Qian Ding - Wang Zhaojun 丁倩-王昭君 1970s
- 11 years ago
This song tells of Wang Zhaojun's feelings on leaving China, as a political bride, and moving to a new culture. She was one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. The others being Xi Shi, Diao Chan, and Yang Guifei. It is said: "Xi Shi sinks fish; Diao Chan eclipses the moon; Yang Guifei shames flowers, and Wang Zhaojun drops birds"
Zhaojun was born to a prominent family in Baoping Village, Zigui County. In 36 BC, Emperor Yuan chose her as his concubine from Nan county. Zhaojun left her hometown and entered the harem of Emperor Yuan in early summer. When choosing a new wife, the Emperor was first presented with portraits of all the possible women. Because of Zhaojun's confidence of beauty and temperament, she refused to bribe the artist Mao Shouyan as other women did. So he painted a mole of widowed tears on Zhaojun's portrait. As a result, she was never visited by the emperor and overlooked, remaining a palace lady-in-waiting.
In 33 BC, Huhanye Chanyu visited Chang'an as part of the tributary system between the Han and Xiongnu governments. He requested to become an imperial son-in-law. Emperor Yuan ordered that the plainest girl in the harem be selected. 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 women, but Wang Zhaojun accepted. When she was summoned to court and her beauty revealed, the emperor wanted to keep her! However, it was too late, and, the emperor, sadly, presented Zhaojun to Huhanye, who was delighted. Relations with the Xiongnu improved and Mao Shouyan, was put to death for his actions.
Wang Zhaojun embarked on the long, hazardous journey to Xiong-Nu. Once there, she persuaded Huhanye to abandon violence. As a result, peace reigned on the border with China for over 60 years. She also introduced Chinese culture. When Huhanye died in 31 BC, Zhaojun asked to return to China. Emperor Cheng, however, ordered that she follow Xiongnu custom and become the wife of the next shanyu, which she did. Her life became a popular subject in Chinese poetry, drama and novels. As she was loved and respected by the Xiongnu, Huhanxie Chanyu conferred on her the title of the First Lady of Xiongnu Peace. The Communist government of the People's Republic of China made her as a symbol of the integration of Han Chinese and ethnic minorities of China. There is a Memorial to Zhaojun in Inner Mongolia. Today, her name not only symbolizes physical beauty, but also a spirit of goodwill to bridge different cultures, even at the expense of one's own interests.
Zhaojun was born to a prominent family in Baoping Village, Zigui County. In 36 BC, Emperor Yuan chose her as his concubine from Nan county. Zhaojun left her hometown and entered the harem of Emperor Yuan in early summer. When choosing a new wife, the Emperor was first presented with portraits of all the possible women. Because of Zhaojun's confidence of beauty and temperament, she refused to bribe the artist Mao Shouyan as other women did. So he painted a mole of widowed tears on Zhaojun's portrait. As a result, she was never visited by the emperor and overlooked, remaining a palace lady-in-waiting.
In 33 BC, Huhanye Chanyu visited Chang'an as part of the tributary system between the Han and Xiongnu governments. He requested to become an imperial son-in-law. Emperor Yuan ordered that the plainest girl in the harem be selected. 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 women, but Wang Zhaojun accepted. When she was summoned to court and her beauty revealed, the emperor wanted to keep her! However, it was too late, and, the emperor, sadly, presented Zhaojun to Huhanye, who was delighted. Relations with the Xiongnu improved and Mao Shouyan, was put to death for his actions.
Wang Zhaojun embarked on the long, hazardous journey to Xiong-Nu. Once there, she persuaded Huhanye to abandon violence. As a result, peace reigned on the border with China for over 60 years. She also introduced Chinese culture. When Huhanye died in 31 BC, Zhaojun asked to return to China. Emperor Cheng, however, ordered that she follow Xiongnu custom and become the wife of the next shanyu, which she did. Her life became a popular subject in Chinese poetry, drama and novels. As she was loved and respected by the Xiongnu, Huhanxie Chanyu conferred on her the title of the First Lady of Xiongnu Peace. The Communist government of the People's Republic of China made her as a symbol of the integration of Han Chinese and ethnic minorities of China. There is a Memorial to Zhaojun in Inner Mongolia. Today, her name not only symbolizes physical beauty, but also a spirit of goodwill to bridge different cultures, even at the expense of one's own interests.