Ziyi Guo

Guo Ziyi

Guo Ziyi was a famous military general during the Tang Dynasty. Guo participated in the expeditions against Hui Hu and Tubo. He was tall and very brave. Because of his great achievements, he was reputed to be one of the greatest generals in Chinese history and was regarded as the best general in East Asia during his lifetime. As a historical figure of high prestige and reputation, Guo was respected by the whole nation.

Background

Guo Ziyi was born into a family of a middle-class civil servant.His fаthеr Guo Jingzhi, served as the inspector of severalprefectures, including Suizhou, Wei, Gui, Shou.

Education

Under fаthеr's training and influence, Guo Ziyi became interested in military literature and the martial arts.He studied and trained hаrd, Guo Ziyi was tall, strong and pleasant looking. Не was well-versed in the martial arts in military formations.

Career

Guo Ziyi entered political life through a martial test (a test for military officers) instead of a literary test (for civil servants). In 749 AD, he passed a martial test and became an officer in the border regions of the Tang Empire and quickly rose through the ranks to become a Jiedushi (regional military governor).Guo was later made the Prince of Fenyang (汾陽郡王), and hence is sometimes called "Li Fenyang". He lived to the age of 85 and was given the posthumous name of Zhongwu (忠武: "Loyal and Martial") after his death.

Achievements

Guo Ziyi has been much credited by many historians with putting down the An Shi Rebellion, characterizing him as the man who single-handedly saved the Tang Dynasty. His impact on East Asia was also dramatic in that he renewed Tang relations with many of its Uyghur allies, who would later support the dynasty in campaigns against Tibet. After his various victories over them, the Tibetans were never able to restore their military might and lost much of their political strength in Asian affairs.

Religion

In Chinese popular religion, Guo Ziyi is, like many local and national heroes, identified with one or more deities. He is sometimes equated with Fuxing, the stellar god of happiness, though this honour is more commonly given to the 6th-century mandarin Yang Cheng. Guo’s deification is popularly explained by the legend of his encounter with Zhinü, the heavenly weaving maiden. She appeared to Guo on the night of her feast day, and Guo, recognizing her, begged for happiness and riches. Zhinü promised that honours and riches would be his.

Politics

Guo served three emperors of the Tang dynasty and is most noted for his successful fight against the rebellion of the Chinese general An Lushan in 755–757. From 760 to 765 he was occupied in defending China’s western provinces from incursions of the Tanguts and other nomadic peoples, and in 763 he recovered the Tang capital city, Chang’an, from the invading Turfans using only some 4,000 demoralized troops. In gratitude the emperor Taizong ennobled Guo and gave his daughter in marriage to Guo’s youngest son.