中英雙語話歷史 第43期:大將關羽
One person worth mentioning in the history of Shu-Han is Guan Yu, one of Liu Bei，s sworn brothers，who was regards as a model of devotion in Chinese culture.
He was a man of keeping his words and loyalty to his friends in his life： after promising to fight with Liu Bei and becoming his sworn brother, Guan Yu by no means changed his mind until fought to death in Maicheng city.
自年輕時投奔劉備，便終生不改初衷，至死不渝。他是我國“義”的典型。In 199, while Liu Bei turned against Cao Cao and fled to Xuzhou (now Jiang Su province)， Guan Yu was left in Xiapi city to function as the governor.
建安四年（199)，劉備反曹，逃至徐州（今江蘇境內），由關羽鎮守下邳城，代理太守。
In 200，Cao Cao seized Xuzhou, in confusion, Liu Bei and Zhang Fei escaped, Guan Yu was forced to surrender for protecting the wives and children of Liu Bei.
建安五年(200),曹操攻破徐州，劉備、張飛敗逃後不知去向。關羽爲保護劉備的妻子，被逼降曹。Admiring him greatly, Cao Cao knighted Guan Yu as his intimate followers and sent Zhang Liao, one of his generals, to probe whether Guan Yu meant to fight for him. Guan Yu answered clearly that： ul do appreciate the kindness of Cao Cao. However, I have accepted the honor granted by Liu Bei and sworn to live and die for him. I can never betray what I committed, and therefore I will leave once I obtain the trace of Liu Bei. Nevertheless, I will contribute to Cao Cao as a return for his generosity before leave.
曹操對關羽甚爲親近，拜爲偏將軍。又讓張遼去了解關羽的真正想法,關羽明確地說:“我確實很清楚曹公對我很好，但我曾受過劉將軍的厚恩，曾發誓要同生死，這是不能背叛的。所以我最終還是要去找劉將軍，不過在我走之前一定要立功來報效曹公。”M Upon hearing these words, Cao Cao was deeply moved by Guan Yu ’ s devotion and not angry with him.
曹操知道後，深感關羽很講義氣，也沒有追究。Before the battle of Guan Du, Yuan Shao * s general Yan Liang was sent to attack Liu Yan at Bai Ma and at the crucial moment, Guan Yu and Zhang Liao was ordered to rescue the city.
官渡之戰前,袁紹派大將顏良率軍在白馬攻打曹操的太守劉延，形勢危急。曹操派張遼與關羽爲先鋒，前往解救。Arriving at the battlefield, seeing Yan Liang ’ s banner in far distance，Guan Yu stroked his horse and dashed ahead, beheaded him at one round and defeated his armies.
到了陣前，關羽遠遠望見顏良的麾蓋，即策馬疾弛上前，斬顏良首級，大破顏良。Cao Cao recommended to Han Xiandi to grant Guan Yu as Shouting Hou, the highest position among the generals in hoping that Guan Yu might work for him.
曹操知道後，爲留下關羽，上表漢獻帝封關羽爲漢壽亭侯。In 200, after getting the message of Liu Bei, Guan Yu wrote a letter to Cao Cao and left with all the rewards in intad. Cao Cao ’ s generals meant to chase and capture Guan Yu，Cao Cao said ‘‘ let him go，he serve merely his own master”
建安五年(200)底，關羽知道了劉備的下落，即封其所受的賞賜，留書信，掛印告辭而去。曹操的部將們都主張追擊關羽，但曹操說:“各爲其主，不追了。”Guan Yu was the only God worshiped by Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism in China ： Buddhism regards him as the protector of the Buddha dharma ； and he was the symbol of devotion and fidelity being honored as Guandi Sheng Jun (the holy person) in Daoism and Confucianism.
關羽也是唯一被佛、道、儒三家崇拜的神，佛教把他當成是護法。道家、儒家把他當成是“忠義”的象徵，尊稱爲“關聖帝君”。Till now, there are still many admirers and believers in Guandi Temple all over the country.
至今，全國各地的“關帝廟”仍香火鼎盛。
