Background

Xishi was the daughter of a tea trader in Zhuji, the capital of the ancient State of Yue (current Zhejiang Province) around 500BC during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC). At that time, China was divided into several kingdoms fighting for power.

When the State of Yue was vanquished by the State of Wu, the King of Yue, Gou Jian was forced to serve Prince Fuchai of Wu for 3 years. On his release, King Gou Jian slept on brushwood and drank gall before each meal to remind himself of the humiliation his country had suffered. He plotted the downfall of his conqueror as soon as he was released. Goujian’s minister Wen Zhong suggested training beautiful women and offering them to Fuchai as a tribute, knowing that Fuchai was a lustful man and could not resist beautiful women. He commissioned men to search far and wide for a woman. Xishi, whose beauty was much talked of even from early childhood, was selected for this task and sent to the capital.

King Gou Jian approved of the choice and had Xishi trained in royal court etiquette. Gou Jian ordered his minister Fan Li to take Xishi to the Prince of Wu as a tribute gift from Yue. During the journey, Xishi fell deeply in love with the wise minister. Fan Li also grew to admire this courageous lady who was willing to give her life for her country. Consequently, before they parted, they made a secret pledge of undying love.

They arrived at the capital of Wu and Prince Fuchai was enchanted by Xishi’s appearance and doted on her. Gradually he began to neglect his political duties, preferring to idle away his time with Xishi. He frequently took her out on carriage rides to the noisy and prosperous sections of the city. On these rides, he liked to boast to those around him that he had won the heart of the most beautiful woman in the world.

Xishi, however, never lost sight of her mission. Bewitched by the beauty of Xi Shi, Fuchai forgot all about his state affairs and on their instigation, killed his best advisor, the great general Wu Zixu. Fuchai even built Guanwa Palace (Palace of Beautiful Women) in an imperial park on the slope of Lingyan Hill, about 15 kilometers west of Suzhou. The strength of Wu dwindled, and in 473 BC Goujian launched his strike and put the Wu army to full rout. King Fuchai lamented that he should have listened to Wu Zixu, and then committed suicide.

In one disputed account of her fate, it was written that Goujian ordered Xi Shi to be drowned by being thrown into a lake, to avoid being tempted by her as Fuchai was.

In legends, after the fall of Wu, Fan Li retired from his minister post and lived with Xi Shi on a fishing boat, roaming like fairies in the misty wilderness of Tai Ho Lake, and no one has seen them ever since.

She is remembered by the Xi Shi Temple, which lies at the foot of the Zhu Lou Hill in the southern part of the city, on the banks of the Huansha River.

A memorial statue of Xishi at The Xi Shi Temple

The West Lake in Hangzhou is said to be the incarnation of Xi Shi, hence it is also called Xizi Lake, Xizi being another name for Xi Shi, meaning Lady Xi.

Art Works based on story of Xi Shi

浣纱庙 Silk-Washing Temple

吴越相谋计策多，As the states of Wu and Yue piled plot upon plot,

浣纱神女已相和。The silk-washing goddess offered ease;

一双笑靥才回面，a pair of laughing dimples turned the prince’s head,

十万精兵尽倒戈。And a hundred thousand soldiers let fall their shining spears.

范蠡功成身隐遁，Fan Li, having succeeded, went into retirement;

伍胥谏死国消磨。Wu Xu died for his advice, and his country was wiped out.

只今诸暨长江畔，And yet, today, by the long river at Zhuji,

空有青山号苎萝。There’s nothing but a green hill named Zhu Luo.

This poem is based on the story of Xishi. The temple is dedicated to Xi Shi, who originally laundered silk for a living in Zhuji.

Early built in Tang Dynasty, Xishi Temple, was rebuilt in 1989 and enlarged in 2001, whose area is over 20 thousand meters now, encompassing Xishi Temple, Ancient Yue’s Platform, Beauty Pond, Xishi Long Corridor, Yiguang Pavilion, Zhuluo Village, and Showroom of Xishi’s Historical Material, and attracting tourists of over 10 thousand person times yearly.

