Chinese god of war, patron of literature and protector of trade and merchants. In the Manchu dynasty he was particularly venerated because of his warlike functions; but in other periods of Chinese history he was regarded as the guardian of righteousness which protects men from strife and evil. In origin, Guan Di was an ordinary man called Guan Zhong done to death by his adversary, but later deified on account of his many and signal virtues.