A common character in the four famous novels: Guan Yu.
In the pinnacle of ancient Chinese literature, among the four famous works, there is a name that appears frequently, and he is Guan Yu. Guan Yu, the word cloud is long, is a famous general of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, because of his bravery, good fighting, loyalty and righteousness, he was called "martial saint" by later generations. Not only is he one of the central characters in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", but he is also seen in the other three famous novels "Water Margin", "Journey to the West" and "Dream of Red Mansions".
The classic story of Guan Yu in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". As the sworn brother of Liu Bei and Zhang Fei, Guan Yu won the title of "Righteous Jue" with his loyalty and courage. His heroic deeds of beheading Huaxiong with warm wine, beheading Yan Liang with a knife, and passing five passes and beheading six generals have been praised by the world. And his loyalty to Liu Bei was even more impeccable, even under Cao Cao's temptation, he resolutely refused, and finally returned to Liu Bei's side. Guan Yu's loyalty and bravery are not only reflected on the battlefield, but also his benevolence towards soldiers and civilians. The story of scraping bones to cure poison shows his tenacity and perseverance, while going to the meeting alone shows his wisdom and courage.
In "Journey to the West", although Guan Yu's image is not as plump as in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", he is still a character that cannot be ignored. As one of the four generalissimos of Ma, Zhao, Wen, and Guan, he appeared in the lineup of Heavenly Court. In addition, when Sun Wukong and Erlang God were in a fierce battle, it was also mentioned that Guan Yu watched the battle with other immortals. These details all show Guan Yu's status and influence in the world of immortals.
Although Guan Yu's name is not directly mentioned in "Water Margin", there are two characters with deep roots with him: Guan Sheng and Dadao Guan Yunchang. Guan Sheng is one of the heroes of Liangshan, he claims to be a descendant of Guan Yu's faction, and he is good at using the Qinglong Yanyue Knife. His appearance not only enriched the group portraits of the characters in "Water Margin", but also allowed Guan Yu's spirit to continue. The big sword Guan Yunchang is based on Guan Yu's image, and his story and image reflect Guan Yu's bravery and loyalty.
Finally, in "Dream of Red Mansions", a work with the theme of describing the decline and fall of feudal families, Guan Yu's image is also reflected. In the book, Li Kun mentions the grave of "Guan Fuzi", where "Guan Fuzi" refers to Guan Yu. Although this detail is insignificant, it shows Guan Yu's extensive influence in society at the time and people's admiration for him.
To sum up, Guan Yu, as a common figure in the four famous works, his image and spirit have been fully demonstrated in these classic works. He won the respect and admiration of later generations for his loyalty, benevolence and bravery, and became an indispensable part of traditional Chinese culture. At the same time, Guan Yu's image also reflects the admiration and pursuit of heroes and loyalty in the society at that time.
From today's point of view, Guan Yu's story not only has literary value, but also has profound historical and cultural connotations. His image and spirit are of great significance to our understanding of the values and cultural traditions of ancient societies. At the same time, Guan Yu's story also provides us with valuable life lessons: loyalty, courage and benevolence are qualities we should strive for, and only those who possess these qualities can win the respect and trust of others.
As a common figure in the four famous works, Guan Yu's image and spirit have been fully displayed and inherited in these classic works. His story not only gives us a sense of the bravery and loyalty of the heroes of ancient times, but also provides us with valuable life inspiration. In today's fast-changing society, we still need Guan Yu's qualities of loyalty, courage and benevolence to guide us forward.