NCPA Original Opera: Xi Shi

It is the first original opera produced by National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), which adopts Western opera to interpret the ancient legends about Xi Shi in a brand new way, recreating grand view of the war between the Kingdom of Wu and the Kingdom of Yue, as well as the legendary story of a beauty.

TV Drama

Xi Shi is a historic celebrity, through her story; there are numerous television programs and movies around this legend.

Dong Zhizhi as Xi Shi in 1983

Jiang Qinqin as Xi Shi in 1995

Zhou Yang as Xi Shi in 2005

Idiom : Dong Shi imitates a frown

It is said that there lived an ugly woman named Dong Shi in the neighborhood. She was plain-looking and illiterate, but daydreamed to become a beauty someday. The “Dong” in her name means “east” contrasting to Xi Shi’s “Xi”, which means “west”.

Xi Shi, being a sickly girl, often had chest pains. It was said that her beauty was most attractive whenever she had her hand on her chest, wincing from the pain. As Dong Shi saw Xi Shi win the admiration of others while she was walking with her hand on the chest and brows furrowed, she imitated Xi Shi. But this only increased her ugliness. This in turn has created the saying “Dong Shi imitates a frown” meaning to attempt imitating another only to emphasize one’s own weaknesses.

Vocabulary

被迷住  bèi mí zhù   Bewitched

减小  jiǎn xiǎo   Dwindled

西施殿 xī shī diàn  Xi Shi Temple

东施效颦  dōng shī xiào pín   Dong Shi imitates a frown

春秋时代  Chūn qiū shí dài   Spring & Autumn period (the warring states period)

馆娃宫  guǎn wá gōng   Guanwa Palace

]]> http://ilearn-culture.com/traditions/historical-figures-tales/four-beauties-of-ancient-china-xi-shi/feed/ 0 http://ilearn-culture.com/traditions/historical-figures-tales/mongolian-hero-genghis-khan/ http://ilearn-culture.com/traditions/historical-figures-tales/mongolian-hero-genghis-khan/#comments Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:50:56 +0000 Violet Wei http://ilearn-culture.com/?p=1194

A retired warrior, portrait of an elderly Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan is a Mongolian hero. He reunified the chaotic Inner Mongolia prairie and led his people to be a great civilization. Genghis Khan made great contributions to the founding of the powerful Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) as well as the unification of China which enhanced greatly the interactions of the peoples of China.

Even today, Genghis Khan is still worshiped and remembered by his people.

Born with the name – Temüjin, Genghis Khan grew up amid the harsh landscape of Mongolia, in a world of tribal violence, kidnapping, murder, and enslavement. His father was murdered when he was just nine. His family, abandoned by their tribe, was left to survive extreme poverty. These harsh life conditions forced Genghis Khan to learn survival, ambition, determination, and cruelty. His difficult childhood, as well as his nomadic heritage, helped shape him as a leader.

While still a teenager, Genghis Khan united the separate, warring Mongol clans and together they began to conquer other nomadic tribes. Conquering these rivals was a struggle, but the young, charismatic leader’s ability to form alliances and motivate his warriors eventually led to victory. Genghis Khan’s battle skills grew. He incorporated defeated warriors into his own army, usually killing their leaders first. He rewarded loyalty rather than honoring bloodlines. After many years, he was able to unite the tribes, forming the first unified Mongol nation.

