Vows of Loyalty in the Peach Garden

Liu Pei, the first ruler of Shu-Han during the Three Kingdom Period, had two blood brothers who would have given their lives for him. One was the fully bearded, tall, robust Chang Fei, who had a voice like a sonorous bell. The other wwas Kuan Yu, who was in later times respectfully referred as "The Martial Saint, Lord Kuan" or the "Demon-Subduing Lord." These two famous tiger-generals helped Liu Pei win great distinction on the battlefield; Liu depended upon them as his right and left hands, and although they referred to each other as "subject" and "lord," they were closer than real brothers. The story of their friendship is extremely legendary - it is said to have developed from a brawl.

Liu Pei was originally a descendant of the Han imperial housse, but because his family had fallen into decline, he had reached the point o having to sell straw sandals and mats to eke out a living. One day, he picked up a large bundle of his wares and decided to go to the market to sell them. Along the way he met Chang Fei who was herding a group of pigs. The pigs suddenly scattered, runing wildly in all directions, and a few even seemed to turn completely mad, rushing right at Liu. It had just stopped raining and the ground ws wet and slippry. Liu, because he was unprepared, was hit directly b a pig, so that his straw sandals and mats were scattered about on the muddy ground. He immediately decided to get up and give Chang Fei a piece of his mind. Much to his surprise, Chang Fei paid him no heed at all, but went off chasing his pig. Liu Pei became very angry and ran after Chang , yelling at him and demanding that Chang pay him for his sandals. When Liu caught up with him, Chang was furiously arguing with the woodchopper, Kuang Yu. It seemed a pig had by chance run up to Kuan Yu and he had killed it. Chang Fei wanted him to pay for the pig, but Kuang Yu refused, so the two began to fight. Liu Pei also got into the fracas. But when the three men faced each other squarely, they were drawn by each other's valiant stance. Settling their grudges, they established the closest of friendships.

In the peach garden of Chang Fei's home the three men took an oath to become "brothers". To decide who should be considered the eldest, Chang Fei suggested they compete in tree climbing. Whoever could climb the highest would be considered the elddest. As a result, Chang Fei, who was the most nimble, climbed to the top of a tree, Kuan Yu's height was next, and Liu Pei simple refused to climb. "Trees grow from their roots," he said. "Without a root, how could the branches and leaves flourish? During troubled times heroes are valued, but if heroes don't have a sage ruler to lead them, how can they accomplish great things?" Because this made sense, and because he was a descedent of the Han royal family, they decided to allow Liu Pei to be considered the senior brother, Kuan Yu the next, and Chang Fei the junior. This is then the story of "the triple oath" of the peach garden which has been handed down since ancient times.

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