Buzz
After the AI-generated images were shared, many netizens pointed out that Liu Bei and Guan Yu looked completely different from their on-screen portrayals.
Furthermore, AI can also use paintings or historical documents to 'draw' the portraits of various famous figures. Each set of images released attracts a great deal of attention.
What will Guan Yu's portrait look like after being 'drawn' by AI? (Image: Sohu)Recently, Chinese experts used deep learning methods based on AI to 'recreate' the faces of Liu Bei, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. Let's see the results of their work!
Liu Bei
Liu Bei, also known as Han Xuan, was born in 161 and passed away in 223. He was titled as Huyền Đức and served as the founding emperor of the Shu Han state, a prominent politician, and military leader at the end of the Eastern Han dynasty and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history. Born into a poor family, Liu Bei had to work hard from a young age to make a living. His political career began with his participation in suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion, followed by serving as an official in the court. However, his initial ventures were not successful. As the Han dynasty weakened and the warlords' conflict erupted, Liu Bei, along with his sworn brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, rose to establish a new force to participate in this war.
The image of Liu Bei was constructed based on films. (Image: Sohu)Liu Bei is described in the Records of the Three Kingdoms as seven and a half feet tall, without a beard, with very large earlobes, and arms reaching down to his knees. In terms of personality, he is described as reserved, rarely showing his emotions.
The portrait of Liu Bei reconstructed by AI differs greatly from the image in the films. (Image: Sohu)
In the AI-reconstructed portrait of Liu Bei from ancient paintings, this emperor appears distinct from the characters in the movies revolving around the Three Kingdoms theme. The Liu Bei 'drawn' by AI has a high forehead, a sturdy figure, and a dignified face befitting an emperor.
Guan Yu
Guan Yu (? – 220), also known as Guan Gong, styled as Yun Chang, was a renowned general during the late Eastern Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period in China. Guan Yu hailed from Yiyang County, Ha Dong Province (now Vận Thành, Sơn Tây Province). According to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he was said to be from Bó Prefecture. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Shu Han state, but his failure to hold Jing Province was one of the factors leading to the weakening of Shu Han.
The character of Guan Yu depicted in films appears imposing. (Image: Sohu)In folklore, Guan Yu is often regarded as a sworn brother to Liu Bei and Zhang Fei and is the leader among the Five Tiger Generals of Shu Han. Guan Yu is esteemed as a talented general, valiant in martial arts, and contemporaries described him as 'the enemy's despair, a tiger amongst men, possessing the dignity of a statesman.'
In the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the writer Luo Guanzhong describes Guan Yu: 'Huyền Đức saw him standing tall at nine spans, with a beard of two spans, a face as red as a gourd, lips like vermilion, phoenix eyes, and thick eyebrows.' The folk culture of China describes Guan Yu as 'stern and valiant, with unparalleled martial prowess.'
The portrayal of Guan Yu reconstructed by AI appears quite formidable. (Image: Sohu)AI utilized descriptions and old paintings to construct the portrait of Guan Yu. The Guan Yu reconstructed by AI also has a red face, but with eyebrows drawn high on the forehead, giving him a rather formidable appearance.
Zhang Fei
Zhang Fei (163 – 221), styled as Yi De, is recorded in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms as Dực Đức, a renowned general of the Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history. In the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, Zhang Fei, along with Liu Bei and Guan Yu, pledge brotherhood in the peach garden. He is the youngest among the three.
The portrayal of Zhang Fei in films. (Image: Sohu)Zhang Fei hailed from Trác Quận (now Trác Châu, Bảo Định municipality, Hà Bắc province). He was born into a wealthy family, engaged in the wine trade, and received education in both martial arts and literature. Zhang Fei had beautiful handwriting and was an artist, excelling in painting beauties.
The face of Zhang Fei reconstructed by AI could truly instill fear in others upon first encounter. (Image: Sohu)Truong Phi is described in the Records of the Three Kingdoms as 'eight spans tall, tiger-headed, round eyes, upward-pointing bristly beard, swallow jaw.' Truong Phi's appearance is depicted as fearsome. After AI restoration, we can see Truong Phi in ancient paintings and photos with slight differences compared to on-screen portrayals. The face of Truong Phi could truly instill fear in others upon first encounter.
Sima Yi
Sima Yi (181 – 234), courtesy name Kongming, was titled as Ngọa Long, served as the Prime Minister, founding loyalist, statesman, diplomat, military commander, educator, and also a renowned engineering inventor of the Shu Han (Quý Hán) during the Three Kingdoms period. Sima Yi hailed from Dương Đô (now part of Nghi Nam district, Sơn Đông province) in Lang Nha district during the Eastern Han dynasty.
Sima Yi in films has a majestic and imposing appearance. (Image: Sohu)Sima Yi aided Liu Bei in establishing the Shu Han state, forming the pivotal Three Kingdoms situation, and the Shu-Wu alliance against Wei. He is considered one of the greatest and most outstanding strategists of the Three Kingdoms period.
In the AI 'drawn' image, Sima Yi does not appear god-like. (Image: Sohu)According to the 'Gia Cát Lượng Compilation' by Trần Thọ, Gia Cát Lượng is described as: 'Rarely does one possess such talent, with an imposing aura, standing at eight spans tall, possessing a majestic appearance different from ordinary people.'
However, in the AI 'drawn' image, Gia Cát Lượng does not appear god-like. In fact, his appearance seems rather ordinary and less attractive than described in historical records.
Diao Chan
In films, Diao Chan is always portrayed as a beauty with mesmerizing charm. (Image: Sohu)Diao Chan, also known as Diau Chan, is a renowned beauty in Chinese folklore. This character is widely known from the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, which fictionalizes based on folk legends.
AI has reconstructed the face of Diao Chan with an incredibly beautiful appearance. (Image: Sohu)With beauty compared to the Crescent Moon (making the moon blush and hide behind the clouds), Dieu Thuyen is considered one of the Four Great Beauties of China in contemporary Chinese culture. Not disappointing expectations, AI has restored Dieu Thuyen's face with an incredibly beautiful appearance.
