Related News
Home » Sunday » Now and Then
王昭君 Wang Zhaojun (circa 52-20 BC) A beautiful lady helps keep peace
September 4, 2011, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
WANG Zhaojun, a palace woman in the imperial court of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25), is often referred to as one of the top four beauties of ancient China. She was also a peace envoy between the Han and Xiongnu (the Hun) peoples in Central Asia.
Born in today's Xingshan County, Hubei Province, Wang was extremely pretty and bright as a young girl. When she was 16, Wang was recommended by local officials to be sent to the capital as a palace lady in the imperial court.
According to imperial court procedures, Wang was put on a long waiting list to be called by the emperor.
At that time, Emperor Yuan would visit palace ladies only after seeing their portraits. Therefore, almost all palace ladies in the court had tried to bribe or befriend Mao Yanshou, the imperial painter. But Wang had a lot of pride and was confident of her ethereal beauty. So, she refused to curry favor with Mao.
Holding a grudge, Mao deliberately painted Wang in an unflattering light. As a result, the emperor never visited Wang.
Meanwhile, the political landscape was undergoing a major change in the neighboring Xiongnu territory to the north and northwest of China.
In past decades, the nomadic Xiongnu had frequently launched skirmishes into the border regions and posted a threat to the peace. The Han imperial government had spent huge resources in an attempt to quell the bellicose Xiongnu with little success.
However, in 59 BC, Xiongnu tribes fell into a major civil war for many years. Eventually five regimes were established. Each was ruled by a prince and they called themselves Chanyu or "Son of the Endless Sky."
One of the Chanyus was Huhanye, who visited the imperial court of the Han Dynasty and offered his regime as a vassal of the Han. In return, he asked the emperor to send troops to help defend his territory against an invasion from other Xiongnu Chanyus and reunite Xiongnu.
Following the advice from his generals, Emperor Yuan agreed. With the help of the Han Dynasty, Huhanye defeated some of the other regimes and became one of the most powerful Xiongnu rulers.
In order to express his gratitude and consolidate the friendship with the imperial court of the Han, Huhanye visited Emperor Yuan in 33 BC and asked to marry one of the emperor's daughters. Emperor Yuan, instead, chose one of the palace ladies to marry Huhanye in the name of a princess.
After hearing the news, Wang, fed up with the boring life in the court, volunteered herself. And her entreaty was immediately approved. However, when the emperor saw Wang for the first time, he was stunned by her peerless beauty. He wanted to keep Wang, but it was too late to go back on his word.
After the Xiongnu ruler left with Wang, Emperor Yuan immediately ordered the execution of the painter.
Wang got along with the ruler and other Xiongnu people very well and the peace between the Han and Xiongnu people lasted for more than 60 years after the marriage.
In later years, Wang wanted to return to the Han, but her plea was refused by the Han emperor.
Therefore, in numerous Chinese novels, poems, operas and stories, Wang has always been depicted as a tragic heroine. Many famous Chinese poets, such as Li Bai, Du Fu and Wang Anshi, had all written melancholy poems about this peerless beauty and her role as a great peace envoy.
Born in today's Xingshan County, Hubei Province, Wang was extremely pretty and bright as a young girl. When she was 16, Wang was recommended by local officials to be sent to the capital as a palace lady in the imperial court.
According to imperial court procedures, Wang was put on a long waiting list to be called by the emperor.
At that time, Emperor Yuan would visit palace ladies only after seeing their portraits. Therefore, almost all palace ladies in the court had tried to bribe or befriend Mao Yanshou, the imperial painter. But Wang had a lot of pride and was confident of her ethereal beauty. So, she refused to curry favor with Mao.
Holding a grudge, Mao deliberately painted Wang in an unflattering light. As a result, the emperor never visited Wang.
Meanwhile, the political landscape was undergoing a major change in the neighboring Xiongnu territory to the north and northwest of China.
In past decades, the nomadic Xiongnu had frequently launched skirmishes into the border regions and posted a threat to the peace. The Han imperial government had spent huge resources in an attempt to quell the bellicose Xiongnu with little success.
However, in 59 BC, Xiongnu tribes fell into a major civil war for many years. Eventually five regimes were established. Each was ruled by a prince and they called themselves Chanyu or "Son of the Endless Sky."
One of the Chanyus was Huhanye, who visited the imperial court of the Han Dynasty and offered his regime as a vassal of the Han. In return, he asked the emperor to send troops to help defend his territory against an invasion from other Xiongnu Chanyus and reunite Xiongnu.
Following the advice from his generals, Emperor Yuan agreed. With the help of the Han Dynasty, Huhanye defeated some of the other regimes and became one of the most powerful Xiongnu rulers.
In order to express his gratitude and consolidate the friendship with the imperial court of the Han, Huhanye visited Emperor Yuan in 33 BC and asked to marry one of the emperor's daughters. Emperor Yuan, instead, chose one of the palace ladies to marry Huhanye in the name of a princess.
After hearing the news, Wang, fed up with the boring life in the court, volunteered herself. And her entreaty was immediately approved. However, when the emperor saw Wang for the first time, he was stunned by her peerless beauty. He wanted to keep Wang, but it was too late to go back on his word.
After the Xiongnu ruler left with Wang, Emperor Yuan immediately ordered the execution of the painter.
Wang got along with the ruler and other Xiongnu people very well and the peace between the Han and Xiongnu people lasted for more than 60 years after the marriage.
In later years, Wang wanted to return to the Han, but her plea was refused by the Han emperor.
Therefore, in numerous Chinese novels, poems, operas and stories, Wang has always been depicted as a tragic heroine. Many famous Chinese poets, such as Li Bai, Du Fu and Wang Anshi, had all written melancholy poems about this peerless beauty and her role as a great peace envoy.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
