Three Kingdoms History: Guan Yu

Sworn brother of Liu Bei and Zhang Fei. First of the Five Tiger Generals.

Officer Details

Wade-Giles: Kuan Yü (Yün-ch‘ang)
Simplified Chinese: 关羽 (云长)
Pronunciation: Guan¹ Yu³ (Yun²chang²)  
Min-Nan: Kwan Yu (In-tiang)

Birthplace: Xie County, He Dong
(Presently Yun Cheng in Shan Xi Province)

Name Notes: Originally styled Changsheng (長生). He is frequently referenced by the honorary title, Guan Gong (關公), or ‘Lord Guan’. Guan Yu appears as Guan Gong or Lord Guan in most novel translations, many historic texts, and modern conversation outside the Three Kingdoms community, and on most merchandise. In religion he is called Saintly Emperor Guan (關聖帝君) or in Buddhism, Sangharama Bodhisattva (伽藍菩薩) (more).

Rank and Titles

Major; Lieutenant General (AD 200); Marquis of Hanshou (AD 200); Governor of Xiangyang; General Who Terrifies Criminals; General of the Front (AD 219); Marquis of Zhuangchou (posthumous); One of the ‘Five Tiger Generals’

Family and Relationships

Guan Ping, Guan Xing, Guan Suo ƒ (Sons); Guan Ping ƒ (Adopted Son); Guan Tong (Grandchildren); Guan Yi (Great Grandchildren); Liu Bei ƒ, Zhang Fei ƒ (Sworn Brothers)

Fact vs. Fiction

Differences Between Fact and Common Fiction

• The Peach Tree Garden oath did not actually take place but Sanguozhi states that Liu, Guan and Zhang ‘slept in the same bed and were as close as brothers.’
• Did not kill Hua Xiong. Hua Xiong was killed in battle with Sun Jian by Jian’s troops.
• Did not give specific terms of surrender to Cao Cao at Xiapi.
• Never killed Wen Chou, who actually died in battle with Cao Cao after falling for a plot.
• Guan Yu did not ‘traverse five passes’ and ‘slay five generals’. Cao Cao admired his honor and sense of duty, and allowed him to leave. In majority, the characters that appeared in this novel event were fictional.
• Did not ‘fight with and release’ Huang Zhong. Han Xuan and Huang Zhong surrendered of their own accord.
• In the events following Chibi, Guan Yu did not meet with and spare Cao Cao at Huarong.
• Was not healed by Hua Tuo, though the story did take place at the hands of an unnamed doctor.
• Did not plan to duel Ma Chao when he was promoted. Simply sent a letter asking how they compared.
• In the novel Lü Meng feigned illness to trick Guan Yu. Historically, Lü Meng was truly ill.
• The flooding of Fan Castle was not Guan Yu’s stratagem. It was a natural occurrence.

Literary Appearances

Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 1, 2, 5-7, 11-22, 24-28, 34-43, 45, 49-53, 55, 56, 60, 63, 65-67, 70, 73-76, 77, 78-83, 85, 94, 97, 110, 120

Sanguozhi: Shu 6

Zizhi tongjian: 60, 63, 65-68

Popular Quotation

Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Chapter 25
Speaking to Cao Cao about Yuan Shao’s army, Guan Yu said, “I regard them as so many clay fowls and mud dogs.”
[關公曰：“以吾觀之，如土雞瓦犬耳！”]

Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Chapter 73
Speaking to Zhuge Jin of Sun Quan, Guan Yu said, “How can my tiger-lass marry a dog’s whelp of a son? Were it not for your brother, I would take your head. Say no more!”
[“吾虎女安肯犬子乎！不看汝弟之面，力斬汝首！再休多言！”]

Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Chapter 77
Having possessed Lü Meng, to Sun Quan, Guan Yu said, “O green-eyed boy! O purple-bearded rat! Do you know me?”
[“碧眼小兒！紫髯鼠輩，還識我否？”]

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