From General to Cultural Symbol --- The Romance of Three Kingdoms and the History of Changes in Guan Yu Persona

Abstract

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms holds a prominent position among the Four Great Classics within the realm of Chinese classical literature. The aforementioned literary work was authored by Luo Guanzhong, a novelist from the Ming Dynasty, and it draws its inspiration from actual occurrences that transpired during the Three Kingdoms era towards the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Guan Yu holds a prominent position as a highly recognized figure throughout the literary work titled The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The individual in concern has undergone significant influence from several historical dynasties, resulting in the development of a multifaceted and intricate persona. This study aims to examine the development of the character Guan Yu in the literary work The Romance of the Three Kingdoms and the subsequent construction of cultural memory surrounding Guan Yu. This will be achieved via a comprehensive literature research and analytical approach. This research aims to enhance the understanding of the evolutionary trajectory and underlying factors that contributed to the transformation of Guan Yu from a historical persona to a literary construct, culminating in his universal veneration within folk culture. Furthermore, this investigation seeks to elucidate the influence exerted by the literary work The Romance of the Three Kingdoms on this transformative process.