Genghis Khan led a series of major military campaigns, each one enlarging his territories beyond his homeland, south into China and west into Iran. The Mongol war machine featured a ruthless leader, loyal officers, and fierce warriors, coupled with tight organization, swift movement, and brilliantly coordinated tactics. It was nearly impossible to defeat. As a result of these conquests, unprecedented trade and cultural exchanges followed.

an artist impression of the Mongolian Hero, Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan History/Timeline :

1. 1162: Temujin born in the Khentii Mountain.At the age of nine, Temujin’s father Yesugei poisoned by Tatars, leaving him and his family destitute
2. 1184: Temujin’s wife Borte kidnapped by Merkits; calls on blood brother Jamuka and Wang Khan for aid, and they rescue her.
3. 1185: First son Jochi born, leading to doubt about his paternity later among Genghis’ children, because he was born shortly after Borte’s rescue from the Merkits.
4. 1190: Temujin unites the Mongol tribes, becomes leader, and devises code of law called Yassa.
5. 1201: Wins victory over Jamuka’s.
6. 1202: Adopted as Wang Khan’s heir after successful campaigns against Tatars.
7. 1203: Wins victory over Wang Khan’s Keraits. Wang Khan himself is killed by accident by allied Naimans.
8. 1204: Wins victory over Naimans (all these confederations are united and become the Mongols).
9. 1206: Jamuka is killed. Temujin given the title Genghis Khan by his followers in a Kurultai.
10. 1207–1210: Genghis leads operations against the Western Xia, which comprises much of northwestern China and parts of Tibet. Western Xia ruler submits to Genghis Khan. During this period, the Uyghurs also submit peacefully to the Mongols and became valued administrators throughout the empire.
11. 1211: After the Kurultai, Genghis leads his armies against the Jin Dynasty ruling northern China.
12. 1215: Beijing falls, Genghis Khan turns to west and the Khara-Kitan Khanate.
13. 1219–1222: Conquers Khwarezmid Empire.
14. 1226: Starts the campaign against the Western Xia for forming coalition against the Mongols, the second battle with the Western Xia.
15. 1227: Genghis Khan dies after conquering the Tangut people. Cause of death is uncertain, although legend states that he was thrown off his horse in the battle, and contracted a deadly fever soon after.

Achievements of Genghis Khan

In the history of the world rankings, what Genghis Khan‘s achievements are in the first row. He was called “一代天骄 yí dài tiān jiāo — a great son whom the sky is proud of”.

1. Creates the largest empire of the world
2. Establishes the first transporting net system
3. Puts the military art to the peak of the cold weapons
4. The most influential figures in the history of the world
5. The first emperor of the implementation of political democracy
6. The richest people in thousands of years
7. Pursues the most extensive policy of freedom and religious belief
8. First man proposes and practices the “globalization”

Genghis Khan is a national leader. He unites so many tribes of the Mongolian Plateau into a unified whole, which become a strong Mongolian nationality, undeniably, Mongolia national start its growth and development at the expense of the interests of other nations.

Genghis Khan and his successors led less than 200,000 troops, used just 25 years, perished more than 40 countries, conquered more than 720 nationalities, eradicated more than 10,000,000 armed forces, dominated over 600,000,000 national population and finally created a largest country in human history — the Mongol Empire. In the period of stability, the territory is more than 35,000,000 square kilometer and the largest period is more than 44,000,000, which represents more than four fifths of the whole world.

He set up his empire from Siberia directly to the border of India, Hungary directly to Vietnam, Korean Peninsula to Balkan Peninsula. Mongol empire re-sketched the map of the world, make the original isolated empire closely link each other. New world, new era was demarcated in his new order.

Family influence of Genghis Khan

Family is an important factor in the growth of children, in Genghis Khan’s growing up, family education gives him a far-reaching influence. And this nice education also fosters his descendants.

Father: Genghis Khan’s father Yesugei was one of a tribe leader in Mongolian Plateau, a real grassland hero. He helped his neighbor tribe resist the slaughter and made anda (sworn brother or blood brother) with this leader, Toghrul, who was the early guardian of Genghis Khan and helped Genghis Khan unite his alliance successful. He was the first strength for Mongol tribe conquering Eurasia.

Mother: Genghis Khan‘s mother, was delicate plundered by his father, was brave after his father’s death and in the days that their tribe abandoned them, she brought up their children and told them a lots of truth about how to be a real man and what would make them get real success.  In the time of Genghis Khan conquering the Mongolian Plateau, her idea is reuse of the capable prisoners and adoption of the orphans after war.

