Lady Gan

Historical Record

Lady Gan was the wife of Liu Bei and the mother of Liu Shan. In the surviving historical materials, however, records concerning Lady Gan are exceedingly few, with almost no verifiable facts. The standard histories do not record in detail her life, character, or words and deeds, nor even the specific process by which she came to know and join Liu Bei. Her existence is mentioned more as Liu Bei's consort and Liu Shan's birth mother, lacking any independent portrayal. Thus, at the level of historical material, Lady Gan is a relatively obscure figure, her image enriched and completed mainly through the literary creation of later ages. The histories never record any dialogue or specific action of Lady Gan; her image depends almost entirely on the shaping of literary works such as *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*.

In the Novel

In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, as one of Liu Bei's two wives, Lady Gan's image is significantly enriched and shaped. She is not only Liu Bei's virtuous helpmeet but also, in the course of Guan Yu's "lone ride of a thousand li" escorting her and Lady Mi in search of Liu Bei, displays her gentle and sensible side. When Guan Yu was besieged at Tushan and, after Zhang Liao persuaded him to come over to Cao Cao, Lady Gan and Lady Mi came out to receive Guan Yu and asked after Liu Bei's whereabouts. Lady Gan said that since Cao Cao had already granted Guan Yu his three conditions, there was no need to ask the opinion of women like themselves, and her only worry was that Cao Cao might later refuse to let Guan Yu go in search of Liu Bei.^[1] This embodies her concern for the larger situation and her deep anxiety for Liu Bei's safety.

Cao Cao treated Guan Yu with great courtesy, giving him brocade, gold and silver, and ten beautiful women; Guan Yu passed all these gifts on to the two ladies and had the women wait upon them. Three times a day Guan Yu bowed outside the inner gate, asking after the two ladies' wellbeing, and the two ladies in turn asked about Liu Bei.^[2] During her time in Xu, Lady Gan once wept in grief because she dreamed at night that Liu Bei had fallen into a pit; Guan Yu consoled her, saying that "matters of dreams cannot be relied upon," and held that it was because she missed Liu Bei.^[3] This further depicts her deep love and longing for Liu Bei.

When Guan Yu was about to go out to fight Yan Liang, Lady Gan and Lady Mi charged him to inquire after news of Liu Bei.^[4] Later, when they learned that Liu Bei was with Yuan Shao, Lady Gan even reproached Guan Yu for receiving Cao Cao's favors and forgetting his old loyalty, not telling them the truth.^[5] This shows her fidelity to Liu Bei and her oversight of Guan Yu's conduct. On the journey of Guan Yu's "passing five passes and slaying six generals" to escort the two ladies in search of Liu Bei, Lady Gan also displayed her sensible side. When Zhou Cang wished to follow Guan Yu with his band, Lady Gan advised Guan Yu not to let too many people follow, saying, "We women are of shallow understanding; the uncle should weigh it himself,"^[6] embodying her prudence and her trust in Guan Yu. When Zhang Fei misunderstood Guan Yu as having surrendered to Cao Cao, Lady Gan stepped forward to explain to Zhang Fei Guan Yu's helplessness and loyalty, averting a misunderstanding between the brothers.^[7]

Lady Gan also bore Liu Bei a son, Liu Shan. In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Liu Shan's birth was accompanied by portents: a white crane flew onto the roof of the house and cried out loudly, and Lady Gan dreamed at night of swallowing the Northern Dipper, and so Liu Shan's milk-name was "Adou."^[8] In the Battle of Changban, Zhao Yun found Lady Gan amid the chaotic troops, and she wept to Zhao Yun of how she had become separated from Lady Mi and Adou^[9], further highlighting the fragility of women in a chaotic age and their attachment to their kin.

Key Relationships

* Liu Bei (spouse_of): Lady Gan was Liu Bei's wife; in *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, she was steadfastly faithful to Liu Bei, deep in her longing for him, and at critical moments defended the brotherly bond between Liu Bei and Guan Yu.^[7]
* Liu Shan (parent_of): Lady Gan was the birth mother of Liu Shan; in *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Liu Shan's birth was accompanied by portents, and Lady Gan was therefore called the "mother of the Northern Dipper."^[8] (unique to the novel)
* Guan Yu (brother-in-law_of): Lady Gan and Guan Yu stood in the relation of elder sister-in-law and younger brother-in-law. In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Guan Yu treated Lady Gan and Lady Mi with great respect, escorting them a thousand li, while Lady Gan in turn oversaw and understood Guan Yu's loyalty and conduct.^[5]
* Lady Mi (co-wife_of): Lady Gan and Lady Mi were both wives of Liu Bei; in *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, they together endured a life of wandering hardship, supporting each other.^[9]

Iconic Scenes

* Consoling Guan Yu at Xu: During Guan Yu's time in Xu, Lady Gan wept in grief over a night dream out of longing for Liu Bei, and Guan Yu spoke to console her—embodying Guan Yu's respect and care for his sister-in-law and displaying Lady Gan's deep love for Liu Bei.^[3] (unique to the novel)
* Reproaching Guan Yu for concealing Liu Bei's whereabouts: When Lady Gan learned that Liu Bei was with Yuan Shao, she once reproached Guan Yu for receiving Cao Cao's favors and concealing Liu Bei's whereabouts, showing her fidelity to Liu Bei and her expectations of Guan Yu.^[5] (unique to the novel)
* Found by Zhao Yun at Changban: In the Battle of Changban, Zhao Yun found Lady Gan amid the chaotic troops, and she wept to Zhao Yun of how she had been separated from Lady Mi and Adou; this scene highlights the helplessness of women in a chaotic age and Zhao Yun's loyalty and valor.^[9] (unique to the novel)
* Explaining why Guan Yu surrendered to Cao Cao: When Zhang Fei misunderstood Guan Yu as having surrendered to Cao Cao, Lady Gan stepped forward to explain to Zhang Fei Guan Yu's helplessness, averting a misunderstanding between the brothers, displaying her good sense and her wisdom in safeguarding family harmony.^[7] (unique to the novel)