Who is General Gwan?

General Gwan , was a famous martial artist with exceptional virtue who is revered as the patron saint of Chinese martial arts. His excellence in gung fu, high moral refinement, and many heroic deeds have become legendary. Numerous accounts of his heroism can be read in the Chinese novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Deified after his death, a shrine honouring General Gwan may be found in all traditional Chinese gung fu schools, stores, restaurants and businesses. General Gwan is usually depicted holding the large Chinese scimitar. It is said that he displayed such mastery of the weapon that it eventually acquired the name, ‘Gwan Do’ or ‘Gwan’s Sword’. The shrine serves more than just a religious symbol but also as a reminder of this great man and as an inspiration for practitioners of Chinese martial artists throughout time, as Gwan Kung personifies the ideal towards which all true Chinese martial artists strive.

In the gung fu school, students bow to the shrine out of respect for Gwan’s unsurpassed virtue, using the gesture to instill in themselves the proper attitude before they begin their training, and when they leave the school, carrying with them the martial virtues and ideals into their daily lives.

Similarly, one might see a shrine in restaurants, places of education, businesses and police stations, as well as anywhere people draw from the martial or ethical inspiration of the Great Gwan.