Wang Zhaojun: Difference between revisions
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'''Wang Qiang''' (王牆 also 王檣; 王嬙), more commonly known by her style name '''Wang Zhaojun''' (王昭君) was the consort of the [[Xiongnu]] ''[[shanyu]]'' Huhanye (呼韓邪). She is famed as one of the [[Four Beauties]] of ancient [[China]]. |
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|name=Wang Zhaojun |
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|image=File:Periodo edo, kosumi morihage, wang zhaojun, XVII sec. 02.JPG |
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|caption= |
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|title=First Lady of Hun Peace |
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|spouse={{plain list|1= |
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* [[Huhanye]], [[Chanyu]] of [[Xiongnu Empire]] |
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* [[Fujulei]], Chanyu of Xiongnu Empire |
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}} |
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|issue={{Plain list|1= |
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* Prince [[Yituzhiyashi]] |
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* 2 other daughters |
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}} |
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|birth_date={{circa}} 50 BC |
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|full name=Wang Qiang |
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|death_date= |
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}} |
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{{Chinese name|[[Wang (surname)|Wang]]}} |
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'''Wang Qiang''' ('''Wang Chiang'''; 王牆, also 王檣 and 王嬙), more commonly known by her stylistic name '''Wang Zhaojun''' ('''Wang Chao-chun'''; 王昭君) was known as one of the [[Four Beauties]] of ancient China. Born in Baoping Village, Zigui County (in current [[Hubei Province]]) in the Western [[Han Dynasty]] (206 BC–8 AD),<ref>{{cite web|title=王昭君简介|url=http://www.365zn.com/mrl/htm/2378.htm|publisher=www.365zn.com}}</ref> she was sent by [[Emperor Yuan of Han|Emperor Yuan]] to marry the [[Xiongnu]] [[Chanyu]] [[Huhanye]] (呼韓邪) in order to establish friendly relations with the Han Dynasty through marriage. |
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In the most prevalent version of the "Four Beauties" legend, it is said that Wang Zhaojun left her hometown on horseback on a bright autumn morning 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." |
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==Life== |
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Wang Zhaojun was born to a prominent family of Zigui county, Nan county (now Xingshan county, [[Hubei]]) in the south of the [[Western Han]] empire. She entered the harem of [[Emperor Yuan of Han|Emperor Yuan]] probably after [[40 BC]]. During her time in the [[Lateral Courts]], Wang Qiang was never visited by the emperor and remained as a palace lady-in-waiting (宮女). |
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===Entering the harem=== |
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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 an extremely intelligent mind. She was also adept in [[pipa]] and master of all the [[Four Arts of the Chinese Scholar]] – [[Guqin]], [[Go (game)|Weiqi]], [[Calligraphy]] and [[Chinese painting]]. In 36 BC, [[Emperor Yuan of Han|Emperor Yuan]] chose his concubines from the whole state. Because of Wang’s fame in the county, she was his first choice for the concubine from Nan county. Emperor Yuan issued the edict that Wang should enter the harem soon. Wang's father said that his daughter was too young to enter the harem, but could not violate the decree. Wang 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 Wang's confidence of beauty and temperament, she refused to bribe the artist Mao Yanshou as the other maids did.<ref>{{cite web|last=baike.baidu.com|title=王昭君|url=http://baike.baidu.com/view/3083.htm|publisher=zhiyang2005}}</ref> As a reprisal, Mao Yanshou painted a mole of widowed tears on Wang's portrait.<ref>{{cite web|last=baike.baidu.com|title=王昭君|url=http://baike.baidu.com/view/3083.htm|publisher=zhiyang2005}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|last=baike.baidu.com|title=王昭君|url=http://baike.baidu.com/view/3083.htm|publisher=zhiyang2005}}</ref> |
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===Departing for the frontier=== |
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In [[33 BC]], Huhanye visited [[Chang'an]] on a homage trip, as part of the tributary system between the Han and [[Xiongnu]]. He took the opportunity to ask to be allowed to become an imperial son-in-law. Instead of honouring the ''[[chanyu]]'' with a princess, Huhanye was presented with five women from the imperial harem, one of them who was Wang Zhaojun. |
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[[File:Wang Zhaojun.png|thumb|1772 image of Wang Zhaojun]] |
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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.<ref>{{cite web|last=baike.baidu.com|title=王昭君|url=http://baike.baidu.com/view/3083.htm|publisher=zhiyang2005}}</ref> 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 Emperor Gaozu regretfully presented Wang Zhaojun to Huhanye, who was delighted. Relations with the Xiongnu subsequently improved and the court artist, Mao Yanshou, was subsequently executed for deceiving the Emperor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://people.wku.edu/haiwang.yuan/China/tales/zhaojun_b.htm |publisher=Western Kentucky University |title=Wang Zhaojun |accessdate=April 8, 2013 }}</ref> |
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===Life with the Xiongnu=== |
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A story from the ''[[Hou Han Shu]]'' relates that Wang Zhaojun volunteered to join the ''chanyu''. When summoned to court, her beauty astonished the emperor's courtiers and made the emperor reconsider his decision to send her to the Xiongnu. |
