Certified Chinese antique painting on paper, Qing dynasty. Evaluated by Dr. Qing Chang, PhD in Chinese Arts. This painting depicts Guan Yu, his son Guan Ping, and his attendant Zhou Cang from the late Eastern Han dynasty. Size of the frame: 37 x 28.5 in. = 92 cm x 71 cm; Size of the painting: 31 x 20 in. = 77 cm x 50 cm; Weight: 10 lb. = 4.5 kg; Condition: The painting is torn on the sides, but all three figures are preserved. Natural aging of the paper and colors. Framed under the glass.References:Guan Yu (died 220),[1][2] courtesy name Yunchang, was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the first emperor.[3]As one of the best known Chinese historical figures throughout East Asia, Guan's true life stories have largely given way to fictionalised ones, most of which are found in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms or passed down the generations, in which his deeds and moral qualities have been lionised. Guan is respected as an epitome of loyalty and righteousness.Guan was deified as early as the Sui Dynasty and is still worshipped by many Chinese people today, especially in southern China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and among many overseas Chinese communities. He is a figure in Chinese folk religion, popular Confucianism,Taoism, and Chinese Buddhism, and small shrines to Guan are almost ubiquitous in traditional Chinese shops and restaurants. He is often reverently called Guan Gong (Lord Guan) and Guan Di (Emperor Guan).[4] His hometown Yuncheng has also named its airport after him. Physical appearance: No descriptions of Guan Yu's physical appearance exist in historical records, but his beard was mentioned in the Sanguozhi. Traditionally, he is portrayed as a red-faced warrior with a long lush beard. The idea of his red face may have derived from a later description of him in the first chapter of the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where the following passage appears:Xuande took a glance at the man, who stood at a height of nine chi,[notes 1][5] and had a two chi long beard; his face was of the colour of a zao,[notes 3] with red lips; his eyes were like that of a phoenix's,[notes 4] and his eyebrows resembled silkworms.[notes 5] He had a dignified aura and looked quite majestic.Alternatively, the idea of his red face could have been borrowed from opera representation, where red faces depict loyalty and righteousness.[citation needed] Supposedly, Guan Yu's weapon was a guan dao named Green Dragon Crescent Blade, which resembled a glaive and was said to weigh 82 catties (about 18.25 kg or 40 lbs). A wooden replica can be found today in the Emperor Guan Temple in Xiezhou County, Shanxi. He traditionally dons a green robe over his body armour, as depicted in illustrations of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Condition: The painting is torn on the sides, but all three figures are preserved. Natural aging of the paper and colors. Framed under the glass.
Low Estimate: 10000;
High Estimate: 50000;
Original: Yes