The mysterious figure who suddenly disappeared in ancient times Yang Guifei, blood stained and wandering soul unable to return home

The biography of Empress Dowager in the Old Book of Tang describes Yang Guifei as follows: “She is beautiful, skilled in singing and dancing, proficient in music and rhythm, and has exceptional intelligence and calculation
Yang Guifei, also known as Yang Yuhuan, was originally Princess Shou, the son of Emperor Xuanzong. Emperor Xuanzong coveted her beauty and encouraged her to become a “Tai Zhen” female Taoist priest. Afterwards, she was accepted as his own wife and favored by Emperor Xuanzong. From then on, Emperor Xuanzong indulged in wine and sex, ignored political affairs, and finally led to the ‘An Lushan Rebellion’.
In Du Fu’s “Lament for the Head of the River,” there is a line that says, “Where are the bright eyes and white teeth now, and the blood stained wandering soul cannot return?” The poem depicts the poignant love story between Yang Yuhuan and Tang Xuanzong.
Two lovers, for various reasons, could not hold hands until old age. Yang Guifei was buried on the banks of the Wei River in Mawei, while Emperor Xuanzong of Tang went deep into the rugged Shu Road through the Sword Pavilion, living and dying on different paths, and their voices and appearances were faint.
In the 14th year of the Tianbao reign of the Tang Dynasty, the An Lushan Rebellion broke out, shaking the capital city of Chang’an. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang fled to Western Shu with Yang Guifei in haste. When they reached Mawei, the six armies did not deploy. Please execute Yang.
But after the execution of Yang Guozhong, the army remained unsolved. Emperor Xuanzong agreed to execute Yang Guifei due to the situation, but Guifei was hanged on Mawei Slope.
The Biography of Yang Guifei in the Old Book of Tang states: “When Tongguan was lost, from Xingzhi to Mawei, the Imperial General Chen Xuanli secretly summoned the Crown Prince and executed the loyal father and son of the country (note that Chen Xuanli did not specifically request the execution of Yang Guifei).
Even though the four armies did not disperse, Emperor Xuanzong sent a powerful man to ask and replied, ‘The thief is still there,’ referring to Yang Guifei. The strongman reported again, but the emperor refused to take him, and he was executed with the concubine, and then hanged to death in the Buddha’s chamber. ”
From this official history, it can be seen that the main cause of public outrage at that time was Yang Guozhong, and the demand to execute Yang Guifei actually had the intention of using public outrage to incite trouble. However, when Emperor Xuanzong yielded and softened his attitude, it is doubtful that the Sixth Army insisted on Yang Guifei’s death.
Furthermore, there is controversy over how Yang Guifei actually died in Mawei.
Poet Liu Yuxi believed that Yang Guifei did not die by hanging, but by swallowing gold. During the Dali period, the Jinshi Li Yi said that Yang Guifei was trampled to death by Ma Jian. Even if she was hanged, there are two theories: one is that she hanged herself, and the other is that Gao Lishi hanged Yang Guifei.
Anyway, with just a few words from the official history, there is always a feeling that at that time, the Six Armies were more venting and inciting on the issue of Yang Guifei. If Emperor Xuanzong wanted an attitude, Yang Guifei must disappear.
But there are also unofficial accounts that suggest Yang Guifei did not actually die.
As for how to escape, of course, it relied on Gao Lishi and Chen Xuanli. Given the situation at that time, with swords and soldiers facing each other, even if Emperor Xuanzong of Tang couldn’t bear it anymore, there was nothing he could do.
However, Yang Guifei was not a person who brought disaster to the country and the people, as both Gao Lishi and Chen Xuanli knew. Will Emperor Xuanzong retaliate against Yang Guifei now by forcing her to death?
So, some people speculate that Gao Lishi and Chen Xuanli were unwilling to kill Yang Guifei and used a trick to save her. The specific method is to find a maid with similar body shape and appearance to replace Yang Guifei to die.
Anyway, the two of them are checking each other and no one knows the truth.
In official history, it is recorded that Yang Yuhuan died by hanging at Mawei Post, but his tomb or remains have not been seen to this day. Therefore, some speculate that Yang Yuhuan went to Japan
There is a legend in Japanese folklore that the military commander, fearing the beauty of his concubine, could not bear to kill her. He conspired with Gao Lishi and used a maid to replace her in death. Yang Guifei was escorted south by Chen Xuanli’s confidants and sailed eastward near Shanghai, drifting to settle down in places such as Jiumachi and Jiujin in Japan.
The so-called “Penglai Immortal Mountain” in Bai Juyi’s “Song of Everlasting Regret” refers to Japan.
Later, Emperor Xuanzong returned to Chang’an from Western Shu, missing his beloved concubine day and night, forgetting sleep and food, and ordering alchemists to go out to sea to search for her. Fang Shi finally found Yang Guifei in Jiujin, Japan and presented her with two Buddha statues given to her by Emperor Xuanzong. Yang Guifei also thanked her with a jade hairpin.
However, even if found, Yang Guifei could never come back and eventually passed away peacefully in Japan.
Today, there is still a tomb of Yang Guifei in Honshankou Prefecture, and her remains are also preserved in the Rehui Shrine.
From the perspective of Yang Guifei entering the corridor to observe, it seems logically plausible to seek refuge in Penglai Xianshan.
Some people say that the person who was hanged was actually Yang Yuhuan’s stunt double, and the real Yang Yuhuan was always by Tang Xuanzong’s side. There are also records about this matter in both the old and new versions of the Book of Tang. In the Old Book of Tang, it is said that the skin of the Noble Consort has been damaged, but her sachet is still there, while in the New Book of Tang, the first half of the sentence is omitted.
If Yang Guifei hadn’t died, where would she have gone? There are rumors that Yang Guifei fled to the Sichuan border afterwards, and there is also a tomb here called Guifei’s Tomb by the villagers. But many years later, the tomb of Consort Yang was excavated, and archaeologists discovered that it was not the so-called tomb of Consort Yang, but rather a local admiration for her.
Anyway, everyone has different opinions, and no one knows which one is true.
However, the greater possibility is that Yang Guifei died on Mawei Slope, after all, it was a mutiny at that time. If Tang Xuanzong wanted to fish in troubled waters, he couldn’t do it, and others couldn’t. As for why Yang Guifei’s body disappeared, some people may pity that such a beautiful woman died in the wilderness and couldn’t bear to find a feng shui treasure ground to bury her body. Regardless of whether Yang Guifei died on Ma Weipo or not, in the heart of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, she had already died, under his imperial decree, under the white silk of the strongman.