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| ⚫ | 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").<ref>{{cite web|last=baike.baidu.com|title=王昭君|url=http://baike.baidu.com/view/3083.htm|publisher=zhiyang2005}}</ref> |
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==Cultural legacy== |
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| ⚫ | Wang Zhaojun became a favourite of the Huhanye |
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Statistics show that there are about 700 poems and songs and 40 kinds of stories and folktales about Wang Zhaojun from more than 500 famous writers,<ref>{{cite web|last=baike.baidu.com|title=王昭君|url=http://baike.baidu.com/view/3083.htm|publisher=zhiyang2005}}</ref> both ancient (Shi Chong, [[Li Bai]], [[Du Fu]], [[Bai Juyi]], [[Li Shangyin]], Zhang Zhongsu, [[Cai Yong]], [[Wang Anshi]], [[Yelü Chucai]]) and modern ([[Guo Moruo]], [[Cao Yu]], [[Tian Han]], [[Jian Bozan]], [[Fei Xiaotong]], [[Lao She]], [[Chen Zhisui]]). |
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===Literature=== |
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Wang was honoured as Ninghu ''[[Yanzhi]]'' (寧胡閼氏 "Hu-Pacifying Chief-Consort"). |
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* Chapter novel: ''You Feng Qi Yuan'' |
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* Variety Plays (known as [[Zaju]] in China) in [[Yuan Dynasty]]: ''Han Gong Qiu''<ref>{{cite web|title=汉宫秋|url=http://baike.baidu.com/view/124676.htm|publisher=flyingship|accessdate=latest update at 2011-11-23}}</ref> |
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* Biography in [[Ming Dynasty]]: ''He Rong Ji''<ref>{{cite web|title=元明两代昭君戏比较研究_以_汉宫秋_与_和戎记_为例|url=http://wenku.baidu.com/view/8357dd1c59eef8c75fbfb330.html|publisher=baidu|accessdate=2010-11-08}}</ref> |
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* Imperial Lady by [[Andre Norton]] and Susan Schwartz (1990) |
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===Film and television=== |
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== Wang Zhaojun in legend == |
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* Chinese song ''Wang Zhaojun'' from [[Yang Yang]]{{disambiguation needed|date=November 2013}} |
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According to other legends, she commits [[suicide]] after her husband's death as her only resort in order to avoid marrying her son. |
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* [[Hong Kong]] [[Shaw Brothers]], 1964, [http://www.hkcinemagic.com/en/movie.asp?id=4387 Beyond The Great Wall]. Linda Lin Dai played Wang Zhaojun. |
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* [[Hong Kong]] [[Asia Television]], TV series in 1984, ''Wang Zhaojun'', supervised by Wang Ximei. |
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* Hong Kong Asia Television Limited, TV series in 1985, ''Wang Zhaojun''. Wei Qiuhua played Wang Zhaojun. |
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* [[Taiwan]] [[China Television|CTV]], TV series broadcast at 8 pm in 1988, ''Wang Zhaojun'', directed by Zhou You. Song Gangling played Wang Zhaojun. |
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* [[China Central Television]] (CCTV) and China Television Media, Ltd, TV series in 2005, ''Wang Zhaojun''. [[Yang Mi]] played Wang Zhaojun. |
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* China Central Television (CCTV), TV series in 2006,''Zhaojun Chu Sai''. [[Li Caihua]] played Wang Zhaojun. |
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==See also== |
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Her life became the story of "Zhaojun Departs the Frontier" (昭君出塞). Peace was maintained for over 60 years between China and the Xiongnu. However, China eventually lost touch with her and her descendants. |
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{{Portal|Biography|China|Mongolia}} |
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* [[Xi Shi]] |
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* [[Diaochan]] |
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* [[Yang Guifei]] |
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==References== |
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Since the 3rd century the story of Zhaojun had been elaborated upon and she had been touted as a tragic heroine. 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]]. [[Zhaojun Tomb]] still exists today in [[Inner Mongolia]]. |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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Notable retellings of the story of Wang Zhaojun include: |
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* ''[[Hou Han Shu]]'' Chapter eighty nine [http://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E5%BE%8C%E6%BC%A2%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B789 Nan Xiong Nu Lie Zhuan] |
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* [http://www.nmg.xinhuanet.com/hzdw/zhaojun/index.htm Zhaojun cultural festival] |
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[[Category:Xiongnu]] |
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* ''Wang Zhaojun'' by [[Chao Yu]] (1978) |
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== Further reading == |
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Waley, Arthur. ''The life and times of Po Chü-i, 772-846 A.D. (London: George Allen and Unwin, 1949) |
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[[th:หวังเจาจวิน]] |
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[[vi:Chiêu Quân]] |
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[[zh:王昭君]] |
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Revision as of 04:21, 29 September 2015
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Template:Chinese name Wang Qiang (Wang Chiang; 王牆, also 王檣 and 王嬙), more commonly known by her stylistic name Wang Zhaojun (Wang Chao-chun; 王昭君) was known as one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. Born in Baoping Village, Zigui County (in current Hubei Province) in the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC–8 AD),[1] she was sent by Emperor Yuan to marry the Xiongnu Chanyu Huhanye (呼韓邪) in order to establish friendly relations with the Han Dynasty through marriage.