Sons: Genghis Khan had four sons like four lionhearted dogs. As Napoleon said: I am inferior to Genghis Khan, he has four tiger sons clamoring for their effectiveness, I have no such luck. His success also reflected on his sons that built the first minority state power in Chinese history, Yuan Dynasty.

Daughter: Genghis Khan had only one daughter named Alahaibie, she was very proud for his father and the same for Mongol grassland. When her father and brother were wild about all kinds of wars, she became the housemistress of her tribe. Under her administer, everything went peaceful and prosperous, and his father was reassuring and unworried about conquest to where he wanted to conquer. She embodied a kind of spirit in Mongol grassland, wise, energetic, ambitious, dedicated girl.

Monuments of Genghis Khan

Some of his monuments being built in various parts of Mongolia after he died in 1227.

Equestrian statue of Genghis Khan in Erdene sum, Mongolia

A very huge bronze statue compared to the human size. Notice how small the tourist on the left bottom corner compares with it.

Genghis Khan Monument in Hohhot

A statue depicting Genghis Khan and his invincible army

Genghis Khan was your true ‘rags to riches’ story – a man who struggled in extreme hardship to survive in the chaotic ancient Mongolia and eventually rising to power to become one of the greatest warrior and ruler the world had seen.

And this is the story, history and the legend he left behind, still inspiring the people of Mongolia and the rest of the World even til this day – The Mongolian Hero, Genghis Khan.

Her beauty not only comes from her appearance but also from her spirit and courage. She had used herself in exchange for a peaceful and united relationship between Xiongnu and Han-Chinese, which were two different nationalities back in ancient China.

Today, the name of Zhaojun not only symbolizes physical beauty, but also a spirit of goodwill to bridge different cultures, even at the expense of one’s own interests. She has been dead for thousands of years yet her life contribution remains an interesting story even till this modern age.

Background

Painting of Wang Zhaojun playing her pipa

Wang Zhaojun, whose original name Wang Qiang, was from a reputable family serving in the court of Han Emperor Yuan Di (reigned 49–33 B.C.)

At that time, the Xiongnu on China’s northern border were beginning to respond to military pressure from the Han Empire.

The Xiongnu (匈奴 Xiōngnú) were a confederation of nomadic tribes from Central Asia who were considered so dangerous and disruptive that the Qin Dynasty began construction of the Great Wall to protect China from Xiongnu attacks.

In 33 BC, Huhanye (Xiongnu’s ruler) visited Chang’an, where the Han Palance is, on a homage trip, as part of the tributary system between the Han and Xiongnu. He asked to marry one of Emperor’s Yuan’s daughter to form good relations between Han and Xiongnu.

Even though Zhaojun was a concubine of The Han Emperor Yuan, he had never noticed her. One reason was that she refused to bribe the Imperial painter, Mao Yanshou. So his painting of her did not do her justice. As a result, when Huhanye came looking for a bride, Emperor Yuan skimmed through the pictorial directory and found Zhaojun to be unattractive. Hence, he decided to present Huhanye with Zhaojun instead.

When Zhaojun appeared at the farewell banquet in Chang’an, her beauty stunned Emperor Yuan. He was very regretful that he allowed Wang Zhaojun to be married to Huhanye. He wondered why he had not seen her for review before. When he found that the portrait did not match Wang Zhaojun, he launched an investigation. It turned out that the Imperial painter, Mao Yanshou would paint a prettier portrait for those who bribed him. As Zhaojun refused to do so, he did injustice to her beauty so that the Emperor would never know her existence in the palace. Enraged, Emperor Yuan had Mao Yanshou executed.

Although Emperor Yuan regretted betrothing Zhaojun to Hanhuye, in his eyes, the dignity and credibility of an emperor were more valuable than a beautiful concubine. Thus he merely watched as she was escorted out of his palace to begin her long journey. Regretful as he was, Emperor Yuan blessed the inter-racial marriage. He admired Zhaojun’s courage and was thankful for her willingness to serve the interests of Han in spite of her own.

