[Video provided to goshanxi.com.cn]

The five-episode international documentary series Tales of Guan Yu premiered on Dec 22. The series traces Guan Yu's evolution from a historical figure into a revered icon. It delves into the core values of loyalty, righteousness, benevolence, and courage that Guan Yu embodies, vividly showcasing the spiritual essence of Chinese civilization.

The third episode, "God of the Jianghu" (Jianghu Zhishen), explores why the people of Shanxi regard Guan Yu as their image ambassador. During the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, Shanxi merchants, who traded across the country, adopted their fellow native from Haizhou, Guan Yu, as the representative of their collective brand. Wherever they went, they carried the "Guan Yu faith" with them, upholding the principles of "trust as the foundation and righteousness above profit". 

Across generations of merchant communities and through word-of-mouth in various industries, the virtues embodied by Guan Yu have been woven into a uniquely Chinese commercial civilization characterized by honesty and integrity, leaving a profound mark on the course of human civilization.