For ancient Chinese people, allegory was not just a technique primarily used in art but was also widely employed in everyday life. This stems from the fact that China has a relatively vast territory, diverse ethnic groups, and has undergone a long process of unification and division.
Chinese people often used allegorical techniques to describe individuals, especially heroes and beauties. In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, we encounter numerous heroes described as “nine feet tall,” leading future generations to ask: How tall were they really?
Looking back through history, we find that the height of men was always a point of interest, particularly in military recruitment, where specific tools were even designed to measure height. For example, in the Terracotta Army of the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the heights of the generals were typically around 2 meters.
Excavation of Measurement Tools from the Han Dynasty
In Luoyang, a tool specifically used for measuring length by carpenters and goldsmiths during the Han Dynasty was discovered, known as the “shǔ,” which is equivalent to 23.4 cm in today’s measurements.
The “shǔ” tool from the Han Dynasty. (Photo: Kknews).
Although the Han Dynasty was divided into the Western Han and Eastern Han, the measurement standards varied slightly. However, based on archaeological discoveries, we can estimate the heights of figures from the Three Kingdoms period.
Guan Yu is famously described by Luo Guanzhong as “nine feet tall,” which translates to about 2.1 meters. His exceptional height is attributed to his regular martial arts training.
Only Guan Yu and Lü Bu could ride the Red Hare, suggesting that the height of Lü Bu was probably around 2 meters as well. Similarly, Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei were described as “eight feet tall,” approximately over 1.8 meters.
This height measurement is believed to be somewhat exaggerated compared to the actual physical stature of people at that time!
Guan Yu is described as “nine feet tall.” (Photo: Internet)
For a nation like China, which places great importance on appearance, the height of military leaders is significant. However, it is the character and extraordinary abilities that truly forge a lasting legacy. A person like Guan Yu can be regarded as “both talented and handsome,” a rare combination.
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