Four Beauties
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The Four Beauties (Template:Zh-cp) are four ancient Chinese women, renowned for their beauty. Though actual historical figures, their stories have been greatly embellished by legend.
According to legend, they are the most beautiful women of ancient China, and among the most significant as well. They have remained famous because of their effect on the emperors and kings with whom they were involved. Some brought kingdoms or dynasties to their knees. Most ended their lives in tragedy or mystery.
They are, in chronological order:
- Xi Shi (c. seventh- to sixth-century BC, Spring and Autumn period), said to be "so beautiful as to sink fishes"
- Wang Zhaojun (c. first-century BC, Western Han Dynasty period), said to be "so beautiful as to let fall flying geese"
- Diao Chan (c. third-century, Three Kingdoms period), said to have "a face that would make clouds cover up the full moon"
- Yang Guifei (719-756, Tang Dynasty period), said to have "a face that would shame any flower"