Guan Xing ( third century),

courtesy name A courtesy name ( zh, s=字, p=zì, l=character), also known as a style name, is an additional name bestowed upon individuals at adulthood, complementing their given name. This tradition is prevalent in the East Asian cultural sphere, particula ...

Anguo, was an official of the state of

Shu Han Han (; 221–263), known in historiography as Shu Han ( ) or Ji Han ( "Junior Han"), or often shortened to Shu ( zh, t=蜀, p=Shǔ; Sichuanese Pinyin: ''Su'' < Middle Chinese: *''źjowk'' < Eastern Han Chinese: *''dźok''), was a Dynasties in ...

in the

Three Kingdoms The Three Kingdoms of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu dominated China from AD 220 to 280 following the end of the Han dynasty. This period was preceded by the Eastern Han dynasty and followed by the Jin dynasty (266–420), Western Jin dyna ...

period of China.

History

He was the second son of

Guan Yu Guan Yu (; ), courtesy name Yunchang, was a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. Along with Zhang Fei, he shared a brotherly relationship with Liu Bei and accompanied him on ...

and a younger brother of Guan Ping. Little information about Guan Xing is found in historical records. The biography of Guan Yu in the ''

Records of the Three Kingdoms The ''Records of the Three Kingdoms'' is a Chinese official history written by Chen Shou in the late 3rd century CE, covering the end of the Han dynasty (220 CE) and the subsequent Three Kingdoms period (220–280 CE). It is regard ...

'' contains only a few lines on Guan Xing. In his youth, Guan Xing was knowledgeable, and

Zhuge Liang Zhuge Liang () (181September or October 234), also commonly known by his courtesy name Kongming, was a Chinese statesman, strategist, and inventor who lived through the End of the Han dynasty, end of the Eastern Han dynasty ( 184–220) and t ...

saw him as an exceptional talent. When he reached adulthood (around 19 years old), he served as an official in Shu Han, but died some years later. Guan Xing held the peerage of the Marquis of Hanshou Village (漢壽亭侯), which he inherited from his father. His cause of death was not documented. He had two known sons – Guan Tong (關統) and Guan Yi (關彝).(子統嗣，尚公主，官至虎賁中郎將。卒，無子，以興庶子彝續封。) ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 36. Guan Xing appears as a character in the 14th-century historical novel ''

Romance of the Three Kingdoms ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'' () is a 14th-century historical novel attributed to Luo Guanzhong. It is set in the turbulent years towards the end of the Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history, starting in 184 AD and ...

'', in which he plays a significant role after the death of his father.

In ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms''

Guan Xing plays a significant role in the 14th-century historical novel ''

'', which romanticises the historical events before and during the

period of China. In Chapter 81, Guan Xing competes with Zhang Bao,

Zhang Fei Zhang Fei () (; died July or August 221 AD), courtesy name Yide (益德), was a Chinese military general and politician serving under the warlord Liu Bei in the late Han dynasty#Eastern Han, Eastern Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period ...

's son, for the position of leading the vanguard force just before the

Battle of Yiling The Battle of Xiaoting (猇亭之戰), also known as the Battle of Yiling and the Battle of Yiling and Xiaoting, was fought between the states of Shu Han and Eastern Wu, in the years 221 and 222 during the early Three Kingdoms period of China. T ...

. However,

Liu Bei Liu Bei (, ; ; 161 – 10 June 223), courtesy name Xuande (), was a China, Chinese warlord in the late Han dynasty#Eastern Han, Eastern Han dynasty who later became the founding Emperor of China, emperor of Shu Han, one of the Three Kingdoms of ...

stops them and orders them to become oath brothers in the same manner he did with their fathers many years ago. The two of them then join Wu Ban, who leads the vanguard force into battle. In Chapter 83, Guan Xing slays

Pan Zhang Pan Zhang (died 234), courtesy name Wengui, was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He continued serving in the state of Eastern Wu (founded by Sun Quan) during the Three Kingdoms ...

, the Wu general who captured his father during the Wu invasion of Jing Province, and retrieves his father's weapon, the Green Dragon Crescent Blade. Later, he executes

Mi Fang Mi Fang (died 223), courtesy name Zifang, was a Chinese military general and politician serving under the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty. He was also the younger brother of Mi Zhu, who also served Liu Bei. In 219, Mi Fang surre ...

and Fu Shiren before an altar dedicated to Guan Yu. In Chapter 91, Guan Xing serves as Commander of the Left Guard (帳前左護衛使) and Prancing Dragon General (龍驤將軍) in the Shu army. He follows

on the Northern Expeditions against Shu's rival state Wei. He dies of illness in Chapter 102.

In popular culture

Guan Xing is first introduced as a playable character in the eighth instalment of

Koei Koei Co., Ltd. was a Japanese video game publisher, developer, and distributor founded in 1978. The company is known for its historical simulation games based on the novel ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'', as well as simulation games based o ...

's ''

Dynasty Warriors is a series of Japanese hack and slash action video games created by Omega Force and Koei (now Koei Tecmo). The series is a spin-off of Koei's turn-based strategy '' Romance of the Three Kingdoms'' series, based upon the Chinese novel of ...

'' video game series. Guan Xing's appointment and the Northern Expeditions are depicted in the 2008 film '' Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon''.

References

* Chen, Shou (3rd century). ''

'' (''Sanguozhi''). * Luo, Guanzhong (14th century). ''

'' (''Sanguo Yanyi''). {{DEFAULTSORT:Guan, Xing Shu Han generals Shu Han government officials 3rd-century deaths Year of birth unknown Guan Yu

History

In ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms''

In popular culture

See also

References