You’d expect a God of War statue to look pretty epic. But there’s epic, and then there’s EPIC, and this enormous statue of Guan Yu, a famous general in Chinese history who was later deified, is most definitely EPIC.
The statue of the Chinese god has just been unveiled in Guan Yu Park in Jingzhou. It’s 58 meters (190ft) tall and weighs over 1,320 tonnes, and it contains over 4,000 strips of bronze. It was designed by Han Meilin, a Chinese artist who is probably best known for his designs of the 2008 Beijing Olympics mascots, and the monument is so big that there’s even an 8,000sqm museum inside it!
Guan Yu lived during China’s turbulent Three Kingdoms period. He carried an axe-like weapon called a Green Dragon Crescent Blade, which has been immortalized with him as part of the statue. The only difference is that the weapon now weighs 136 tonnes! And though for us westerners Guan Yu is commonly known as a War God, Chinese mythology celebrates a whole spectrum of his qualities, such as brotherhood and loyalty. It is very common for a household to have little shrines dedicated to him and celebrating Guan Yu goodness.
Did we mention this God of War statue was epic?
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In Chinese culture, he is rarely known as the god of warfare. He's better known as a protector of Buddhism and god of bookkeeping.
Hmm I can see why. I will give back ALL books to his library VERY fast, without ANY delay if he would be a local librarian.
Lolol I just burst into laughter reading this at a cafe lolol
A bookkeeper and a librarian are not the same thing. Just sayin'.
He's protector of the house too ^^
That is fantastic. I would love to have him as my librarian.
That is fucking fantastic. I would love to have him as my librarian.
He is a God of Justice. Sometimes that includes war. Of the three brothers, he's definitely the most God of War like. The Celestial Marshal is closer to a God of War, but he's rarely depicted.
Yes. The one that is the real "aggro" patron is zhangfei 张飞
From the air it looks like Guan Yu decided to skateboard across China.
LMAO,. you hit it perfectly
It's an impressive statue but it would have been 100 times better if it was the god of peace. But then, this is in China. They have a statement to make.
It isn't what you think......In Asia Guan Yu is the God of War but he's also the God of Brotherhood, Loyalty, Protection and Honor. It may sound funny, but police stations and gangs alike often have a statue of him in honor of their camaraderie and brotherhood, and it is extremely common for private residence to also have a shrine dedicated to Guan Yu for protection. Calling him the God of War is quite inaccurate.
Terrence Sum Ting Wong has the most accurate description of Guan Yu.
Its vaguely accurate, I would say. But yes, kinda funny how he's a patron both of police and gangsters. Honor and brotherhood, death before dishonor and all that.
Turns out the article's title is criminally misleading... As I read the other comments, it appears he's not the god of war...
He is a God of War too. Its just that he's an actual person, and like most real people, represents many concepts. Like his oath brothers, they all fought a war against a tyrant: he is most represented with strength, power and prowess and is popular. He is the Warrior, where the other two are the Scholar and the Noble.
PS in China, he is not known as the god of war. That's like calling Guanyin "the goddess of mercy."
Yeah right, except Guan Yu is a real historical figure and this statue is built right where he died.
Without his influence, Chinese warfare might have been much more violent.
Actually, This is the god of skateboard. I'm from China，I bet 5 bucksXD
YOU'RE AN IDIOT WHITE FAG
I am afraid that is not a statement intended by the people in this city who worshipped a legendary hero who died more than a thousand years ago. you just made a wrong conclusion because you dont understand his history and the site chosen and what he stands for, -- all GOOD. Also there are plenty of huge buddha and peaceful statues bigger than this across China. ..
Knowing Han Meilin personally, I can tell you that the image of God of War is not the image he had in mind.
Lol, you should criticise the statue of "Liberty"
If you wanted a patron God to look over and protect you, would you rather want a "nice" peaceful god or someone who could protect you from the evils of the world?
Sorry that we have a culture.