Escorted by officials sent by the emperor, Zhaojun embarked on a long journey to the north on horseback. They braved bitter cold and heavy snow storms and finally reached Xiongnu. Huhanye bestowed Zhaojun with the title of “Peaceful Queen” in hope she would bring them peace and security. She did so by persuading Huhanye and his people to abandon violence.

During her life in Xiongnu, she lived in yurt, wore blankets and furs, and drank milk, showing her respect for local customs. As a result, peace reigned on the border with her homeland for over half a century.

After Huhanye’s death, Zhaojun married his eldest son in according to the custom of the Xiongnu. However, this custom is abhorred by the Han-Chinese moral norms in which she was brought up. Therefore, it must have taken a lot of courage and political insight for her to do so.

It has been popularly believed that she did so for the sake of Xiongnu’s stability, therefore she earned the respect of her compatriots not only in her generation of her time, but generations to come. In order to commemorate her, the local people built the tomb after her death.

Wang Zhaojun's monument, Zhaojun Tomb (昭君墓)

The Zhaojun Tomb is located by the Da Hi River nine kilometers south of Hohhot, Inner Mongolia.

It is called the Green Tomb 青塚 (Qīng Zhǒng) in Mongolian which means “iron fortress” because it is said that each year when the weather gets colder, the grass  becomes yellow and withered, while only the grass on this tomb remains lush and green. Hence, the name of Green Tomb. The tomb has been one of eight famous scenes in Hohhot.

In front of the tomb, bronze statues of Wang Zhaojun and her husband, Huhanye depict a vivid picture of them riding horses and talking to each other intimately. The statues are the symbol of the friendly relations between the Han-Chinese and Xiongnu, which was greatly promoted by Wang Zhaojun.

Art Works based on story of Wang Zhaojun

Wang Zhaojun was a historical influential figure, hence there are a few well-known Chinese art & literature works that were based on her life story such as Beijing Opera, Chinese poems & poetries, even TV dramas in the modern era now.

• Beijing Opera: 《昭君出塞》 （zhāo jūn chū sāi）

Zhaojun bids farewell to her home. She climbed over mountains and crossed rivers on her way, she expressed her deep love for her country and her wish for a lasting friendship between her motherland and her new home.

Story of Wang Zhaojun in form of Beijing Opera

• Sanqu Poems:《汉宫秋》（hàn ɡōnɡ qiū, full name: Autumn in the Han Palace (破幽梦孤雁汉宫秋 Pò Yōu Mèng Gū Yàn Hàn Gōng Qiū)

This is one of the ten famous tragedies in Chinese Literary Works wrote by Ma Zhiyuan, Yuan Dynasty.

The story of Wang Zhaojun told in Autumn in the Han Palace was completely different from the historical fact of Wang Zhaojun marrying to Ruler of Xiongnu, Huhanye.

Autumn in the Han Palace by Ma Zhiyuan was created on the basis of sketch novels, poems, and folk tales of the past dynasties. However, Ma Zhiyuan reflected about the social reality by describing the changes of story plot through the eye of his created character of Wang Zhaojun: The Xiongnu forces approaching the borders of Han, and the country was about to collapse. The Xiongnu also forced the Han Kingdom to establish good relations with them by marriage.

As an excellent classic tragedy, Autumn in the Han Palace had gained great artistic achievements. This script was not only well organized and fine-grained, but was also detail-oriented and vivid in delineating characters. Especially Ma Zhiyuan did not follow the stereotyped ending of drama by letting the characters getting together happily in the end, but made the story a complete tragedy instead.

The story came to an end as Emperor Yuan of Han was startled by the honks of wild geese when he was missing Wang Zhaojun in palace, making the script in a thick tragic atmosphere from the beginning to the end, which was rare in traditional Chinese drama. The dramatic language of Autumn in the Han Palace was also praised for its poetic emotional expression.

