Chinese history and culture have a long and rich history, with many strange and unusual events occurring over the course of more than 5000 years. The character we are going to talk about today is a beautiful woman, and because of her beauty, she was considered a curse of beauty and was ultimately executed. He is Yang Yuhuan, one of the “Four Beauties” of China. I believe everyone must have heard of this name. In Du Mu’s poem, “Riding on a Red Dust Concubine Laughing, No One Knows It’s Litchi” refers to Yang Yuhuan. Let’s take a look at the life of this beauty together with the editor.
Yang Yuhuan (719-856 AD), also known as Taizhen. Due to her ample physique, excellent singing and dancing skills, and particularly her superb performance on the pipa, she was originally the queen consort of Li Mao, the son of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. Later, Emperor Xuanzong took notice of her and used an excuse to make her a monk. When she reached the age of ten, Emperor Xuanzong bestowed upon her son Li Mao the title of Noble Consort and the title of Heavenly Yang Yuhuan. During the Tang Dynasty, the treatment of Noble Consorts was equivalent to that of Empresses.
After Yang Yuhuan entered the palace, he received great favor, and due to Yang Yuhuan’s rise to power, his relatives all rose to fame. Even Yang Guozhong, who was originally a scoundrel in the city, became prime minister due to his good planning.
There are many theories about the death of Yang Yuhuan. Some say that during the An Lushan Rebellion, in the following year (756 AD), Emperor Xuanzong of Tang fled with Yang Guifei and his confidants. The accompanying soldiers demanded the execution of Yang Yuhuan because they believed that Yang Yuhuan had bewitched the country and could boost morale if not executed. Therefore, Emperor Xuanzong stabbed Yang Yuhuan to death for self-protection. Some say they died in the chaos of the army, while others say they died by swallowing gold and so on.