General Guan Yu (162–219/220), popularly known as Guandi was a hero of his day. His acts of loyalty, bravery, and fierceness led to his association with the Guardian Kings of Buddhism. By the Song dynasty (960–1279), Daoists worshiped the general as the god of war for his ability to control evil spirits. The Wanli emperor (reigned 1573–1620) in 1594 gave Guandi the title “Great Just Emperor Who Assists Heaven and Protects the State.” Thousands of temples were built so that offerings could be made to the important protector of Buddhist, Daoist and Confucian followers alike. Guandi is portrayed as a big man with a long beard, the eyes of a phoenix, and eyebrows shaped like silkworms. Here, he is shown as a military official, sitting down and stroking his beard with one hand.