The Guan-Yu Institute of Advanced Studies takes its name from a Guan-Yu, a historic Chinese general whose loyalty and righteousness still resound today. Guan-Yu stands as a towering figure in Chinese history and myth, a hero whose life became a legend echoing through the ages. Born into humble beginnings, he rose to become a general of unparalleled honor.
Born in humble beginnings, Guan Yu rose beyond his station through sheer valor and an unyielding belief in truth and loyalty. When chaos engulfed the land during the fall of the Han Dynasty, he swore a sacred oath of brotherhood with Liu Bei, a man who sought to restore peace and protect the people. Alongside their brilliant strategist Zhang Fei, they became known as the Three Brothers of the Peach Garden to defend the innocent and resist tyranny, taking a sacred vow to protect the innocent and fight for virtue, treating each other as brothers until death.
One of his most famous deeds, the Crossing of Five Passes, tells how Guan Yu, while protecting Liu Bei’s family, cut through five enemy strongholds single-handedly, leaving a trail of justice in his wake. This feat became a symbol of unyielding faithfulness and unstoppable will.
Guan Yu’s courage on the battlefield was unmatched; he carved through armies like a divine force, his red face and long beard becoming symbols of unwavering loyalty and moral integrity. Yet, it wasn’t just his strength that made him legendary — it was his sense of righteousness. When captured by enemies, he refused to betray Liu Bei, even when offered wealth and titles. He fought not for glory, but for what was right, embodying the spirit of an unbreakable guardian.
Even in his final moments, surrounded and outnumbered, Guan Yu stood tall, refusing to surrender. Ultimately, he chose to be brutally executed rather than betray his oath. In Chinese folklore, he was later deified as Guan Di (關帝 or 關公), the motif of Righteousness, guarding the world against evil and injustice. Betrayed and executed, he became a martyr of justice, and in the afterlife, he ascended to become the divine embodiment of loyalty, courage, and truth.
Today, Guan Yu’s spirit lives on as a beacon of righteousness, a reminder that even in the darkest times, a single soul’s devotion to virtue can inspire generations to stand for humanity’s greater good.
The Guan-Yu Institute of Advanced Studies is a research institute that owes its provenance to the generous support of the Polaris Foundation. Offering international courses and research programs, the institute strives to be at the cutting edge of science.
With centers originally focused on modern arts and social sciences, our multidisciplinary faculty bring expertise from around the world and a host of backgrounds to create a truly unique space where dissent and discussion are not tolerated but encouraged, where it is accepted that while sometimes there is an objective truth, other times the quantum mind means that the truth behaves relativistically, and where the journey for betterment not only for the individual, or the nation, but humankind should be our ultimate aim.
Our faculty include some of the top global experts in their fields, but we do not exclude heterodox thinkers, all thought adds to the richness of our institution, currently based in Taiwan.
Join us in the timeless journey towards infinite truths and an honest existence, searching for knowledge while holding the values of humanity as the highest order goal, at the Guan-Yu Institute of Advanced Studies.