Something you cannot evade as a Sinologist is that you will notice different things and different details in China and Asia than a normal person would. This can be quite tiring, and from time to time I envy those people who get to experience China without any prior knowledge. In many ways, ignorance can be a bless. On the other hand, knowledge of traditional Chinese culture brings many benefits. Something I would have not noticed without studying Sinology in the first place is the worshipping of Guanyu 關羽, a former general of the Shu Han 蜀漢 kingdom of the Three Kingdoms Period 三國時期. Guan Yu was a general serving under Liu Bei 劉備 and has been worshipped since the Sui Dynasty 隋朝. Although the story of his life has been largely fictionalized and idealized, he is seen as a symbol of loyalty and righteousness.

I first learned about Guan Yu in Chinese History lectures and later in more detail in Chinese Philosophy classes at my university. Guan Yu, or Emperor Guan, as he became to be called, is worshipped in Buddhism and Daoism alike. His most distinguishing features are his red face and long beard. He is usually portrayed carrying a special weapon called “crescent blade” 偃月刀, enabling him to figh demons and other deities. He holds a special status in Hong Kong, where he is, among others, the semi-official city god 城隍 and is worshipped by common people as well as police men, soldiers and even triad societies. There is also a temple errected in his honour in Yokohama’s China Town, Japan.