Blue Dragon Crescent Blade
Encyclopedia
The Green Dragon Crescent Blade (青龍偃月刀, Mandarin: qīng lóng yǎn yuè dāo, Cantonese
: ching¹ lung⁴ yim² yuet⁶ do¹) was a legend
ary weapon
wielded by Guan Yu
in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
. It is a guandao, a type of traditional Chinese weapon.
It is also sometimes referred to as the Frost Fair Blade (冷艷鋸, lěng yàn jù), from the idea that during a battle in the snow, the blade continuously had blood on it; the blood froze and made a layer of frost on the blade.
, the blade was forged by a local blacksmith using steel sponsored by Zhang Shiping
(張世平), a merchant sympathetic to Liu Bei
's cause. When Guan Yu met his end at the hands of Lü Meng
in 219
, the blade was given to Pan Zhang
by Sun Quan
for his role in capturing of Guan Yu. Later, when Guan Yu's son Guan Xing
soon sought revenge on Pan Zhang, Pan Zhang was startled by a vision of Guan Yu's spirit and was killed by Guan Xing. Guan Xing took back the Green Dragon Crescent Blade and thus the blade was passed down from father to son.
actually wielded the Green Dragon or whether it was merely part of the myths surrounding him, valid historical text from his time period made no mention of him or anyone wielding a similar weapon. Because the guandao was known not to be widely used until the Song Dynasty
, there is some doubt as to whether the guandao existed during Guan Yu's time. The guandao may not have been very widely-used because it was both difficult to wield, because of its heavy weight (Guan Yu, reportedly, was able to wield it with much agility with just one hand, while most people would have trouble using it effectively even with both hands) - however, this may be due to the legend of the weight surrounding the blade - whereas in reality, it was much lighter.
According to Romance of the Three Kingdoms/Chapter 1, the Green Dragon Crescent Blade was said to weigh 82 catties
. During the Eastern Han Dynasty
and Three Kingdoms
periods, one catty was approximately 220 grams, so 82 catties would have been approximately 18.04 kilograms (~39.7782 pounds).:zh:%E5%BA%A6%E9%87%8F%E8%A1%A1 A weapon weighing about 100 pounds (~48 kilograms) purported to be the Green Dragon Crescent Blade is on display at the Purple Cloud Temple
in China
today.
invented the guandao. He had it forged after he met Liu Bei
and Zhang Fei but before he made the Oath of the Peach Garden
.
The story of the blade was that there was a blacksmith
forging the blade when suddenly a green dragon passed by. The dragon was cut up and the body became part of the pieces therefore making the dao a magical weapon.
For example, it is called "Black Dragon" in Kessen 2. However in the Dynasty Warriors
series it is named Blue Dragon Blade. This is likely because qing (青) also means blue, and interpretation depends on time period in question and context of use. In this particular case, Green is most accurate.
In the anime and manga Ikki Tousen
and visual novel and anime Koihime Musō
, this weapon is wielded by Kan'u Unchō (関羽雲長), that is the Japanese name of Guan Yu.
In the card game Magic: The Gathering
, the weapon is portrayed in the card "Wielding the Green Dragon"http://ww2.wizards.com/gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?&id=10562 from the set Portal: Three Kingdoms
Cantonese
Cantonese is a dialect spoken primarily in south China.Cantonese may also refer to:* Yue Chinese, the Chinese language that includes Cantonese* Cantonese cuisine, the cuisine of Guangdong province...
: ching¹ lung⁴ yim² yuet⁶ do¹) was a legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
ary weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
wielded by Guan Yu
Guan Yu
Guan Yu was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the...
in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
. It is a guandao, a type of traditional Chinese weapon.
It is also sometimes referred to as the Frost Fair Blade (冷艷鋸, lěng yàn jù), from the idea that during a battle in the snow, the blade continuously had blood on it; the blood froze and made a layer of frost on the blade.
In Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In the novel by Luo GuanzhongLuo Guanzhong
Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...
, the blade was forged by a local blacksmith using steel sponsored by Zhang Shiping
Zhang Shiping
Zhang Shiping was a merchant from Zhongshan during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Impressed by Liu Bei, he and Su Shuang sponsored Liu so he could have the funds to recruit a large troop of followers around 180.-In fiction:...
(張世平), a merchant sympathetic to Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
's cause. When Guan Yu met his end at the hands of Lü Meng
Lü Meng
Lü Meng was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He served as the commanding general in the invasion of Jing Province that led to the death of Guan Yu.-Early life:Lü Meng was born in Fupo, Runan Commandery in 178...
in 219
219
Year 219 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Antonius and Sacerdos...
