Guan Ping

Historical Record

Guan Ping has no independent biography or detailed life record in the standard history *Records of the Three Kingdoms* and its related accounts. The historical record concerning Guan Yu does not mention Guan Ping as his son or adopted son, nor is there any clear description of his taking part in any battle or event. Therefore, from the standpoint of the historical biographical materials, Guan Ping's existence and his life and deeds are all unverifiable from historical sources. This indicates that the figure Guan Ping was chiefly given life and story in literary creation rather than in the true record of history. The histories mention only that Guan Yu had a son named Guan Xing, who inherited Guan Yu's title, with no mention of Guan Ping. ^c:3

In the Novel

In Luo Guanzhong's literary portrayal in *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Guan Ping is a loyal, brave, and filial figure, the adopted son of Guan Yu. He first appears in Chapter 28, when Liu Bei and Guan Yu were reunited at Gucheng, and Guan Ding presented his eighteen-year-old second son Guan Ping to Guan Yu; with Liu Bei presiding, Guan Ping bowed to Guan Yu as his father. ^c:232 From then on, Guan Ping, as Guan Yu's lieutenant, was constantly at his side and took part in many important battles. He aided Guan Yu not only in military affairs but also displayed filial devotion in daily life. For example, when Liu Bei entered Yi Province, Guan Ping went along with Liu Feng, guarding Liu Bei in the central army. ^c:235

Guan Ping played an important role during Guan Yu's defense of Jing Province. Together with Zhou Cang, Liao Hua, and others, he assisted Guan Yu in jointly garrisoning the vital region of Jing Province. ^c:4580 In the scene of Guan Yu "attending the meeting armed with a single blade," Guan Ping advised Guan Yu not to put himself recklessly in danger, but Guan Yu insisted on going. Guan Ping then, following Guan Yu's instructions, prepared boats and marines on the river in case of need, showing his prudence and loyalty to Guan Yu. ^c:7153 When Guan Yu fought Pang De, Guan Ping volunteered to fight in his father's stead and urged Guan Yu not to "match heights with a stubborn stone, when you carry the weight of Mount Tai," showing his protectiveness toward his father and his concern for the larger situation. ^c:241 When Guan Yu was struck by a poisoned arrow and Hua Tuo scraped the bone to cure the poison, Guan Ping attended at his side and conferred with the other generals to persuade Guan Yu to return to Jing Province for treatment, but Guan Yu refused. ^c:242

In the later stage of Guan Yu's Northern Campaign against Xiangyang and Fancheng, facing the pincer attack of Cao Cao and Sun Quan, Guan Ping held his post throughout. When Xu Huang attacked Yancheng, Guan Ping led troops to meet the enemy, and though he fell into a trap for a time, he fought on with all his might. ^c:7163 When besieged at Maicheng, Guan Ping and Liao Hua broke out together to seek aid, but in the end did not succeed. When Guan Yu and his son broke out as far as Linju, Guan Ping, learning amid the chaos of battle that Zhao Lei had died, was overcome with grief, yet still obeyed orders to cover the rear, and in the end was captured together with Guan Yu by the Wu general Ma Zhong. ^c:244 Guan Ping was beheaded by Sun Quan together with Guan Yu; father and son, loyal and righteous, went together to the netherworld, adding a vivid stroke to the tragic ending of Guan Yu in *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*.

Key Relationships

* Guan Yu (parent_of): Guan Ping was Guan Yu's adopted son. In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Guan Ding gave Guan Ping over to Guan Yu, and from then on Guan Ping, as Guan Yu's son, was constantly at his side, loyal and devoted, with deep father-son affection. ^c:232
* Guan Ding (parent_of): Guan Ping's birth father, who in *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* gave Guan Ping over to Guan Yu. ^c:232 (Novel only)
* Liu Bei's faction (member_of): As Guan Yu's adopted son, Guan Ping was naturally an important member of Liu Bei's faction, taking part in many battles and political activities. ^c:4579
* Liu Bei (commands_in): During Liu Bei's entry into Yi Province, Guan Ping, together with Liu Feng, guarded Liu Bei in the central army. ^c:235
* Zhou Cang, Liao Hua (colleague_of): Guan Ping, together with Zhou Cang, Liao Hua, and others, assisted Guan Yu in garrisoning Jing Province and fought side by side in many battles. ^c:4580

Signature Scenes

* Recognition at Gucheng (Novel only): At Gucheng, Guan Ding presented the eighteen-year-old Guan Ping to Guan Yu, and with Liu Bei presiding, Guan Ping bowed to Guan Yu as his father; from then on Guan Ping followed Guan Yu and became his loyal lieutenant. ^c:232
* Urging His Father Not to Contend with Pang De (Novel only): In the Battle of Xiangyang and Fancheng, facing Pang De's challenge, Guan Ping urged Guan Yu: "Father, you must not, carrying the weight of Mount Tai, match heights with a stubborn stone. Your unworthy son is willing to go in your father's stead to fight Pang De." This act displayed both Guan Ping's filial devotion and his courage and protectiveness toward his father. ^c:241
* Preparations Before Attending the Meeting Armed with a Single Blade (Novel only): When Guan Yu decided to attend the meeting armed with a single blade, Guan Ping advised against it, but Guan Yu insisted on going. Guan Ping then, following Guan Yu's instructions, prepared boats and marines on the river in case of need, showing his prudence and loyalty to Guan Yu. ^c:7153
* Covering the Rear in the Battle of Xiangyang and Fancheng (Novel only): After Guan Yu was defeated and fled to Maicheng, Guan Ping, in the battle at Linju, obeyed orders to cover Guan Yu's rear, and in the end was captured together with Guan Yu by the Wu general Ma Zhong; father and son went together to their deaths, the very picture of loyalty and righteousness. ^c:244
* His Worry During the Scraping of the Bone to Cure the Poison (Novel only): When Guan Yu was struck by a poisoned arrow and Hua Tuo scraped the bone to cure the poison, Guan Ping attended at his side and conferred with the other generals to persuade Guan Yu to return to Jing Province for treatment, showing his deep concern for his father. ^c:7162