Source
Of Guan Yu's cultural significance in China:
General Guan Yu lived during a restless period in Chinese history known as the Three Kingdoms, and was later immortalized in one of China's most famous historical novel. He was eventually turned into a god and is worshipped as thus, especially in southern China. Guan's true life stories have now largely be given way to fictionalized ones. Praised and respected for his loyalty and righteousness, small shrines and statues to Guan are almost ubiquitous in traditional Chinese shops and restaurants.
