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The famous Chinese generals
Kanu & Chōhi
Dr Gary
Hickey University of Melbourne
2008
The fame of
the two celebrated Chinese generals Kanu (Ch. Guan Yu, c.161-219CE)
and Chōhi (Ch. Zhang Fei, c. 161-221CE) was such that Kanu was, as
early as the Sui Dynasty (581-618CE), deified as the Taoist God of
War and Chōhi became legendary as his heroic compatriot. Kanu
worked as a bean curd seller whilst studying. Chōhi had similar
humble beginnings having worked as a butcher and wine seller. After
meeting Ryubi (Ch. Liu Bei, 161-223CE), who was later to become the
Emperor of the Kingdom of Shu during the Three Kingdoms Period
(220-280CE), all three formed an allegiance. This allegiance was
formed in Chōhi’s garden under peach tree blossoms, a brotherhood
that, in legend, has become known as the Oath of the Peach
Garden. Ryubi, Kanu and Chōhi became generals and together they
played a major part in the civil war that led to the fall of the
Han Dynasty (206BCE-220CE), one of the most violent periods in
Chinese history.
Often all
three heroes are depicted together but in this work only Kanu and
Chōhi are shown. As would be expected of a loyal compatriot Chōhi
is standing behind Kanu. He is depicted with his characteristic
features – blue eyes, flowing red hair and fan-shaped beard and
holding his enormous double-edged sword. Accentuating his renowned
great physique and strength the figure of Kanu dominates the
foreground. His ferociousness is made apparent by his commanding
physical appearance – a robust body and a ruddy complexion with
long flowing beard. His beard was so magnificent that he was given
the nickname ‘Lord of the Splendid Black Beard’. He is normally
shown dressed in a green robe and with a massive spear which is
often incorrectly described as a sword. The artist has made this
same assumption and in this work his sheathed sword is prominently
at his side. Kanu is particularly popular in Japan where he is
admired for his military prowess and virtue. It is this association
that explains the recurrence of his figure on sword fitting
designs.
The
fourteenth century historical novel Romance of the Three
Kingdoms, mostly based on fictionalized stories, played a major
part in the fame of these three great generals. In Japan this novel
is known as Sangokushi and, in popular culture, has been
parodied in numerous manga comic books and video
games.
References
Henri L.
Joly, ‘Legend in Japanese Art’, Rutland, Vermont & Tokyo:
Charles E. Tuttle, 1983, pp. 106-07, 173-74, &
313-14.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwan_Yu |