Treasure

Hanshou Tinghou Yin 漢壽亭侯印

About this item

The Hanshou Tinghou Yin is the seal of the title Marquis of Hanshou Precinct that Guan Yu received. In Chapter 26 of the Romance, Cao Cao, having seen Guan Yu behead Yan Liang, memorializes the court to enfeoff him as Marquis of Hanshou Precinct and has a seal cast and sent to him. When Guan Yu learns that Liu Bei is in Yuan Shao's army, he leaves a letter of farewell, seals the gold and silver he had received in the storehouse, hangs this seal up in the main hall, and departs escorting the two ladies. Romance, Ch. 26 §6 · 36–37

The Romance mentions this seal only in Chapter 26, and that chapter's title, "Guan Yunchang hangs up his seal and seals away the gold," refers to this scene. Chen Shou's text records in Guan Yu's biography that Cao Cao memorialized the throne to enfeoff Guan Yu as Marquis of Hanshou Precinct, but does not mention the seal. Romance, Ch. 26 §6 · 37 · 40Records, Shu 6 §5

In the Romance

In Chapter 26 of the Romance, Cao Cao, seeing Guan Yu behead Yan Liang, respects him all the more, memorializes the court to enfeoff him as Marquis of Hanshou Precinct, and has a seal cast and sent to Guan Yu. Later, Guan Yu hears news of Liu Bei at Runan and goes again and again to the Chancellor's residence to take his leave, but Cao Cao, knowing his intention, hangs a placard refusing visitors on the gate, and Zhang Liao too pleads illness and does not come out. Romance, Ch. 26 §6 · 34–36

Citing the three conditions he had requested earlier at Xiapi, Guan Yu writes a letter of farewell saying that he cannot forget his old bond of loyalty and sends it to the Chancellor's residence; he seals up one by one the gold and silver he had received on many occasions, puts it in the storehouse, and hangs the seal of the Marquis of Hanshou Precinct up in the main hall. Then he puts the two ladies in a carriage, mounts the Red Hare and goes out by the north gate. Romance, Ch. 26 §36–38

While Cao Cao, having read the letter, is greatly startled that Guan Yu has gone, someone from Guan Yu's household comes to report that he has sealed up all the gold and silver bestowed on him, left the ten beauties to stay separately in the inner quarters, hung the seal of the Marquis of Hanshou Precinct up in the main hall, and taken not one of the people the Chancellor had assigned to him. At this Cai Yang steps forward, offering to pursue him with 3,000 armored cavalry. Romance, Ch. 26 §39–40

Where the Romance differs

The seal and the gifts: In Chapter 26 of the Romance, Cao Cao has a seal cast and sent, and when Guan Yu leaves he seals the gold and silver in the storehouse and hangs the seal of the Marquis of Hanshou Precinct up in the main hall. Guan Yu's biography in the Records records that Cao Cao memorialized the throne to enfeoff Guan Yu as Marquis of Hanshou Precinct, that when Guan Yu killed Yan Liang, Cao Cao, knowing he would leave, heaped further rewards on him, and that Guan Yu sealed up all the gifts and took his leave by letter. It does not mention the seal separately. Romance, Ch. 26 §6 · 37Records, Shu 6 §5–6

The pursuit after he left: In Chapter 26 of the Romance, Cai Yang steps forward offering to capture Guan Yu with 3,000 armored cavalry. In Guan Yu's biography in the Records, when those around Cao Cao wanted to pursue him, Cao Cao said, "Each serves his own master; do not pursue him." Romance, Ch. 26 §40Records, Shu 6 §6

Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.

Ownership history

OwnerPeriodSource
Guan Yu 200 Romance 「鑄印送關公」 · 「懸漢壽亭侯印於堂上」(yy-026:s37) · 「建安五年」

Ownership is checked against the source texts (3KDEX) — each entry rests on the passage where the item changes hands. Owners not in the People index are not shown.

Romance chapters (1)