Do you Know the Four Most Famous Beauties in China?

Xi Shi, Wang Zhaojun, Diao Chan, and Yang Yuhuan are collectively known as the Four Beauties of ancient China. These four beauties are described as having "a beauty that could make fish sink and geese fall from the sky, a face that could shame the moon and flowers." Why were these four women named among the Four Beauties of China? What are their stories? Follow Sigurai to find the answers behind the scenes.

Xi Shi (Xi Zi)

Xi Shi was born in Zhuji, Yue State, in the late Spring and Autumn Period. Zhuji consisted of two villages, east and west; Xi Shi lived in the west village, hence her name.

Xi Shi was naturally beautiful, with delicate features, a rosy complexion, and extraordinary beauty. When she washed silk by the river, the clear water reflected her graceful figure, making her even more beautiful. Fish, seeing her reflection, forgot to swim and gradually sank to the bottom. From then on, Xi Shi became known as "the one who makes fish sink."

Later, Xi Shi in order to save her country, she and Zheng Dan were presented to King Fuchai of Wu by King Goujian of Yue. She became the most favored concubine of King Fuchai, disrupting the Wu palace and contributing to Yue's dominance.

Diao Chan

Diao Chan was a singing girl in the service of Wang Yun, a high-ranking official during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Seeing the Eastern Han Dynasty manipulated by the treacherous minister Dong Zhuo, she prayed to Heaven under the moon, wishing to share her master's sorrows.

While Diao Chan was worshipping the moon in the back garden, a gentle breeze suddenly blew, and a floating cloud obscured the bright moon. Wang Yun happened to see this. He told everyone he met, "My daughter is so beautiful that even the moon cannot compare and has to hide behind the clouds."

Afterwards, Wang Yun became Diao Chan's godfather. Entrusted by Wang Yun, Diao Chan skillfully navigated between Dong Zhuo and his godson, successfully sowing discord between Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu. Ultimately, she used Lü Bu to eliminate the villainous Dong Zhuo, ending the dark period of Dong Zhuo's tyranny.

Wang Zhaojun

Wang Zhaojun was very beautiful and skilled in all arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. The saying goes, "Her beauty is unparalleled, even the flowers in the Imperial Garden are ashamed."

In the first year of the Jianzhao era, Wang Zhaojun, a commoner, was selected to enter the imperial harem as a palace maid. However, despite being in the palace for many years, he never received the emperor's favor. In the first year of the Jianning era, Emperor Yuan married her to Huhanye Chanyu.

On Wang Zhaojun journey to the Xiongnu, while on horseback, plucked the strings of her zither, playing a poignant farewell song. Hearing the beautiful music and seeing the beautiful woman on horseback, the wild geese forgot to flap their wings and fell to the ground. From then on, Wang Zhaojun earned the beautiful title "Falling Geese."

Yang Guifei

Yang Yuhuan was the imperial concubine of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (Li Longji). She was gentle, beautiful, skilled in singing and dancing, and knowledgeable in music. Yang Yuhuan initially married Prince Shou, Li Chang, as a concubine. In the 28th year of the Kaiyuan era, she was ordered to become a Daoist nun, but Emperor Xuanzong later ordered her to return to secular life and brought her back to the palace, officially bestowing upon her the title of Imperial Concubine, where she was deeply favored.

In the 15th year of the Tianbao era, after An Lushan's rebellion, Imperial Concubine Yang followed Emperor Xuanzong into exile in Sichuan. En route, at Mawei Post Station, the soldiers mutinied, and Imperial Concubine Yang was forced to commit suicide.

Legend has it that when Yang Yuhuan first entered the palace, she was constantly sorrowful because she could not see the emperor. Once, while admiring flowers in the palace garden with her maids,  Yang Yuhuan  accidentally touched a mimosa plant, whose leaves immediately curled up. The maids said this was because of Yang Yuhuan's beauty, making the flowers and plants ashamed and unable to raise their heads.

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