Quick Facts
Biography
Guan Xing (birth and death dates unknown), courtesy name Anguo, was an official of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period. He was the second son of Guan Yu and a younger brother of Guan Ping.
Little information about Guan Xing is found in historical records. The biography of Guan Yu in the Records of the Three Kingdoms contains only a few lines on Guan Xing. In his youth, Guan Xing was knowledgeable, and Zhuge Liang saw him as an exceptional talent. When he reached adulthood (around 19 years old), he served as an official in Shu Han, but died some years later. His cause of death was not documented. He had two known sons – Guan Tong (關統) and Guan Yi (關彝).
Guan Xing appears as a character in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, in which he plays a significant role after the death of his father.
In Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Guan Xing was given much more significance.
In Chapter 81, Guan Xing was said to have competed with Zhang Bao, a son of Zhang Fei, over the command of the vanguard force to attack Sun Quan to avenge their fathers. Liu Bei then asked them to become oath brothers in the same manner he did with their fathers many years ago. Zhang Bao was the older of the two. Guan Xing and Zhang Bao were then ordered to join Wu Ban, who would lead the vanguard in the campaign against Sun Quan.
In Chapter 83, Guan Xing slew Pan Zhang, the commander of the division that previously captured Guan Yu. Guan Yu's ghost had made Pan Zhang freeze in fear, allowing Guan Xing to slay him. In doing so, Guan Xing retrieved his father's weapon, the Green Dragon Crescent Blade. Later, when Mi Fang and Fu Shiren, two former Shu officers who defected to Sun Quan and ultimately caused the death of Guan Yu, surrendered to Liu Bei again, Liu Bei refused to forgive them and ordered Guan Xing to execute the pair before an altar dedicated to Guan Yu.
In Chapter 91, Guan Xing was appointed Commander of the Left Guard (帳前左護衛使) and Soaring Dragon General (龍驤將軍). He then followed Zhuge Liang on the Northern Expeditions against the rival state of Wei. He dies of illness in Chapter 102.
In popular culture
Guan Xing is first introduced as a playable character in the eighth instalment of Koei's Dynasty Warriors video game series.
Guan Xing's appointment and the Northern Expeditions are depicted in the 2008 film Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon.