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Imperial Asia Feng Shui Warriors & Guardians

Kuan Kung, a revered figure from Chinese mythology and a popular subject of Guardian Statues, can be optimally found in or placed at: entrances, business premises, exits, desks, wealth sectors, inauspicious sectors.

Kuan Kung's original name was Guan Yu, but after his accomplishments and deitification, his name was changed to Kuan Kung. The second name of "Kung" is a title given only to those of the highest honor, and Kuan Kung is a prime example deserving of this title.

Throughout history Kuan Kung had also been credited with many military successes.

During the Ming dynasty he was said to have aided the founding emperor Zhu Yuanzhang's fleet at the Battle of Boyang. In 1402, Zhu Di launched a coup d'�tat and successfully deposed his nephew, the Jianwen Emperor. Zhu Di claimed that he had been blessed by the spirit of Kuan Kung.

During the last decade of the 16th century, Kuan Kung was also credited with the repulse of Japanese invasion of Korea by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (called The Seven-Year War of Korea).

The ruling Manchu house of the Qing dynasty also associated with Kuan Kung's martial qualities. During the 20th century, Kuan Kung was worshipped by the warlord Yuan Shikai, president and later a short-lived emperor of China.

His actions of nobility, bravery, loyalty and tactical genius has made him the much revered God of War.

Feng Shui Guardians :: Kuan Kung

Kuan Kung was born in the county of Xie (a subdistrict of present day Shanxi, China).

The year of his birth is not found in historical records, but according to a 1680 stele in a temple worshipping Kuan Kung in his hometown, as well as a biography of Kuan Kung written in 1756, Kuan Kung's birth year is estimated to be 160.

Kuan Kung fled his hometown at the age of twenty-three after slaying a corrupt magistrate named Lu Xiong. Five years later, he arrived in Zhuo Commandery (present day Hebei), where Liu Bei was recruiting a force to heed the government's call to resist the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

Together with Zhang Fei, Kuan Kung joined Liu Bei and fought against the rebel forces in northern China.

For his efforts Liu Bei was appointed governor of Pingyuan County. Kuan Kung and Zhang Fei were also made commanders and given their own divisions of troops.

According to the Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, the three men slept on the same bed and treated one another like brothers. Kuan Kung and Zhang Fei also followed Liu Bei wherever he went, and protected him from danger however perilous the situation.

In 199 Liu Bei assassinated the governor of Xuzhou appointed by the rising warlord Cao Cao and placed Kuan Kung in control of the regional capital Xiapi, while he returned to Xiaopei. Cao Cao soon retaliated, personally leading a campaign east to reclaim Xuzhou.

Liu Bei fled to seek refuge under Yuan Shao, a powerful warlord further north, but Xiapi was captured and Kuan Kung surrendered to Cao Cao. Cao Cao treated Kuan Kung with respect and even made him a deputy general.

Kuan Kung is also known as Guan Yu, Kuan Yu, Kwan Ti, Guan Gong, Kuan Kung, Guan Gung or Kwan Kong.

Kuan Kung, the God of War

His actions of nobility, bravery, loyalty and tactical genius has made him the much revered God of War.

Kuan Kung fled his hometown at the age of twenty-three after slaying a corrupt magistrate named Lu Xiong.

Five years later, he arrived in Zhuo Commandery (present day Hebei), where Liu Bei was recruiting a force to heed the government's call to resist the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

Together with Zhang Fei, Kuan Kung joined Liu Bei and fought against the rebel forces in northern China.

For his efforts Liu Bei was appointed governor of Pingyuan County. Kuan Kung and Zhang Fei were also made commanders and given their own divisions of troops. According to the Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, the three men slept on the same bed and treated one another like brothers.

Kuan Kung and the Deity Status

Kuan Kung has been deitified as early as the Sui Dynasty and is still popularly worshipped today among the Chinese people variedly as an indigenous Chinese deity, a bodhisattva in Buddhism and a guardian deity in Taoism.

In the West, Kuan Kung is sometimes called the Taoist God of War, probably because he is one of the most well-known military generals in Chinese history.

This is misconceived as, unlike Mars or Tyr, Kuan Kung as a god does not necessarily bless those who go to battle but rather anyone who observes the code of brotherhood and righteousness.

In general worship, Kuan Kung's is widely referred to as Emperor Guan, short for his Taoist title Saintly Emperor Guan.

Temples and shrines dedicated exclusively to Kuan Kung could be found in parts of Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and other places where Chinese congregate.

Some of these temples, such as the Emperor Guan Temple in Xiezhou were built exactly in the layout of a palace, befitting his status as an "emperor".

The escalation of Kuan Kung's status to that of an emperor took place during the Ming Dynasty.

In 1614, the Wanli Emperor bestowed on Kuan Kung the title of Saintly Emperor Guan the Great God Who Subdues Demons of the Three Worlds and Whose Awe Spreads Far and Moves Heaven.

During the Qing Dynasty, the Shunzhi Emperor gave Kuan Kung the title of Zhongyi Shenwu Great Saintly Emperor Guan in 1644.

This title was expanded to Renyong Weixian Huguo Baomin Jingcheng Ruijing Yuzan Xuande Zhongyi Shenwu Great Saintly Emperor Guan, a total of 24 characters, by mid-19th century.

In Chinese Buddhism, Kuan Kung is honored as a bodhisattva and protector of the Dharma. He is called Sangharama Bodhisattva. Sangharama in Sanskrit means "temple", therefore Kuan Kung is also the guardian of the temple. His statue is usually located on the far left of the main shrine, opposite his counterpart, Skanda Bodhisattva.

Guan Yu is traditionally portrayed as a red-faced warrior with a long lush beard. While his beard was indeed mentioned in the Records of Three Kingdoms, the idea of his red face may have derived from a later description of him in Chapter One of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where the following passage appears:

"Xuande took a glance at the man, who stood at a height of nine chi, and had a two chi long beard; his face was of the color of a Zao, with red lips; his eyes were like that of a phoenix's, and his eyebrows resembled silkworms. He had a dignified aura and looked quite majestic."

Alternatively, the idea of his red face could have been borrowed from opera representation, where red faces depict loyalty and righteousness.

Supposedly, Guan Yu's weapon was a guandao named Green Dragon Crescent Blade, which resembled a halberd and was said to weigh 82 catties (about 109 lbs).

A wooden replica of Guan Yu can be found today in the Emperor Guan Temple in Xiezhou County, China. He traditionally dons a green robe over his body armour, as depicted in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.