Guan Xing

Historical Record

Guan Xing, courtesy name Anguo, was a son of the renowned Shu Han general Guan Yu. According to the *Records of the Three Kingdoms*, after Guan Yu was posthumously honored as Marquis Zhuangmou, his son Guan Xing inherited the title. ^c:206 From his youth Guan Xing was known for his good reputation, and he even won the deep esteem and praise of the Chancellor Zhuge Liang. While still quite young he held important offices such as Palace Attendant and Inspector of the Central Army, showing his political and military precocity and potential. However, Guan Xing died young, passing away after only a few years in office. After his death, his son Guan Tong inherited the title. Guan Tong later married a princess and rose to the office of General of the Tiger Guards. Unfortunately, Guan Tong died without an heir, so the title passed to Guan Xing's son by a concubine, Guan Yi. ^c:206 It is worth noting that, according to the *Records of Shu*, after the fall of Shu Han, Pang De's son Pang Hui followed Zhong Hui and Deng Ai in the conquest of Shu and wiped out the entire Guan clan, adding a layer of tragedy to the fate of the Guan family. ^c:206

In the Novel

In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Guan Xing is portrayed as a fuller and more valiant figure, especially after the deaths of his father Guan Yu and his uncle Zhang Fei, when he and Zhang Bao together became outstanding generals of the younger generation of Shu Han. Guan Xing first appears when Guan Yu's might shook all China; he went to Jing Province to visit his father, and on his father's orders carried the dispatches recording Guan Yu's achievements to Chengdu to present them to the King of Hanzhong, Liu Bei. ^c:208 After Guan Yu was killed, Guan Xing, hearing the dire news in Chengdu, was overcome with grief and collapsed weeping before Liu Bei, causing Liu Bei to faint once more. ^c:211

To avenge Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, Liu Bei raised an army to campaign against Wu. The young generals Guan Xing and Zhang Bao showed astonishing valor and rapport on the battlefield. They repeatedly vied to be the vanguard, comparing their martial skills before Liu Bei, and Guan Xing surpassed Zhang Bao with the feat of shooting down a flying wild goose with a single arrow. ^c:7128 In the war against Wu, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao fought side by side and repeatedly won merit. He once cut down the Wu general Li Yi with a single stroke, rescuing Zhang Bao, whose horse had been struck by a stealthy arrow. ^c:214 The next day, Guan Xing captured before the battle lines Tan Xiong, who had wounded Zhang Bao's horse, beheaded him, and offered him in sacrifice to Zhang Bao's dead horse. ^c:215 In the Battle of Xiaoting, Guan Xing pursued the foe Pan Zhang, and with the aid of Guan Yu's manifested spirit slew Pan Zhang with his own hand, recovered his father's Green Dragon Crescent Blade, and hung Pan Zhang's head from his horse as an offering to his father. ^c:219

During Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao continued to be active on the battlefield as important young generals. They were once ordered to relieve the trapped Zhao Yun; Guan Xing slew the Wei general Dong Xi and Zhang Bao slew Xue Ze, displaying outstanding fighting prowess. ^c:4576 In the attack on Nan'an Commandery, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao cooperated again: Guan Xing slew Yang Ling and Zhang Bao stabbed Cui Liang to death, rendering great service in the Shu army's capture of the city. ^c:223 In a battle against the Qiang troops, Guan Xing was knocked off his horse by Marshal Yue Ji's iron hammer, but at the critical moment his father Guan Yu's manifested spirit came to his rescue and guided him out of danger. ^c:224 Then, by Zhuge Liang's stratagem, Guan Xing slew Marshal Yue Ji amid the chaos of battle. ^c:225

In the novel Guan Xing repeatedly served as vanguard and took part in many important battles of Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions. ^c:228 Regrettably, however, on the eve of Zhuge Liang's Fifth Northern Expedition, Guan Xing fell ill and died. On hearing the news, Kongming wept aloud, lamenting that Heaven grants no long years to the loyal and righteous, and grieving deeply at the loss of a great general. ^c:229 Guan Xing's image in the novel largely makes up for the sparseness of the historical record, portraying him as a loyal, brave, filial, and highly skilled young general, paired with Zhang Bao as the "Little Guan and Zhang," and becoming an important military pillar of Shu Han's later years.

