Chinese Beauties | Ancient Chinese Culture - Part 2

Archive for category Chinese Beauties

King Lanling: Masked Warrior

King-Lanling-01
King Lanling, whose name was Gaosu, was the king of Lanling Prefecture in Beiqi Dynasty. Legend had it that he was good at fighting and scored one victory after another. However, he was so handsome that he couldn’t scare his enemies and often scorned by them, so he asked his men to make him a horror mask to wear specially while fighting.

King-Lanling-02

King-Lanling-04

He was invincible on battlefield and respected by the whole nation. However, his success ultimately led to his death. He was poisoned before he reached his thirties because the Emperor was afraid that Gaosu would usurp his throne.

He disappeared forever but a precious legacy left for later generations, which is “Battlefield Melody”.

King-Lanling-03

King-Lanling-05

No Comments

Zhao Feiyan – Flying Swallow

feiyan-01

In Chinese history, Zhao Feiyan was the only dancer who at last became an empress. It was said that her given name, Feiyan, which in Chinese means flying swallow, was given by her beautiful dance. According to historical records, she “was light as a swallow and could dance on another one’s palm”.

feiyan-02

feiyan-03

She was also the most famous slim beauty in ancient China. Legend had it that when she danced, it seemed that a breeze would carry her away.

Depending on her astuteness and beauty, she rose from dancer to empress within two years. For many years, the emperor favored only Zhao Feiyan and her sister and kept company with them every day.

feiyan-04

feiyan-05

2 Comments

Four Beauties in Ancient China

The Four Beauties of China are 4 Chinese women who renowned for their beauty in legendary ancient China.

According to legend, they are the most beautiful women of ancient China. They gained their reputation from the influence they exercised over kings and emperors and consequently, the way their actions impacted Chinese history.

The Four Beauties of China, in chronological orders:

Xishi was a legendary beauty of the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC) in ancient China, said to be so beautiful that whenever she washed her clothes by the river, the fish would be so dazzled that they forgot to swim and gradually sunk away from the surface.

xishi

Wang Zhaojun (before 33 BC – after 31 BC), said to be so entrancingly beautiful that the wild goose in the sky dived down in order to have a glimpse of her beauty. Read the rest of this entry »

, , , , ,

No Comments

Chinese Ancient Four Beauties—Xi Shi

The legend of Xi Shi, one of the four beauties in ancient China, has it all: love, war, espionage, revenge.

After the king of Wu defeated the king of Yue, he sought revenge. Accepting a wise man Fan Li’s suggestion, the king of Yue sent Fan’s lover Xi Shi to seduce the king of Wu.

She Suceeded. The King of Wu was so entranced by her that he spent all his time with her. The King of Yue struck back when the King of Wu least expected it, and routed his armies in battle during the year 473 BC.

Xi-Shi-01

Xi-Shi-02

, ,

No Comments

Chinese Ancient Four Beauties—Wang Zhaojun

Wang-Zhaojun-01

Wang Zhaojun, one of the Four Beauties in ancient China, is perhaps the best known of China’s political brides. Her name was Wang Qiang, and Zhaojun was her style name.

She was selected into the court in the reign of the Yuan Emperor in the Western Han Dynasty. She volunteered to be a peace envoy through her marriage to Huhanye Chanyu (king of the Xiongnu in ancient China) and became Ninghu Yanshi (Yanshi, the legal wife of Xiongnu’s King). Read the rest of this entry »

, ,

No Comments