Wang Qiang (王牆 also 王檣; 王嬙), more commonly known by her style name Wang Zhaojun (王昭君) was a real person, born in Baoping Village, Zigui County (in current Hubei Province) in the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 8 AD).[1] was sent by Emperor Yuan to marry the Xiongnu Chanyu (呼韓邪) in order to establish friendly relations with the Han Dynasty through marriage. She is famed as one of the Four Beauties of ancient China and her story as a ‘political bride’ has handed down to generations.
Role in the "Four Beauties" legend
According to the most prevalent version of the "Four Beauties" legend, the quartet's members are Xi Shi, Wang Zhaojun, Diao Chan or Diaochan, and Yang Guifei. They are described by four parallel Chinese quotations: "Xi Shi sinks fish; Wang Zhaojun drops birds; Diao Chan eclipses the moon; Yang Guifei shames flowers."[2] Wang Zhaojun's portion of the legend is that on a bright autumn morning she left her hometown on horseback and began a journey northward. Along the way, the horse neighed, making Zhaojun extremely sad and unable to control her emotions. As she sat on the saddle, she began to play sorrowful melodies on a stringed instrument. A flock of geese flying southward heard the music, saw the beautiful young woman riding the horse, immediately forgot to flap their wings, and fell to the ground. From then on, Zhaojun acquired the nickname "fells geese" or "drops birds."
Wang Zhaojun in History
Entering the harem
Wang Zhaojun was born to a prominent family of Baopin village, Zigui country (now Zhaojun village, Xingshan county, Hubei) in the south of the Western Han empire. As she was born when her father was very old, he regarded her as "a pearl in the palm". Wang Zhaojun was endowed with dazzling beauty with extremely intelligent mind. She was also adept in pipa and master all the Four Arts of the Chinese Scholar – Guqin, Weiqi, Calligraphy and Chinese painting. In 36 BC, Emperor Yuan chose his concubines from the whole state. Because of Zhaojun’s fame in the county, she was his first choice for the concubine from Nan county. Emperor Yuan issued the edict that Zhaojun should enter the harem soon. Zhaojun’s father said that his daughter was too young to enter the harem, but could not violate the decree. Zhaojun left her hometown and entered the harem of Emperor Yuan in early summer. According to the custom in the palace, when choosing a new wife, the Emperor was first presented with portraits of all the possible women. It is said that because of Zhaojun's confidence of beauty and temperament, she refused to bribe the artist Mao Shouyan as other women did.[3] As a reprisal, Mao shouyan painted a mole of widowed tears on Zhaojun’s portrait.[4] As a result, during her time in the Lateral Courts, Wang Zhaojun was never visited by the emperor and remained as a palace lady-in-waiting. Wang Zhaojun's portrait was either never viewed by the Emperor, or was not in its true form, and therefore the Emperor overlooked her.[5]
Zhaojun Departs for the Frontier
In 33 BC, Huhanye Chanyu visited Chang'an as part of the tributary system that existed between the Han and Xiongnu governments. He took the opportunity to request to become an imperial son-in-law, which is recorded by Lou Jingde under Emperor Gaozu of Han. As Queen Mother Lü had only one daughter she did not have the heart to send her too far away. Typically the daughter of a concubine would then be offered, but, unwilling to honour Huhanye with a real princess, Emperor Yuan ordered that the plainest girl in the harem be selected.[6] He asked for volunteers and promised to present her as his own daughter. The idea of leaving their homeland and comfortable life at the court for the grasslands of the far and unknown north was abhorrent to most of the young women, but Wang Zhaojun accepted. When the matron of the harem sent the unflattering portrait of Wang Zhaojun to the emperor he merely glanced at it and nodded his approval. Only when summoned to court was Wang Zhaojun’s beauty revealed and the emperor considered retracting his decision to give her to the Xiongnu. However, it was too late by then and, in anguish, the emperor presented Wang Zhaojun to Huhanye, who was delighted. Relations with the Xiongnu subsequently improved and the court artist, Mao Shouyan, was subsequently put to death for deceiving the Emperor.[7]
Life with the Xiongnu
Wang Zhaojun became a favourite of the Huhanye chanyu, giving birth to two sons. Only one of them seems to have survived, Yituzhiyashi (伊屠智牙師). They also had at least one daughter, Yun (雲), who was created Princess Yimuo and who would later become a powerful figure in Xiongnu politics. When Huhanye died in 31 BC, Wang Zhaojun requested to return to China.Emperor Cheng, however, ordered that she follow Xiongnu levirate custom and become the wife of the next shanyu, the oldest brother (or her stepson, born by her husband's first wife) of her husband. In her new marriage she had two daughters.
Wang was honoured as Ninghu Yanzhi(寧胡閼氏 "Hu-Pacifying Chief-Consort").[8]
Evaluation
Zhaojun’s life became the household tale of "Zhaojun Departs the Frontier" (昭君出塞) in the history of the friendship and unity among Chinese nationalities as well as a popular subject in Chinese poetry, drama and novels. She advised Huhanye not to wage war and spread the Han culture and civilization among the Xiongnu tribe. As she was loved and respected by the Xiongnu, Huhanxie Chanyu conferred on her the title of the First Lady of Xiongnu Peace, eulogizing Zhaojun as a queen who had brought peace and security to the Xiongnu tribe. Peace was maintained for over 60 years between China and the Xiongnu with her contribution. Since the 3rd century, the story of Wang Zhaojun had been elaborated upon. The Communist government of the People's Republic of China uses her as a symbol of the integration of Han Chinese and ethnic minorities of China. There is a Memorial to Zhaojun in Inner Mongolia. Although it is called a "Tomb", she is not actually buried there. Her date of death and true grave is unknown.
References
[1]^ "王昭君简介". www.365zn.com.
[2]^ Xinhuanet.com. "纪连海叹说四大美人". Retrieved on 2010-02-20.
[3]^ baike.baidu.com. "王昭君". zhiyang2005.
[4]^ baike.baidu.com. "王昭君". zhiyang2005.
[5]^ baike.baidu.com. "王昭君". zhiyang2005.
[6]^ baike.baidu.com. "王昭君". zhiyang2005.
[7]^ baike.baidu.com. "王昭君". zhiyang2005.
[8]^ baike.baidu.com. "王昭君". zhiyang2005.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Beauties
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Zhaojun
人物: 王昭君 (Wang Zhaojun)