Guan Di
Figure of Guandi
1550-1640 (made)
1550-1640 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Guan Di, the God of War, is one of the most important figures in Chinese mythology and popular culture. His image comes from an historical figure, Guan Yu (about 161-220), a general who helped Liu Bei to establish the Shu Han dynasty in AD 221. After his death, he was venerated as a loyal and righteous figure, until he was given the title of an emperor in AD 1594. With the name Guan Di, he was worshipped in temples and households as the Daoist God of War and patron of honest merchants.
In addition to large statues placed in city's temples, smaller wooden or porcelain images of Guan Di were made for worship. Figures with turquoise and purple glazes were particularly popular; in this Ming example, Guan Di is depicted in martial aspect, wearing full armour. The figure would have been placed on an altar in a household or in a temple.
In addition to large statues placed in city's temples, smaller wooden or porcelain images of Guan Di were made for worship. Figures with turquoise and purple glazes were particularly popular; in this Ming example, Guan Di is depicted in martial aspect, wearing full armour. The figure would have been placed on an altar in a household or in a temple.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Guan Di (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Stoneware decorated with polychrome glaze |
| Brief description | Figure of Guan Di, stoneware with polychrome glazes, China, Ming dynasty, 1550-1640 |
| Physical description | Stoneware figure of Guan Di, seated and wearing a full armour, decorated with polychrome glazes. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Purchased with Art Fund support, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee |
| Production | From Register: Guan Di, a hero of the Three Kingdoms, was canonised in the 12th cetnury and elevated to the position of God of War in 1594. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Guan Di, the God of War, is one of the most important figures in Chinese mythology and popular culture. His image comes from an historical figure, Guan Yu (about 161-220), a general who helped Liu Bei to establish the Shu Han dynasty in AD 221. After his death, he was venerated as a loyal and righteous figure, until he was given the title of an emperor in AD 1594. With the name Guan Di, he was worshipped in temples and households as the Daoist God of War and patron of honest merchants. In addition to large statues placed in city's temples, smaller wooden or porcelain images of Guan Di were made for worship. Figures with turquoise and purple glazes were particularly popular; in this Ming example, Guan Di is depicted in martial aspect, wearing full armour. The figure would have been placed on an altar in a household or in a temple. |
| Bibliographic reference | Larson, John and Rose Kerr. 'A Hero Restored: the Conservation of Guan Di'. Orientations. July 1991, vol. 22, no. 7, p. 28. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.99-1935 |
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| Record created | August 18, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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