If you are fighting for peace,then prepare yourself for a war...
I'm not fighting...
It would be 1000 times better if it was the god of blow jobs.
Cut the crap.
Admittedly beautiful, I too believe it could have been nicer to depict a more positive image.
Guan Yu is nothing but positive. He is deified because he personified the traits of honour, righteousness, brotherhood, loyalty. He just happened to be a damn good warrior as well. Nobody ever vilified the Knights of the round table, did they?
IGNORANT AMERICAN
me neither at the moment,but i'm and you are also,even if u think u are not,things were u stand for in life,u fight for.
In Chinese culture, he is rarely known as the god of warfare. He's better known as a protector of Buddhism and god of bookkeeping.
Hmm I can see why. I will give back ALL books to his library VERY fast, without ANY delay if he would be a local librarian.
Lolol I just burst into laughter reading this at a cafe lolol
A bookkeeper and a librarian are not the same thing. Just sayin'.
He's protector of the house too ^^
That is fantastic. I would love to have him as my librarian.
That is fucking fantastic. I would love to have him as my librarian.
He is a God of Justice. Sometimes that includes war. Of the three brothers, he's definitely the most God of War like. The Celestial Marshal is closer to a God of War, but he's rarely depicted.
Yes. The one that is the real "aggro" patron is zhangfei 张飞
From the air it looks like Guan Yu decided to skateboard across China.
LMAO,. you hit it perfectly
It's an impressive statue but it would have been 100 times better if it was the god of peace. But then, this is in China. They have a statement to make.
It isn't what you think......In Asia Guan Yu is the God of War but he's also the God of Brotherhood, Loyalty, Protection and Honor. It may sound funny, but police stations and gangs alike often have a statue of him in honor of their camaraderie and brotherhood, and it is extremely common for private residence to also have a shrine dedicated to Guan Yu for protection. Calling him the God of War is quite inaccurate.
Terrence Sum Ting Wong has the most accurate description of Guan Yu.
Its vaguely accurate, I would say. But yes, kinda funny how he's a patron both of police and gangsters. Honor and brotherhood, death before dishonor and all that.
Turns out the article's title is criminally misleading... As I read the other comments, it appears he's not the god of war...
He is a God of War too. Its just that he's an actual person, and like most real people, represents many concepts. Like his oath brothers, they all fought a war against a tyrant: he is most represented with strength, power and prowess and is popular. He is the Warrior, where the other two are the Scholar and the Noble.
PS in China, he is not known as the god of war. That's like calling Guanyin "the goddess of mercy."
Yeah right, except Guan Yu is a real historical figure and this statue is built right where he died.
Without his influence, Chinese warfare might have been much more violent.
Actually, This is the god of skateboard. I'm from China，I bet 5 bucksXD
YOU'RE AN IDIOT WHITE FAG
I am afraid that is not a statement intended by the people in this city who worshipped a legendary hero who died more than a thousand years ago. you just made a wrong conclusion because you dont understand his history and the site chosen and what he stands for, -- all GOOD. Also there are plenty of huge buddha and peaceful statues bigger than this across China. ..
Knowing Han Meilin personally, I can tell you that the image of God of War is not the image he had in mind.
Lol, you should criticise the statue of "Liberty"
If you wanted a patron God to look over and protect you, would you rather want a "nice" peaceful god or someone who could protect you from the evils of the world?
Sorry that we have a culture.
If you are fighting for peace,then prepare yourself for a war...
I'm not fighting...
It would be 1000 times better if it was the god of blow jobs.
Cut the crap.
Admittedly beautiful, I too believe it could have been nicer to depict a more positive image.
Guan Yu is nothing but positive. He is deified because he personified the traits of honour, righteousness, brotherhood, loyalty. He just happened to be a damn good warrior as well. Nobody ever vilified the Knights of the round table, did they?
IGNORANT AMERICAN
me neither at the moment,but i'm and you are also,even if u think u are not,things were u stand for in life,u fight for.