Historical Record
As for the man Guan Ding, the standard histories such as the *Records of the Three Kingdoms* and their associated commentaries contain no clear record. In the verifiable historical documents, no figure surnamed Guan and named Ding is found to have had any contact with Guan Yu or Liu Bei. Therefore, within the scope of historical scholarship, the figure Guan Ding is a character without documentary support.
In the Novel
In the literary world of Luo Guanzhong's *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Guan Ding is a fictional figure who plays an important role in driving the plot. He first appears in Chapter 28, when Guan Yu was traveling a thousand li in search of his sworn brother and had reached Jieshou. After Guan Yu conferred with Sun Qian, Sun Qian went ahead into the city to meet Liu Bei, while Guan Yu sought a place to rest near Jieshou. It was just then that Guan Yu met Guan Ding. The novel relates that Guan Yu, gazing toward the village ahead, saw a manor, and went with his followers to lodge there. The manor's master, Guan Ding, came out leaning on a staff, saluted Guan Yu, and introduced himself, saying: "I too am surnamed Guan, named Ding. Long have I heard your great name, and I am fortunate to behold you." c:7147 Guan Ding not only warmly entertained Guan Yu and his followers but also called out his two sons—the elder Guan Ning and the younger Guan Ping—to pay their respects. Guan Ding's admiration for Guan Yu was plain to see, and he put forward an important request of his own accord. When Liu Bei had joined up with Sun Qian and Jian Yong and they came together to Guan Ding's manor, Guan Ding again led his two sons to bow before the thatched hall. He expressed to Liu Bei and Guan Yu his wish to entrust his second son Guan Ping to Guan Yu, saying: "It is now my humble wish to send my second son to follow General Guan; I wonder whether he might be received?" c:230 When Liu Bei asked Guan Ping's age, Guan Ding answered, "Eighteen years." In the end, Liu Bei adopted Guan Ding's suggestion and proposed that Guan Ping take Guan Yu as his adoptive father and call himself his uncle. Guan Ding was overjoyed at this, and Guan Ping forthwith bowed to Guan Yu as his father. This episode not only gave Guan Yu an important adoptive son but also laid the groundwork for Guan Ping's later showings in the novel. After Guan Ping bowed to his father, Guan Ding saw Guan Yu and his party off and returned to his manor, appearing no more thereafter.
Key Relationships
* Relationship with Guan Yu: Guan Ding shared Guan Yu's surname, and out of admiration for Guan Yu's name warmly entertained Guan Yu as he traveled a thousand li in search of his sworn brother. More importantly, he brought about the father-son relationship between Guan Ping and Guan Yu, giving his second son Guan Ping over to Guan Yu as an adoptive son, thereby giving Guan Yu an important relative and future general. (Novel only) c:230
* Relationship with Guan Ping: Guan Ding was Guan Ping's birth father. He of his own accord entrusted his eighteen-year-old second son Guan Ping to Guan Yu, hoping Guan Ping could follow Guan Yu and establish merit. This act directly changed Guan Ping's destiny, making him Guan Yu's adoptive son and setting him from then on upon the path of following Guan Yu. (Novel only) c:230
* Relationship with Liu Bei: At the reunion of Liu Bei and Guan Yu, Guan Ding also expressed his respect to Liu Bei. At Guan Ding's manor, Liu Bei witnessed and brought about the father-son relationship between Guan Ping and Guan Yu, and accepted Guan Ping calling him uncle. (Novel only) c:230
Signature Scenes
* The Meeting at the Manor at Jieshou: As Guan Yu traveled a thousand li in search of his sworn brother, he chanced upon Guan Ding near Jieshou. As master of the manor, Guan Ding warmly received Guan Yu, gave his own name, and expressed his admiration for Guan Yu. This scene is Guan Ding's first appearance and the beginning of his connection with Guan Yu. (Novel only) c:7147
* Guan Ping Bows to His Father: When Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Sun Qian, Jian Yong, and the others gathered at Guan Ding's manor, Guan Ding of his own accord proposed to give his second son Guan Ping over to Guan Yu as an adoptive son. Liu Bei gladly assented and brought about this important ceremony. Guan Ping there and then bowed to Guan Yu as his father and called Liu Bei uncle. This scene is not only Guan Ding's high point in the novel but also laid the foundation for Guan Ping's later role in the Shu Han camp. (Novel only) c:230
* Seeing Guan Yu and His Party Off: After Guan Ping bowed to his father, Guan Ding saw off Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and the rest, who were anxious to be on their way. Thereafter Guan Ding appears no more in the novel. His mission was thereby complete—namely, to bring about the father-son relationship between Guan Ping and Guan Yu, and to provide an important waystation on Guan Yu's journey in search of his sworn brother. (Novel only) c:230
Relationships
2 relationships
Quotes
3 recorded lines · 2 featured
「某亦姓關，名定。久聞大名，幸得瞻謁。」
This line shows Guan Ding's admiration for Guan Yu, underscoring how far Guan Yu's fame had spread.
「今愚意欲遣次子跟隨關將軍，未識肯容納否？」
This line reflects Guan Ding's trust in Liu Bei and his high regard for Guan Yu, setting the stage for Guan Ping's entrance.
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- 演ch.28
Inner monologues · AI-generated1 段 ▸
- My surname was Guan, and my given name was Ding. I lived in a village in Jieshou. One day, I saw a group of visitors app