This article uses the methods of historical literature, expert interview and field research to discuss the establishment process of Guan Yu's position of "Saint of War". His style of sword was handed down to the later different wushu schools and the use of his Guan Wang Sword in the operas. At first, in the plays of Guan Yu, his sword was put on the stage and was not to be wielded. Wang Hongshou, a Southern school artist, who was a master of tongbei, xingyi and eight diagrams, combined the use of broadsword with the operas. This helped the broadsword to be wielded on the stage. Li Hongchun, his apprentice, after inheriting Wang's stage performance of sword, created his special way of wielding broadsword on the stage, combining with his family wushu and the way of playing sword by Sun Wenkui, a famous wushu master. This won the high reputation for him. |