Weapon
Green Dragon Crescent Blade 青龍偃月刀
About this item
The Green Dragon Crescent Blade is, in the Romance, the blade wielded by Guan Yu. In Chapter 1 of the Romance, Guan Yu had it made when he raised a volunteer army with Liu Bei and Zhang Fei; it was also called the Lengyan Ju (Cold Gleaming Saw) and weighed eighty-two jin (catties). The Romance often calls it the Green Dragon Blade, and after Guan Yu's death Pan Zhang of Wu wields it, until in Chapter 83 Guan Yu's son Guan Xing beheads Pan Zhang and recovers it. Romance, Ch. 1 §24Romance, Ch. 83 §3 · 19–20
The name Green Dragon Crescent Blade does not appear in Chen Shou's text or in Pei Songzhi's commentary. In the Romance it appears in thirteen chapters, from Chapter 1 to Chapter 94, under the names "Green Dragon Crescent Blade," "Green Dragon Blade" and "Crescent Green Dragon Blade." Romance, Ch. 1 §24Romance, Ch. 94 §10
In the Romance
In Chapter 1 of the Romance, when Liu Bei has a smith make the Shuanggujian (paired swords), Guan Yu has the Green Dragon Crescent Blade made. The Romance says this blade was also called the Lengyan Ju and weighed eighty-two jin. In Chapter 5, when Zhang Fei fights Lü Bu for more than fifty bouts without a decision, Guan Yu gallops up brandishing his eighty-two-jin Green Dragon Crescent Blade and joins in attacking Lü Bu. In Chapter 11, after fighting Guan Hai for dozens of bouts, he cuts him down from his horse with the Green Dragon Blade. Romance, Ch. 1 §24Romance, Ch. 5 §49Romance, Ch. 11 §17
In Chapter 25 Guan Yu, who has taken refuge with Cao Cao, takes up the Green Dragon Blade, mounts the Red Hare and goes to Baima. After looking down on Yan Liang's formation from an earthen hill, he rides down the hill holding the Green Dragon Blade reversed, stabs Yan Liang, who has no time to act, from his horse with a single stroke, and cuts off his head. In Chapter 26, when he leaves Cao Cao, he again goes out by the north gate with the Green Dragon Blade in hand, and in Chapter 27, fearing some trick, he does not dismount to receive the brocade robe Cao Cao presents but lifts it with the tip of the Green Dragon Blade and drapes it over himself. Romance, Ch. 25 §44–47Romance, Ch. 26 §38Romance, Ch. 27 §4 · 8
In Chapter 42 Guan Yu, holding the Green Dragon Blade and riding the Red Hare, comes out from behind a hillside and stops Cao Cao's pursuit, and in Chapter 50, with five hundred sword-bearing soldiers, he holds the Green Dragon Blade and blocks Cao Cao's way at Huarongdao. In Chapter 74 he rebukes Pang De, who has prepared a coffin and offers battle: "It is only a pity to cut down a ratlike bandit like you with my Green Dragon Blade." In Chapter 77, when the dead Guan Yu's spirit appears on Mount Yuquan, it too rides the Red Hare and holds the Green Dragon Blade. Romance, Ch. 42 §17–18Romance, Ch. 50 §20 · 26Romance, Ch. 74 §14Romance, Ch. 77 §20
In Chapter 83 Pan Zhang, the vanguard of Wu, fights Huang Zhong wielding the Green Dragon Blade that Guan Yu used to carry. The Romance does not separately depict how Pan Zhang came to have this blade. Afterward Pan Zhang turns up at the house where Guan Xing is staying and is killed by Guan Xing's sword, and Guan Xing recovers his father's Green Dragon Crescent Blade. Soon after, when Pan Zhang's lieutenant Ma Zhong, seeing that the Green Dragon Blade has fallen into Guan Xing's hands, rushes at him, Guan Xing strikes at Ma Zhong with that same Green Dragon Blade. Romance, Ch. 83 §3 · 19–21
In Chapter 92 Guan Xing appears to help Zhao Yun, holding the Crescent Green Dragon Blade and gripping the head of the Wei general Dong Xi. In Chapter 94 Guan Xing, chased by Yueji, a general of the Qiang troops, and fallen into the water, sees on the bank a great general driving off the Qiang troops; it is the figure of his father Guan Yu, holding the Green Dragon Blade and riding the Red Hare. Romance, Ch. 92 §20–21Romance, Ch. 94 §9–10
Where the Romance differs
The weapon that killed Yan Liang: In Chapter 25 of the Romance, Guan Yu charges holding the Green Dragon Blade reversed, stabs Yan Liang from his horse with a single stroke and cuts off his head. The Biography of Guan Yu in the Records records only that Guan Yu, seeing Yan Liang's commander's banner and carriage canopy, whipped his horse on, stabbed Yan Liang amid the multitude of troops and returned with his head, and does not give the name of the weapon. Romance, Ch. 25 §46–47Records, Shu 6 §4
Where the blade went: In Chapter 83 of the Romance, the blade Guan Yu used is in Pan Zhang's hands and then returns to Guan Xing, who kills Pan Zhang. The Biography of Pan Zhang in the Records records only that Pan Zhang's subordinate, the Major Ma Zhong, captured Guan Yu, and does not say where Guan Yu's weapon went; Pan Zhang died in the 3rd year of Jiahe (234). Romance, Ch. 83 §3 · 20Records, Wu 10 §92 · 96
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
| Owner | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Guan Yu | 184~219 | Romance 「雲長造青龍偃月刀，又名“冷豔鋸”」 · 「時建安二十四年冬十二月也」 |
| Pan Zhang | ~222 | Romance 「潘璋大怒，揮關公使的青龍刀」 · 「章武二年春正月」(yy-083:s1) |
| Guan Xing | 222~ | Romance 「興得了父親的青龍偃月刀」 · 「爲首大將提偃月青龍刀」 |
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.