Key Relationships

* Guan Yu (kin_of): Guan Xing was Guan Yu's second son. ^c:208 In the novel, Guan Xing felt deep affection for his father Guan Yu, and avenging his father was an important motive for his actions. He slew with his own hand his father's killer Pan Zhang and recovered the Green Dragon Crescent Blade as an offering to his father. ^c:219
* Guan Tong (parent_of): Guan Xing's son, who inherited his title. ^c:206
* Guan Yi (parent_of): Guan Xing's son by a concubine, who inherited the title after Guan Tong died without an heir. ^c:206
* Liu Bei (serves): As a general of Shu Han, Guan Xing was loyal to Liu Bei. After the deaths of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, Liu Bei treated Guan Xing and Zhang Bao as his own and placed great hopes in them. ^c:212
* Zhuge Liang (serves): Zhuge Liang deeply esteemed Guan Xing, as recorded even in the historical sources. ^c:206 In the novel, Zhuge Liang repeatedly entrusted Guan Xing with important tasks, trusted his abilities greatly, and wept bitterly at his death. ^c:229
* Zhang Bao (friend_of, comrade_in_arms): Guan Xing and Zhang Fei's son Zhang Bao were brothers as close as kin, equal in martial skill, campaigning together many times and fighting side by side, hailed as the "Little Guan and Zhang." ^c:212 They were both rivals and comrades who shared life and death, supporting one another on the battlefield and slaying the enemy together. ^c:214
* Pan Zhang (enemy): The Wu general who killed Guan Yu. In the Battle of Xiaoting, Guan Xing successfully avenged his father, slaying Pan Zhang with his own hand. ^c:219 (Novel only)
* Tan Xiong (enemy): A Wu general who wounded Zhang Bao's horse with a stealthy arrow. Guan Xing captured and beheaded him, avenging Zhang Bao. ^c:215 (Novel only)
* Li Yi (enemy): A Wu general slain by Guan Xing while fighting Zhang Bao. ^c:214 (Novel only)
* Marshal Yue Ji (enemy): A Qiang general who once knocked Guan Xing off his horse. He was later slain by Guan Xing through Zhuge Liang's stratagem. ^c:225 (Novel only)

Signature Scenes

* Father and Son Reunite and the Mission to Shu: When Guan Yu's might shook all China, Guan Xing went to Jing Province to visit his father and, on his orders, carried the dispatches of merit to Chengdu to present them to the King of Hanzhong, Liu Bei. This is Guan Xing's first appearance in the novel, showing his bond with his father and his early capacity to carry out missions. ^c:208
* Avenging Father and Uncle, Weeping Before Liu Bei: After Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were killed one after another, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao wailed before Liu Bei, leaving Liu Bei overcome with grief and fainting repeatedly. This scene profoundly displays Guan Xing's deep affection for his father and uncle and the bond between lord and subject in Shu Han. ^c:211
* Comparing Skills with Zhang Bao to Vie for the Vanguard: Before Liu Bei's campaign against Wu, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao compared their martial skills before Liu Bei, vying for the post of vanguard. Guan Xing, with the feat of shooting down a flying wild goose with a single arrow, won the acclaim of all and showed his outstanding archery. ^c:7128
* Slaying Pan Zhang at Xiaoting and Recovering the Green Dragon Blade: In the Battle of Xiaoting, Guan Xing pursued his father's killer Pan Zhang. With the aid of Guan Yu's manifested spirit, he slew Pan Zhang with his own hand, recovered his father's Green Dragon Crescent Blade, and used Pan Zhang's head as an offering to his father. This is Guan Xing's most classic scene of revenge in the novel and the concentrated embodiment of his loyal and filial image. ^c:219 (Novel only)
* Fighting Side by Side with Zhang Bao, Winning Repeated Merit: During the campaign against Wu and the Northern Expeditions, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao repeatedly paired up and charged into battle together. Whether slaying the Wu generals Li Yi and capturing Tan Xiong ^{c:214 c:215}, or slaying the Wei generals Dong Xi and Yang Ling in the Northern Expeditions ^{c:4576 c:223}, they displayed the valor and rapport of the younger generation of generals, becoming an important force on the battlefields of Shu Han's later years.
* Guan Yu's Manifested Spirit Saves His Son: In battle against the Qiang troops, Guan Xing was knocked off his horse by Marshal Yue Ji, and at the critical moment his father Guan Yu's manifested spirit guided him out of danger. This scene not only highlights Guan Xing's plight but, through its mythic coloring, further reinforces Guan Yu's loyal and righteous image and his protection of his son. ^c:224 (Novel only)
* Death by Illness, Kongming Weeps: On the eve of Zhuge Liang's Fifth Northern Expedition, Guan Xing died of illness. On hearing the news, Kongming wept aloud, lamenting that Heaven grants no long years to the loyal and righteous, and grieving deeply at the loss of a great general. This scene marks the end of Guan Xing's life and indirectly conveys his important place in Zhuge Liang's heart and his contribution to Shu Han. ^c:229