yu "saw (Yan) Liang's battle standard (a large canopy carried by a general in battle), spurred his horse, and stabbed Liang among the tens of thousands, cutting off his head and returning. (Yuan) Shao's generals could not withstand him, and thus the siege of Baima was lifted." Chen Shou's vivid account brought to life the heroic, tiger-like, and valiant demeanor of Guan Yu as a great general during the confrontation between the two armies. When Guan Yu stabbed Liang and severed his head, Liang and his guards would never have surrendered passively. They would have fought back desperately. How Guan Yu overcame them and executed Liang remains unspecified in Chen's account, but one can imagine the scene as being both majestic and thrilling. Guan Yu's "stabbing of Liang" clearly used a long spear or pike, while "severing his head" was done with a large sword. Long spears, pikes, and large swords were common weapons among warriors and soldiers of that time. Zhang Fei also used a long spear to kill enemies. Cao Cao's fierce warrior Dian Wei