Loyal warrior still admired to this day

The worship of the ancient general Guan Yu is so prevalent throughout the country that a Chinese saying goes: "Every village has a temple of Guan Gong."

Guan Gong is a reverent term of address for Guan Yu, a general in the period spanning the late Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) and the Three Kingdoms (220-280).

Guan was one of the most prominent generals of his time serving under the warlord Liu Bei. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han, of which Liu was the first emperor.

Liu Bei was said to be a descendant of the Han royal family and his state of Shu Han was regarded as a legitimate extension of the previous dynasty. This confirmed Guan as a warrior for a righteous course and distinguished him from other generals in the same period.

Known for his exceptional valor and loyalty, he was deified as Guandi or Emperor Guan. Regarded as a sage for his military achievement, the status of Guan was elevated to that of Confucius, who is deemed as a sage of culture and education, in later dynasties.