20349

2023

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Guan Hai was a Yellow Turban rebel leader during the late Eastern Han Dynasty, featured in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He rose to prominence as the Yellow Turban Rebellion swept across China, challenging the authority of the Han court.

While commanding a contingent of rebels, Guan Hai besieged Beihai, a city governed by Kong Rong, a renowned Confucian scholar. Kong Rong, facing imminent defeat, dispatched a messenger to Liu Bei, then a minor officer serving under Gongsun Zan, seeking assistance.

Liu Bei, along with his sworn brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, responded to Kong Rong's plea and led a small force to Beihai's defense. In the ensuing battle, Guan Hai engaged in combat with Guan Yu, who swiftly defeated and killed him. Guan Hai's death marked the end of the siege and the salvation of Beihai, solidifying Liu Bei's reputation as a capable leader and warrior.

Although a relatively minor figure in the broader narrative of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Guan Hai's encounter with Liu Bei and Guan Yu serves as an early demonstration of their martial prowess and commitment to upholding righteousness in a time of chaos and rebellion. He is a typical nameless Yellow Turban leader slain by those destined for greater things.