Guan Ping
關平
A Qing dynasty illustration of Guan Ping
BornUnknown
DiedJanuary or February 220[lower-alpha 1]
Nanzhang County, Hubei
OccupationGeneral
Parent
Relatives

Guan Ping (pronunciationⓘ) (died January or February 220)[lower-alpha 1] was a military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China.

Life

Guan Ping was the eldest son of Guan Yu. Little about him is documented in historical records except that he was captured along with his father west of Maicheng (麦城, southeast of present-day Dangyang, Hubei) by the forces of Sun Quan sometime between 23 January and 21 February 220.[lower-alpha 1] They were executed in Linju (臨沮; in present-day Nanzhang County, Xiangyang, Hubei) later.[2]

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Guan Ping appears in the 14th century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong. He is the second son of Guan Ding (關定), a farmer. His elder brother is Guan Ning (關寧). Guan Yu encounters Guan Ding and his family during his journey across five passes to find Liu Bei. He is so impressed with Guan Ping on first sight that he accepts him as his foster son. During the Battle of Runan, Guan Ping, Guan Yu and Zhou Cang lead 300 men to rescue Liu Bei, who is under attack by Cao Cao's general Zhang He. Guan Ping participates in some of Liu Bei's subsequent military exploits, including the Battle of Bowang against Cao Cao's general Xiahou Dun, and the Yi Province campaign against Liu Zhang. Later, he is relocated to Jing Province to join his foster father in defending Liu Bei's territories in Jing Province. In 219, Guan Ping follows Guan Yu to the Battle of Fancheng and scores some initial victories over Cao Cao's forces, including flooding seven enemy armies. However, in the meantime, Sun Quan (Liu Bei's ally) secretly breaks the alliance and sends his general Lü Meng to attack and conquer Jing Province in a stealth invasion. Guan Yu is completely caught off guard and eventually isolated in Maicheng with a fraction of his remaining forces. While trying to break out of the siege, Guan Yu and Guan Ping are captured in an ambush by Sun Quan's forces. Sun Quan tries to persuade them to surrender, but they refuse so Sun has them executed.[3]

Religion

Statue of Guan Ping in the Stele Forest in Beilin District, Xi'an

Guan Ping sometimes appears as a door god in Chinese and Taoist temples in partnership with Guan Yu. He also sometimes accompanies Guan Yu in his role as a war god, sometimes in combination with Zhou Cang and Liao Hua. Guan Ping's face is traditionally painted white, while Zhou Cang is black and Guan Yu red.

Video games

Guan Ping appears as a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi video game series.

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 The Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Guan Yu was captured and executed in the 12th month of the 24th year of the Jian'an era of the reign of Emperor Xian of Han.[1] This month corresponds to 23 January to 21 February 220 in the Gregorian calendar.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ ([建安二十四年]十二月，璋司馬馬忠獲羽及其子平於章鄉，斬之，遂定荊州。) Zizhi Tongjian vol. 68.
  2. ↑ (權已據江陵，盡虜羽士衆妻子，羽軍遂散。權遣將逆擊羽，斬羽及子平于臨沮。) Sanguozhi vol. 36.
  3. ↑ "Guan Ping - Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguo yanyi) Biography".

Bibliography

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