The four beauties in ancient China refer to Diao Chan, Xi Shi, Wang Zhaojun and Yang Yuhuan in ancient China. The four beauties enjoy "the appearance of a fish that sinks into the sky, and the appearance of a woman who is ashamed of the moon after closing the moon." It is a historical allusion composed of wonderful stories.
Sinking Fish
It is said that Xishi was washing her yarn by the Puyang River in the ancient Yue Kingdom. When the fish in the water saw her appearance, they were so amazed that they sank to the bottom of the river.
Luoyan
It is said that when "Zhaojun went out of the fortress", Wang Zhaojun was walking in the desert. He was sad about his own fate and being far away from home, so he was bored on his horse and played "Out of the Fortress". When the geese flying over the sky heard the resentment and sadness of the tune, they were heartbroken and fell to the ground one after another. Therefore, the "Luoyan" in "Shen Yu Luoyan" got its name from this.
Closing Moon
It is said that when Diao Chan was worshiping the moon in the garden, clouds blocked the moonlight and Wang Yun saw it. After that, Wang Yun told people that Diao Chan was more beautiful than the moon and called it "closed moon".
Ashamed of Flowers
It is said that Yang Yuhuan lamented his fate when he was admiring flowers in the garden. He touched the flowers with his hands, and the petals shrank and the leaves drooped. When the palace maid saw her, she said that Concubine Yang was more beautiful than Hua'er, and Hua'er lowered her head in shame.
"Sinking fish and falling geese" is an idiom, usually thought to come from "Zhuangzi: Equality of Things": "Mao Qiang and Li Ji are the beauty of people, fish see them deeply, birds see them fly high, and elk see them fly high. Seeing this, who of the four knows the true beauty of the world?" The original meaning is that animals cannot feel the beauty of humans. Some people also think that the song "Huansha Pian" written by Song Zhiwen in the Tang Dynasty sang about Xi Shi: "Birds are frightened when they dive into usneas, and fish are afraid of sinking lotus flowers." This is the origin of this idiom, so they think that the sinking fish represents Xi Shi.
The other four beauties are Bao Si, Xi Shi, Da Ji and Yang Yuhuan. And became: "Smiling and praising Si, sick Xi Shi, ruthless Daji, drunken Concubine Yang".
What are the flaws of the "Four Beauties"
There were four beauties in ancient my country. They are Xi Shi, the shaman girl in the Spring and Autumn Period, Wang Zhaojun, the Hun Princess in the Western Han Dynasty, Diao Chan, the singer in the Eastern Han Dynasty, and Yang Yuhuan, the noble concubine of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. But no one is perfect, and no gold is pure. Each of these four beauties has some physical defects. Xi Shi's helixes are unusually long; Wang Zhaojun's feet are too big; Diao Chan has body odor; Yang Yuhuan is fat and her walking voice is heavy and unpleasant. Each of these four beauties thought of a way to hide it.
Xi Shi asked a gold and silversmith to make a pair of gold rings for her to wear on her ears. She named the gold rings earrings. Wang Zhaojun asked Qiao Tailor to make a long dress for her. Diao Chan collects flower juice to make fragrant toilet water to cover up the smell of body odor. Concubine Yang ordered a coppersmith to make many small copper bells to wear on her clothes. She named the bells Xiangling. Later, these four things were passed down from generation to generation, constantly improved, and became women's decorations.
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there was a woman named Xi Shi in the Yue State. She was a beautiful woman with regular facial features, pink face and peach blossoms, and extraordinary appearance. When she was washing her gauze by the river, the clear river water reflected her handsome figure, making her look even more beautiful. At this time, the fish saw her reflection, forgot about swimming, and gradually sank to the bottom of the river. From then on, Xishi, the nickname of "Sinking Fish", became popular in the neighborhood.
During the reign of Emperor Han Yuan, there were wars between the north and the south, and the border could not be quiet. In order to appease the Northern Xiongnu, Emperor Yuan of the Han Dynasty chose Zhaojun to marry Chanyu to ensure eternal reconciliation between the two countries. On a crisp autumn day, Zhaojun bid farewell to his hometown and headed north. Along the way, the neighing of horses and the cry of wild geese tore her heart apart; the sense of sadness made her unable to calm down. On her mount, she plucked the strings and played a tragic farewell song. The geese flying south heard the sweet music and saw the beautiful woman riding on the horse. They forgot to flap their wings and fell to the ground. From then on, Zhaojun got the nickname "Luoyan".
Diao Chan, the singing girl of Situ Wangyun, the minister of Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty during the Three Kingdoms period, was worshiping the moon in the back garden. Suddenly, a breeze blew and a floating cloud swept the girl away. Covered by the bright moon. At this time Wang Yun happened to see him. In order to publicize how beautiful his daughter was, Wang Yun told everyone that my daughter was as beautiful as the moon, but the moon couldn't compare, and hurriedly hid behind the clouds. Therefore, Diao Chan was called "Closed Moon" by people.
During the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty, a beautiful daughter named Yang Yuhuan was selected into the palace. After Yang Yuhuan entered the palace, he missed his hometown.
One day, she went to the garden to enjoy the flowers and relax. She saw the peonies and roses in full bloom... She thought that she was locked up in the palace and wasted her youth. She sighed and said to the blooming flowers: "Flowers, flowers! You are here year after year." And when it's in full bloom, when will I be able to flourish?" She burst into tears as she touched the flower. The petals immediately shrank and the green leaves rolled down. Who would have thought that what she touched was a mimosa. At this time, he was seen by Yi Gong'e. Gong'e said everywhere that Yang Yuhuan was more beautiful than Hua'er, and Hua'er lowered her head shyly. The title of "Shameful Flower" was earned.