Lord Guan: Warrior, Hero, God; A Historical Novel

Summary

In the spirit of Shōgun comes an iconic story inspired by the real-life hero Lord Guan, also known as Guan Yu, an honorable warrior who fought to restore the Han dynasty in second-century China.

Guan Yu (160–220 AD), also known as Guan Gong (Lord Guan), has been celebrated as a pan-Asiatic hero for well over a thousand years. He has been repeatedly canonized and deified across Asia. This historically detailed novel tells the story of his humble beginnings in a rural setting, his unexpected journey into martial arts, the murder of his family members, his unexpected love story, and his emergence as an invincible warrior. It follows his dedication to restoring the great Han Dynasty (BC 206–220 AD) during a tumultuous and war-torn period in Chinese history.

At the outset of his mission, he forms a brotherhood with two equally idealistic supporters of the Han Dynasty. Together, the three men, known as the Peach Garden Brothers, become the backbone of a military force competing against warlords for control of the declining Han Empire.

Throughout the years of conflict, Lord Guan encounters Xian-Hui, a talented and educated beauty kidnapped by eunuchs from the Imperial Palace who is forced to serve as a concubine. With great courage, she escapes her bondage and unexpectedly meets Lord Guan during her frightening getaway.

Lord Guan ultimately sacrifices his life for his mission. Although he did not succeed in restoring the Han Dynasty, his legendary exploits have become an integral part of Chinese folklore. He has endured in the hearts and minds of millions throughout history as a symbol of courage, integrity, and loyalty.

Lord Guan’s adventures were first romanticized in the classic Chinese fourteenth-century novel The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Charles Li’s Lord Guan is a modern and dramatic retelling of this historically significant tale.