Large 18th Century Chinese Carved Wooden Altar God of Guan Yu

Guan Yu was a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. Guan Yu’s life was lionized and his achievements glorified to such an extent after his death that he was deified during the Sui dynasty. Through generations of storytelling, culminating in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, his deeds and moral qualities have been given immense emphasis, making Guan Yu one of East Asia’s most popular paradigms of loyalty and righteousness.

His armor is finely carved and there are reminisce of cloth on boots. Old lacquer and gold leaf creates a rich patina. At one point he held spears in his hands but they have been replaced at some point in it’s lifetime. His helmet is removable. The back of the figure has a carved slot which that holds a small compartment for written prayers.