• Tang Poetry: 《咏怀古迹》 yǒnɡ huái ɡǔ jì by 杜甫 dù fǔ

群山万壑赴荆门，qún shān wàn hè fù jīnɡ mén，

生长明妃尚有村。shēnɡ zhǎnɡ mínɡ fēi shànɡ yǒu cūn.

一去紫台连朔漠，yí qù zǐ tái lián shuò mò，

独留青冢向黄昏。dú liú qīnɡ zhǒnɡ xiànɡ huánɡ hūn.

画图省识春风面，huà tú xǐnɡ shí chūn fēnɡ miàn,

环佩空归月夜魂。huán pèi kōnɡ ɡuī yuè yè hún.

千载琵琶作胡语，qiān zǎi pí pá zuò hú yǔ，

分明怨恨曲中论。fēn mínɡ yuàn hèn qǔ zhōnɡ lùn.

Some explanations on the above poem.

1. 群山万壑 qún shān wàn hè ：Great rivers and mountains, as Chinese nation environment ensure one’s success, so this sentence show Zhaojun was born of noble background.

2. 明妃 mínɡ fēi ：Zhaojun’s imperial name that meant Concubine Ming.

3. 紫台 zǐ tái： where the empire lived in

4. 朔漠 shuò mò：the vast desert

5. 青冢 qīnɡ zhǒnɡ：Zhaojun Tomb, is famous for its green coverage. This sentence using the change of the color exhibits her life change, from luxurious to solitary.

6. 春风面 chūn fēnɡ miàn：shows it is a beauty.

7. 月夜魂 yuè yè hún ：like a ghost spirit in the evening

8. 胡语 hú yǔ ：The Xiongnu language which Zhaojun listened for many years

• TV Drama

In recent TV Drama production in China, Yang Mi, a budding young Chinese actress plays the character of Wang Zhaojun in this 85-episode drama that is highly acclaimed throughout the country.

Yang Mi as Wang Zhaojun

Wang Zhaojun wears her trademark red winter cape

Clockwise from top-left: Xi Shi, Wang Zhao Jun, Diao Chan, Yang Gui Fei

Here’s an introduction as well as a summary of the four beauties:

Xi Shi (西施) was born in Zhuluo Village, of Zhuji (now Zhuji City, Zhejiang Province), the capital of ancient Yue State (770-476 BC).

She has widely been considered the most beautiful of ancient China’s “four beauties.” It has been said that while Xi Shi was washing a veil, she caused the fishes to sink to the bottom of the river because the fishes were frozen by her beauty.

During the State Wars, the King of Yue was humiliated by his rival, the King of Wu. After heeding the advice of his minister, Fan Li, of sending the most beautiful woman to King of Wu. Xi Shi was then sent to be offered to King of Wu.

The plan worked. Enchanted by the beauty of Xishi, the King of Wu paid less attention to state affairs, and he became less interested in what his ministers had to say.  He spent all his time with her, building for her the extravagant Guanwa Palace (Palace of Beautiful Women) near the city of Suzhou.

The power of Wu State weakened gradually, and King of Wu was eventually conquered by Yue’s army. After the defeat in year 473 BC, King of Wu committed suicide.

Xi Shi is known for being one of the few women who caused an entire kingdom to collapse.

*****

Wang Zhaojun (王昭君) was born in Zigui County (now Xingshan County, Hubei Province), during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-24 AD). She came from a noble background and became part of the imperial harem.  She was intelligent and was a skilled pipa player.

Zhaojun, who was straightforward and honest, had refused to bribe the court’s painter, Mao Yanshou, as the others had done. Mao painted portraits—used by the emperor to select the concubines—of the candidates. That prompted Mao to paint an unflattering portrait of Wang. As a result, the emperor overlooked her.

In 33 BC as part of a deal between the Han Chinese and the Xiongnu nomads of Central Asia, Wang Zhaojun was offered to the chieftain Huhanye.

