General Guan Yu from the Three Kingdoms

Guan Yu was one of the five outstanding generals who served Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period in ancient China.

He is often featured as a red-face warrior with a distinctive long beard, carrying a long blade that looks like a halberd—a medieval weapon. The blade—about five to six-foot long—was said to weigh about 40 pounds.

According to some ancient texts, he was born between 160 and 162 AD in Hedong—the present day Yuncheng City in southwest Shanxi province.

As a young man in his early twenties, Guan Yu fled from his hometown after killing a local bully. Five years later, he met and joined Liu Bei to fight the Yellow Turban rebels. He, and another famous warrior, Zhang Fei, became the sworn brothers of Liu Bei.

General Guan Yu played a major part in the battles leading to the fall of the Han Dynasty and the creation of the Shu state during the Three Kingdoms era, in which Liu Bei became the first ruler.

Guan Yu was known for his loyalty to Liu Bei. After Cao Cao's soldiers captured him, Guan Yu surrendered to protect Liu Bei's family. He served under Cao Cao for a short period and left as soon as he heard about Liu Bei's whereabouts.

Much of Guan Yu's true-life stories have been embellished by the historical novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Some of these embellishments included stories about how he killed six of Cao Cao's generals when he left to reunite with Liu Bei, and then later, allowing the defeated Cao Cao escape at Huarong Trail after the Battle of the Red Cliff.

Another story about Guan Yu talks about the legendary Chinese physician Hua Tuo performing surgery on his arm after a poisoned arrow wounded him. The story has it that Guan Yu sat calmly playing a game of weiqi, or Chinese chess, during the surgery.

Guan Yu was later defeated and executed by Sun Quan in 219 AD, at the Battle of Fancheng, after he refused to surrender.

After his death, people started to worship Guan Yu as a god. This started during the Sui Dynasty. Confucian followers paid respects to him. Taoists revered him as a guardian deity, while Buddhists honored him as a Sangharama Bodhisattva—protector of the Buddhist dharma.

As a deity, he was called by different names, including the "Saintly Emperor Guan" (關聖帝君) and "Guan Gong," meaning Lord Guan.

Many Chinese throughout the centuries worshipped Guan Yu as Guandi (関帝)—the god of war. His name epitomized loyalty, justice, and righteousness. Today, there are temples and shrines devoted to him in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and throughout South East Asia.

Numerous films, Chinese operas, television drama series, card games, and even video games have also popularized the story of Guan Yu.

Margaret Trey, PhD.

[JonJonGTA]

I love the three kingdoms but so hard to find documentaries

[Megumi_Bandicoot]

Guan Yu wasn't all that legendary or any of that stuff. The author of Romance of the Three Kingdoms had a real fascination with him. And as a result he puffed him up into way more than he actually was. Which then got stuffed into the Three Kingdoms media as Holy Writ.

Guan Yu has also had very little military accomplishments, and Shu-Han's biggest achievements were spearheaded by the likes of Liu Bei, Fa Zheng, and Zhang Fei - among others. Guan Yu and Zhuge Liang earned their godly status due to their loyalty and Luo Guanzhong's rampant fangirlism.

[vincently]

Guan Yu is a most famous general of Shu Han.

[jensjakobknudsen]

Nice! The videos have more information, they don't say in the Dynasty Warrior's series. Interesting as well. =D

[Marinanor]

Guan Yu is the Chuck Norris of his day..

[kanjatsiam]

If at early Twenties he already joint Yellow Turban, so at how long did he learning kungfu from Master Oogway.

To be expert in combat fighting, at least one must practice kungfu at least 20 years. Something I hear from Kungfu Panda Movie.

[federicomedinauy]

"chao chao" lol.
Good video, thou. Keep it up.

[mahanichannel]

I Came here because Film 3 kingdom Donnie Yen

[zylothecat]

guan yu is so hyped beyond belief.
personally.
i like cao cao out of all the lords. he is the only lord who stayed loyal to the emperor.
and i like zhang liao out of all the generals. he is the only reason why wei took control over the north and became so powerful while resisting any kind of rebellion. he was only defeated by cao cao because of lubu's failing leadership. but cao knew zhang liao has the potential.

what did guan yu do that is so great compared to zhang liao? guan yu's achievement definitely pale compared to zhang liao's. according to the story, guan yu was also very arrogant too, which led to his downfall. he angered sun quan and caused the alliance to tatter. finally guan yu was betrayed and slain at fan castle.
while zhang liao was able to persuade someone to surrender. not a lot of generals could do that...

and here is from wikipedia about xiaoyao ford battle
"At dawn, Zhang Liao donned his armour, carried a ji, and led his men to attack the enemy formation. He killed tens of enemy soldiers and two officers, shouted his own name, and broke through the barriers until he reached Sun Quan's command post. Sun Quan was shocked and his subordinates were all unsure of what to do. He then went to the top of a knoll, armed himself with a long ji, and stood there. He did not dare to move when Zhang Liao challenged him to come down and fight him. When Sun Quan saw that Zhang Liao did not have many soldiers left with him, he ordered his forces to surround Zhang and his men. However, Zhang Liao fought fiercely and succeeded in breaking out of the encirclement with a few of his men. His remaining men, who were still trapped by the enemy, shouted, "General, are you abandoning us?" Zhang Liao then turned back and fought his way into the encirclement and succeeded in rescuing his remaining men. Sun Quan and his forces were all stunned by Zhang Liao's valour and did not dare to stand in his way. The skirmish lasted from dawn to the afternoon, and the morale of Sun Quan's army had fallen significantly. Zhang Liao returned to Hefei fortress and strengthened his defences. The defenders felt much more at ease and were very impressed with him"

people are so hyped about zhao yun rescuing a little baby. zhang liao went back and rescue his men!! sure his men were not princes, but they were important to him. and yet no one made a 'movie' on zhang liao. seriously?

3:04
justice and righteousness? well it was war, you can't justify anything. if anything, liu bei (who claims that he has the royal blood) woulda been the usurper to the throne.
loyalty? ha, to me cao cao was the most loyal guy. wei military might can crush the emperor and cao cao can just take the throne for himself. but he didn't, his son did. but no one really respected that guy.

[jasperbudiono]

Guan Yu never put sun cream when go to war. That's why his face is always reddish tanned.

[dynastywarriorlord]

And fyi, if mtg wants to exploit romance of three kingdoms, then ygo would really be exploiting water margin, another one of the 4 great chinese classic novels.

[VChong]

He was Taolu Assaulting asians back in his day :P

[dynastywarriorlord]

Wei chi is NOT chinese chess. Wei chi is Go and Xiang chi is chinese chess.

[phillipnguyen]

In this 🌏
WE need to FILL With LOVE 🐢🐝🐌🌵
THEY Need KILLING FILL with 👄💔

[hibamahdi]

the funny thing that I just watched this you to mean want than the and I wanted since it is the name of the super tank of the tanks general in command and conquer general zero hour mode contra 008

[lucwarfel]

That "Halberd" is called a Naginata...