Taoist Religion
Kwan Tai,
the god-king
Like the Greeks and Romans, the Chinese erected Taoist temples to various divinities. In Mendocino, they dedicated their place of worship to the Chinese god of war, Kwan Dai-also known as Kwan Tai, Guan Di or Kwan Dai. Kwan Yu-Kwan is his family name, and Yu his personal name- was born in Shantung about 161 AD. Having killed a man in a fit of anger, he exiled himself and enlisted in the Imperial army in 184 AD. Kwan Yu rapidly worked his way up in the army, becoming a general of great renown. Despite a tragic end in 219 AD, Kwan Yu became and remained for the Chinese people, a model of military ability and military virtues. He received official recognition of a divine status in the early 1100s. In 1594, he achieved the full rank of a deity-Kwan Dai, the god-king.
With a rank equal to that of Confucius, Kwan Tai is a Taoist symbol of integrity and loyalty. People pray to Kwan Tai for assistance, or to have something done. He was chosen as patron by the merchants of the guild, and as one of three patrons of the men of letters. In Hong Kong, where his birthday is celebrated each year on June 15, he is recognized as the patron of Hong Kong's police... and also of the gangsters!