Legend has it that Zhaojun was upset to leave her homeland. She played melancholic music on the pipa, while riding a horse. Then, a flock of geese flew by. But after seeing the beautiful, but distraught, woman playing the sad music, they plummeted to the ground.

Zhaojun was able to foster peaceful relations between China and the Xiongnu, which lasted for 60 years after she traveled beyond the Great Wall.  A tomb that was built in her honor lies south of Hohhot in Inner Mongolia.

Read our feature article on Wang Zhaojun.

*****

Unlike the other beauties,  Diao Chan (貂蝉) was never mentioned in history books, and she might be a fictional figure. Her story is told in the famous historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong. She was the center of a royal love triangle.

Diao Chan was a pretty singer during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD), and she resided with the family of Wang Yun, who was an official.

One night, Diao Chan was in the garden, praying to the full moon. Suddenly, a cloud floated by and blocked the moon’s glow. Wang Yun witnessed the event, and he told others, “Diao Chan is more beautiful than the full moon. The moon felt shame and hid behind the cloud.”

According to legend, Diao Chan had joined a plot that was initiated by Wang Yun. The plot was to persuade Lu Bu, to kill his godfather, the despotic Dong Zhuo, who planned to usurp the throne. Wang Yun had Diao Chan became involved with Lu Bu but he later decided to offer her to Dong Zhuo as a concubine. After learning Dong Zhuo had taken Diao Chan as a concubine, Lu Bu was furious and killed Dong Zhuo.

Later, Diao Chan married Lu Bu and they had children. Lu Bu was eventually killed by Cao Cao, and Diao Chan was never heard of again.

*****

Yang Guifei (杨贵妃), whose name was Yang Yuhuan, was born into an official’s family in Yongle (now Huayin County, Shaanxi Province) in 719 AD, which was during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). In addition to her beauty, Yang was an accomplished singer and dancer. When she was 16, Yang married Prince Shou, who was Emperor Xuanzong’s 18th son.

Attracted by Yang Guifei’s beauty, Emperor Xuanzong wanted to marry her and forced her to divorce Prince Shou. She came to have such influence over the Emperor that many members of her family were appointed to high positions.  Among them was Yang Guozhong, who assumed the post of Prime Minister.

Legend has it, one day Yang Guifei walked through the garden. Attracted by the beauty of the flowers, she touched one of the plants. That caused the flower’s petals and leaves to curl. One of the maids witnessed the event, and she told everyone the flower had bowed its head in shame after having seen Yang Guifei’s beautiful face.

Emperor Xuanzong was smitten by Yang Guifei and totally neglected his state affairs.  Everyone came to hate her and her family because they felt they were causing the country’s downfall.  This led to rebellion on the part of one of Xuanzong’s generals in 755 AD, who marched on the capital.  The Emperor fled with Yang Guifei.  They didn’t get far when his own royal guard troops refused to march any further unless Yang Guifei and Yang Guozhong were executed. The Emperor could do nothing but bow to their wishes.  She chose to commit suicide instead. At age 38, she hanged herself.

*****

Four Beauties of Ancient China

Concepts of beauty have changed throughout the various periods of China’s history, but the following 10 characteristics have continuously been considered signs of beauty:

1. Lustrous black hair
2. Hair loosely coiled on the head to create the appearance of greater height
3. Finely shaped black eyebrows. During the Tang Dynasty, many women shaved their eyebrows and they drew eyebrows with pigment
4. Large, bright and expressive eyes
5. Red lips and white teeth. In addition to beauty, this was considered a sign of good health
6. Graceful fingers and arms. A pretty woman was expected to have well-shaped hands, with slim, soft fingers, and fair, fleshy arms
7. Slender waist and fair skin. Throughout history, women have wanted a willowy figure
8. Tiny feet and a light, elegant gait
9. Dressing according to complexion, figure and disposition
10. A fragrant body. It’s said a Concubine Xiang (香妃) of Qing Emperor Qian Long (1711-1799) gave off a natural fragrance.

Do come back and check out detailed write ups about these four beauties and their influences in ancient China.