In the most prevalent version of the "Four Beauties" legend, it is said that Wang Zhaojun left her hometown on horseback on a bright autumn morning 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."
Life
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 an extremely intelligent mind. She was also adept in pipa and master of 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 Wang’s fame in the county, she was his first choice for the concubine from Nan county. Emperor Yuan issued the edict that Wang should enter the harem soon. Wang's father said that his daughter was too young to enter the harem, but could not violate the decree. Wang 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 Wang's confidence of beauty and temperament, she refused to bribe the artist Mao Yanshou as the other maids did.[2] As a reprisal, Mao Yanshou painted a mole of widowed tears on Wang's portrait.[3] 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.[4]
Departing 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.[5] 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 Emperor Gaozu regretfully presented Wang Zhaojun to Huhanye, who was delighted. Relations with the Xiongnu subsequently improved and the court artist, Mao Yanshou, was subsequently executed for deceiving the Emperor.[6]
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").[7]
Cultural legacy
Statistics show that there are about 700 poems and songs and 40 kinds of stories and folktales about Wang Zhaojun from more than 500 famous writers,[8] both ancient (Shi Chong, Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi, Li Shangyin, Zhang Zhongsu, Cai Yong, Wang Anshi, Yelü Chucai) and modern (Guo Moruo, Cao Yu, Tian Han, Jian Bozan, Fei Xiaotong, Lao She, Chen Zhisui).
Literature
- Chapter novel: You Feng Qi Yuan
- Variety Plays (known as Zaju in China) in Yuan Dynasty: Han Gong Qiu[9]
- Biography in Ming Dynasty: He Rong Ji[10]
- Han Shu, Xiongnu Zhuan (first known account of Wang Zhaojun)
- Qin Cao ("Principle of the Lute") by Cai Yong (c. 2nd century)
- Xijin Zaji ("Sundry Accounts of the Western Capital") (c. 3rd century)
- Han Gong Qiu ("The Autumn in the Palace of Han") by Ma Zhiyuan (c. 13th century)
- Wang Zhaojun by Guo Moruo (1923)
- Wang Zhaojun by Cao Yu (1978)
- Imperial Lady by Andre Norton and Susan Schwartz (1990)
- Chapter 3, "Naturalizing National Unity: Political Romance and the Chinese Nation," of The Mongols at China's Edge by Uradyn E. Bulag (2002) contains a detailed discussion of variants of the Wang Zhaojun legend.
Film and television
- Chinese song Wang Zhaojun from Yang Yang[disambiguation needed]
- Hong Kong Shaw Brothers, 1964, Beyond The Great Wall. Linda Lin Dai played Wang Zhaojun.
- Hong Kong Asia Television, TV series in 1984, Wang Zhaojun, supervised by Wang Ximei.
- Hong Kong Asia Television Limited, TV series in 1985, Wang Zhaojun. Wei Qiuhua played Wang Zhaojun.
- Taiwan CTV, TV series broadcast at 8 pm in 1988, Wang Zhaojun, directed by Zhou You. Song Gangling played Wang Zhaojun.
- China Central Television (CCTV) and China Television Media, Ltd, TV series in 2005, Wang Zhaojun. Yang Mi played Wang Zhaojun.
- China Central Television (CCTV), TV series in 2006,Zhaojun Chu Sai. Li Caihua played Wang Zhaojun.
See also
References
- ^ "王昭君简介". www.365zn.com.
- ^ baike.baidu.com. "王昭君". zhiyang2005.
- ^ baike.baidu.com. "王昭君". zhiyang2005.
- ^ baike.baidu.com. "王昭君". zhiyang2005.
- ^ baike.baidu.com. "王昭君". zhiyang2005.
- ^ "Wang Zhaojun". Western Kentucky University. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
- ^ baike.baidu.com. "王昭君". zhiyang2005.
- ^ baike.baidu.com. "王昭君". zhiyang2005.
- ^ "汉宫秋". flyingship. Retrieved latest update at 2011-11-23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "元明两代昭君戏比较研究_以_汉宫秋_与_和戎记_为例". baidu. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
External links
- Hou Han Shu Chapter eighty nine Nan Xiong Nu Lie Zhuan
- Zhaojun cultural festival