Fates of Chinese HeroesFates of Chinese Heroes

• Division in Chinese history created Division in Chinese history created opportunities for some people to become opportunities for some people to become heroesheroes

• Few heroes, however, enjoyed lasted long in Few heroes, however, enjoyed lasted long in their professional careerstheir professional careers• Most of them died a tragic, violent, and unheroic Most of them died a tragic, violent, and unheroic

deathdeath•

Military Heroes: Lord Guan and Yue Fei

Lord Guan

Images of Lord Guan

Guan Yu in RTKGuan Yu in RTK• A man of imposing looks and martial statureA man of imposing looks and martial stature• Has long and beautiful beard and a might swordHas long and beautiful beard and a might sword• Demonstrates surpassing bravery and extreme Demonstrates surpassing bravery and extreme

nobilitynobility• Often acts in his sheer ignorance of policy, showing Often acts in his sheer ignorance of policy, showing

childish vanity and unbearable conceitchildish vanity and unbearable conceit• Believes in his sagacity, prowess and invincibility, Believes in his sagacity, prowess and invincibility,

• A haughty warrior deficient in generalshipA haughty warrior deficient in generalship• His conceit eventually brings about his downfall—His conceit eventually brings about his downfall—

dies a shattered idoldies a shattered idol

Guan Yu in Story Book with illustrations

Guan Yu as a god in Daoist Scripture

Guan Yu’s popular image

Guan Yu as the God of Fortune/Wealth Guan Yu in illustrated

story book

Yue Fei National hero and

symbol of patriotism Worshiped as military

god equal to, although not as popular as, Lord Guan

Temple in Hangzhou remains one of the most popular temples built to honor a tragic hero and fierce warrior

Yue Fei’s tomb

Yue Fei, by Liu Songnian, Southern Song

His military genius was well-known; so was the prestige of his well-trained and highly disciplined armies

Combat the threat from the NorthCombat the threat from the North

• Southern Song court debated over the issue Southern Song court debated over the issue of restoration of the lost land—reunification of of restoration of the lost land—reunification of ChinaChina• The “war or peace” debate resulted in factionalismThe “war or peace” debate resulted in factionalism

• Yue Fei was one of the “right wing” Yue Fei was one of the “right wing” generals/warriors who advocated war with the generals/warriors who advocated war with the JurchenJurchen• ““give us back our rivers and mountains”give us back our rivers and mountains”• Legends said that his mother had tattooed on his Legends said that his mother had tattooed on his

back “jinzhon baoguo”—”exhaust all your loyalty in back “jinzhon baoguo”—”exhaust all your loyalty in repaying your debt to the ruling dynasty”repaying your debt to the ruling dynasty”

Yue Fei’s calligrapy

Culture hero: Zhuge Liang

Yue Fei’s hand-copy of Zhuge’s Memorial

Zhuge Liang: Sleeping Dragon

Before Liu Bei’s visit: did not want to be a slaughtered animal used for a sacrifice (p.128)

Close friends discouraged Liu Bei from asking Zhuge Liang to serve because it would be a futile attempt for Zhuge to try to reverse heaven’s decree (p.134)

Image of Zhuge Liang

A man who could predict the outcome of event

Three images:– Fiction: a man of Confucian convictions but

showed preference for Taoist reclusion in youth

– Official history: a Legalist administer– Popular imagination: a man with the

trappings of a Taoist magician