Stele made in 1574
Guan Gong and Zhou Cang
Artist/maker unknownAlso known as Guan Yu (c. 162–219), Guan Gong is a historical figure who fought for one of the contending lords of the Three Kingdoms (220–280). Widely-known for his military prowess and moral righteousness, he came to be worshiped as the God of War during the Ming dynasty. This rubbing, taken from a stele in the Cishou Temple just outside of Beijing, attests to the addition of Guan Gong into the pantheon of latter-day Chinese Buddhism. He is usually depicted together with his underling, Zhou Cang, who holds Guan’s famous Blue Dragon Crescent Blade, which is said to weigh more than one hundred pounds.
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