, the blade was given to Pan Zhang
Pan Zhang
Pan Zhang was a military general of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. Although an active general with high rank, he was known to desire wealth and treasure, and to dress himself in a gaudy fashion...
by Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
for his role in capturing of Guan Yu. Later, when Guan Yu's son Guan Xing
Guan Xing
Guan Xing was an official of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He was the second son of the military general Guan Yu and the younger brother of Guan Ping. He succeeded his father when both Guan Yu and Guan Ping were captured and executed by forces of Eastern Wu at the...
soon sought revenge on Pan Zhang, Pan Zhang was startled by a vision of Guan Yu's spirit and was killed by Guan Xing. Guan Xing took back the Green Dragon Crescent Blade and thus the blade was passed down from father to son.
Historical validity
It is highly questionable whether Guan YuGuan Yu
Guan Yu was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the...
actually wielded the Green Dragon or whether it was merely part of the myths surrounding him, valid historical text from his time period made no mention of him or anyone wielding a similar weapon. Because the guandao was known not to be widely used until the Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
, there is some doubt as to whether the guandao existed during Guan Yu's time. The guandao may not have been very widely-used because it was both difficult to wield, because of its heavy weight (Guan Yu, reportedly, was able to wield it with much agility with just one hand, while most people would have trouble using it effectively even with both hands) - however, this may be due to the legend of the weight surrounding the blade - whereas in reality, it was much lighter.
According to Romance of the Three Kingdoms/Chapter 1, the Green Dragon Crescent Blade was said to weigh 82 catties
Catty
The catty , symbol 斤, is a traditional Chinese unit of mass used across East and Southeast Asia, notably for weighing food and other groceries in some wet markets, street markets, and shops. Related units include the picul, equal to 100 catties, and the tael, which is of a catty. A stone is a...
. During the Eastern Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
and Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
periods, one catty was approximately 220 grams, so 82 catties would have been approximately 18.04 kilograms (~39.7782 pounds).:zh:%E5%BA%A6%E9%87%8F%E8%A1%A1 A weapon weighing about 100 pounds (~48 kilograms) purported to be the Green Dragon Crescent Blade is on display at the Purple Cloud Temple
Purple Cloud Temple
The Purple Cloud Temple, standing on Zhanqifeng Peak, is a temple in Wudangshan. Built in 1413, it consists of several halls, including the Dragon and Tiger Hall, the Purple Sky Hall, the East Hall, the West Hall, the Parent Hall and the Prince Cliff....
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
today.
Rumoured origins
Legend says that Guan YuGuan Yu
Guan Yu was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the...
invented the guandao. He had it forged after he met Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
and Zhang Fei but before he made the Oath of the Peach Garden
Oath of the Peach Garden
The Oath of the Peach Garden was a fictional event in Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In this event, Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei took an oath of fraternity in a ceremony amid peach blossom trees, and became sworn brothers from then on. Their goal in taking the...
.
The story of the blade was that there was a blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
forging the blade when suddenly a green dragon passed by. The dragon was cut up and the body became part of the pieces therefore making the dao a magical weapon.
In popular culture
The weapon appears in several video games made by Koei, but under incorrectly translated names.For example, it is called "Black Dragon" in Kessen 2. However in the Dynasty Warriors
Dynasty Warriors
is a series of tactical action video games created by Omega Force and Koei. The award-winning series is a spin-off of Koei's turn-based strategy Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, based loosely around the Chinese classical novel of the same name. The first game titled Dynasty Warriors,...
series it is named Blue Dragon Blade. This is likely because qing (青) also means blue, and interpretation depends on time period in question and context of use. In this particular case, Green is most accurate.
In the anime and manga Ikki Tousen
Ikki Tousen
, also known as Battle Vixens, is a manga series written and illustrated by Yuji Shiozaki, based on the classic Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms...
and visual novel and anime Koihime Musō
Koihime Muso
is a Japanese adult visual novel and strategy game based on the classic Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It was developed by BaseSon, and was first released on January 26, 2007, for the PC as two DVD-ROMs, followed by a re-release on April 11, 2008, containing an extra CD-ROM...
, this weapon is wielded by Kan'u Unchō (関羽雲長), that is the Japanese name of Guan Yu.
In the card game Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
, the weapon is portrayed in the card "Wielding the Green Dragon"http://ww2.wizards.com/gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?&id=10562 from the set Portal: Three Kingdoms