A protector of the people, Kwan Kung became very popular with the Imperial military, and was declared 'Warrior Prince' by one Chinese emperor, later to be called 'Faithful and Loyal Great Deity, Supporter of Heaven, Protector of the Realm'. Kwan Gung also developed quite a following among the common people, who see him as a protector and guardian.In old China thousands of temples large and small were dedicated to him. A statue of him is frequently found in front of businesses as well as temples. He is always depicted as looking stern, and wearing the Chinese clothing of a dynastic military officer. 'In southern Shanzi, on the outskirts of Yur' Cheng which was once a small city rich in history, a great temple was built during the Sung Dynasty in honor of Kuan Kung, one of the heroes of the Era of the Three Kingdoms. For the Chinese he is a symbol of trust and faithfulness. Kuan Kung - always depicted with a red face and a long black beard - is also a recurrent figure among the protagonists of classic Chinese Opera. For centuries people have paid homage to him at this temple, making it the center of great veneration. In 1957 the temple was still in pristine condition, and a local artist had just finished working on a series of large frescoes narrating the life and acts of this popular hero. Here, as everywhere [in China] the Cultural Revolution arrived. However, when in 1966 the Maoist rebels arrived at the temple to destroy it, they found themselves locked out. Zhang Jie-xiang, the woman who was responsible for the entire complex of buildings, and her six assistants bolted the gates and barricaded themselves inside. The siege lasted three months. "You have the keys, but we have the power!" screamed the Maoists from outside. Ms Zhang, however, had the local population on her side. At night, the locals succeeded in throwing packages of food to the besieged caretakers on the other side of the high walls. Finally the Red Guards gave up their vain struggle to get their way and left. In 1969, the Maoist county authorities ordered that the temple be turned into a school. But Ms. Zhang gave up only one courtyard to the project and then, in order to avoid that the school be used as an excuse to enter into the rest of the temple complex, she had a high wall built all around it. Today, Kuan Kung's Temple is the only site in the province that is perfectly preserved and the only one in which there is still that aura of mystery and charm that was once found throughout China. The numerous pavilions are still intact, the altars all have their candelabra, their censers, their bronze vessels and their statues. Kuan Kung's legendary weapons may still be found in the ancient armory, and in the main pavilion in a darkened corner, he is still there, the legendary Kuan Kung.' - from Tiziano Terzani The Forbidden Gate (La Porta Proibita) 1984 Longanesi, Milano