關羽

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Liu Bei’s right arm, and the incarnation of loyalty later worshipped as a god. Captured by Cao Cao, he refused every honor until he had repaid the debt by slaying Yan Liang — then rode back to Liu Bei. Holding Jing Province alone, he drowned seven Wei armies at Fancheng, his fame "shaking the heartland." Wu’s surprise attack cost him the province and his life at Maicheng. Temples to Lord Guan still make him the one Three Kingdoms figure venerated as a deity of war, honor — even wealth.

Key events

1. 184

   Yellow Turban Rebellion

   Zhang Jiao’s Taiping followers rise across the empire, opening the Three Kingdoms era. Liu Bei, Cao Cao and Sun Jian first made their names in the suppression.

   Zhang JiaoLiu BeiCao CaoSun JianZhang Fei

2. 184

   The Peach Garden OathNovel

   Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei swear brotherhood in a peach orchard — the novel’s opening scene; the histories say only their bond was "like brothers".

   Liu BeiZhang Fei

3. 191

   Hulao Gate — Three Heroes vs. Lü BuNovel

   The novel’s famous duel of the three brothers against Lü Bu at Hulao Gate. In the histories it was Sun Jian, not Guan Yu, who slew Hua Xiong.

   Lü BuLiu BeiZhang FeiSun Jian

4. 200

   Battle of Baima — Guan Yu Slays Yan Liang

   Temporarily serving Cao Cao, Guan Yu repays the debt by cutting down Yuan Shao’s general Yan Liang amid his army — then rides back to Liu Bei.

   Cao CaoYuan Shao

5. 200

   Guan Yu Crosses Five PassesNovel

   The novel’s invented journey: Guan Yu breaks through five passes and slays six generals to rejoin Liu Bei — the defining image of loyalty.

   Liu BeiCao Cao

History vs. the novelHistoryvsNovel

The Green Dragon blade, the five passes, the bone surgery — all the novel’s inventions. The historical Guan Yu needed none of it: a "match for ten thousand" — whose pride toward allies, the histories note, sowed his downfall.