Item number: X11

Year: ND

Material: Silver

Size: 23.6 x 28.6 x 1.5 mm

Weight: 17.25 g

Provenance: Chang Ming-chuan Collection 2010

This is a silver pendant featuring Guan Yu, a highly esteemed historical figure and deity in Chinese culture. The pendant’s design incorporates a chequered pattern as the background, with the Chinese character “義” (meaning “righteousness” or “loyalty”) prominently displayed in the upper left corner. At the centre, a typical embossed depiction of Guan Yu is featured, portraying him as a warrior holding his beard in one hand and gripping the Green Dragon Crescent Blade in the other. The pendant is equipped with a circular loop at the top, allowing it to be attached to a chain.

Guan Yu was a prominent general of the Shu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period, best known for the “Oath of the Peach Garden,” where he, Liu Bei (the founder of Shu), and Zhang Fei swore brotherhood despite not sharing the same lineage. After his death, Guan Yu became venerated for his valour and loyalty, earning admiration not only among Chinese communities but also in neighbouring Confucian cultural circles, including Japan and Korea.

The worship of Guan Yu as a deity can be traced back to the Tang dynasty and gained significant momentum during the Song dynasty. By the Qing dynasty, he was elevated to the esteemed status of “Martial Sage” (武聖), equivalent to Confucius’ title as the “Sage of Culture” (文聖). His image of unwavering loyalty and courage has made him a revered figure among both law enforcement and criminal organisations, symbolising ideals of justice and righteousness.

物件編號: X11

年代: 未明

材質: 銀

尺寸: 23.6 x 28.6 x 1.5 mm

重量: 17.25 g

來源: 張明泉舊藏 2010

這是一個以華人高度推崇的歷史人物和神明關羽為主角的銀質掛牌。掛牌以方格條紋作為背景，左上角的漢字「義」象徵義氣，中間是一個以沖壓成型的典型關羽形象，即一手捧著鬍鬚，另一手握著青龍偃月刀的武將外表。掛牌的頂端有一個圓環跟鏈條作銜接。

關羽是三國時代蜀國的一員大將，以跟蜀國的開創者劉備和猛將張飛三人共同締結為異姓兄弟的「桃園三結義」事蹟最為知名。關羽死後以其勇猛和忠義的形象為華人和周遭的日本和韓國等儒家文化圈推崇。對於關羽的神明信仰最早能上溯至唐朝，並且在宋代開始蓬勃發展，清朝年間已經晉升為跟「文聖」孔子比肩的「武聖」崇高地位。而關羽忠義勇猛的形象也使他同時成為黑道和警察推崇和信仰的神明。