King Guansheng is perhaps better known as Guan Yu, an historical figure from the Three Kingdoms period some 1800 years ago. People have always admired him for his great loyalty. He is most frequently worshipped by businessmen. Guan Yu was a great and powerful general, but he went down to defeat in the end and became a lonely ghost. For many years he haunted lonely rural places, and often wandered about at night looking for decapitated heads. After about four centuries of this wandering, however, he happened across the patriarch of the Tiantai sect, who led Guan Yu to the heavenly shrine of the Jade Emperor.  

On the table holding the statues of the deities, there are three that seem especially solemn in appearance. They are the Three Sovereigns. They are historical figures who evolved over time to the status of gods.

According to one legend, the Three Sovereigns in life were Yao, Shun, and Yu. Each made great contributions to humanity in different ways, and as gods they have been put in charge of the skies, the land, and water. Another legend holds that Pan Gu, creator of heaven and earth, had three sons, and these were put separately in charge of the skies, the land, and the water. Yet another legend says that their father was Chen Zishou and their mother was the third daughter of the Dragon King.