Color portrait of Xiao Guanyin
Speaking of the four beauties of ancient China, no one does not know. However, I believe that during the Song and Liao dynasties, there was a woman in northern China who was extremely talented and beautiful, and she was the first beautiful woman in ancient China, who was born in Guyi Prefecture, in present-day Dayingzi Town, Fuxin Mongol Autonomous County.
Xiao Guanyin's birthplace. Guyi Prefecture (古懿州), in present-day Dayingzi Town, Fumeng County. Cao Lei photographed.
Xiao Guanyin, born in the ninth year of Liao Chongxi (1040), was the younger daughter of Emperor Shengzong of Liao's younger daughter Xiao Xiaohui and Emperor Shengzong of Liao's daughter Qigu. Yugu married Xiao Xiaohui and placed it in the main private city (present-day Tayingzi Town, Fumeng County), also known as Guyi Prefecture, under the jurisdiction of Shangjing Province. Three years after his death (1061), his daughter Kannon (then Empress Dowager Yide of Daozong) dedicated Yizhou to the state and was subordinate to Tokyo Province.
Portrait of Xiao Guanyin, from the YingXian wooden pagoda mural
Why is it said that Xiao Guanyin suppressed the four great beauties of China, which can be called the first beauty of ancient China? According to the "rules" of modern beauty pageants, there are the following points:
First, the birth is noble. Not only did she herself belong to the imperial family, but she was also the Empress of the Great Liao.
Second, female middle talent. According to records, Xiao Guanyin was able to recite poems at an early age, alongside the scriptures. In the second year of Liaoqingning, Emperor Daozong's autumn hunt, that is, the Empress Guanyin was ordered to give a poem, and Guanyin recited in response: The mighty wind suppresses Nanbang, and the east can turn over the Yalu River. The spirit monster is full of courage, that is called the tiger does not surrender! Known as the "middle talent".
Third, the beauty is unmatched. The Records of Burning Peppers, written in the fifth year of Liao Da'an (1089), reads: "Zi Rong Duan Li, the head of the Xiao clan. I can sing poetry and play the kite, and the pipa is especially the first at that time."
Fourth, the talent is amazing. vide supra.
Fifth, high moral character. He once wrote a poem "Huaigu": The palace only counts the Zhao family makeup, and the rain and clouds mislead the King of Han. Only a piece of knowledge was known, and he had spied Fei Yan into Zhaoyang.
Accusing the Zhao Feiyan sisters of having mistaken the great cause of the Han Dynasty, the ancient admonition to the present.
Sixth, love is poignant. Later generations have poems that sighed: According to the pipa score of ten incense, only the children in the palace are the kings. Zhishu Yu looks not blessed in the end, and Duqu Jinpu only hurts himself... (The Collected Poems of the Shujingtang).
Xiao Guanyin and Liao Daozong
Such a woman, compared to the other four beauties who win with their appearance and art, can be said to be more than enough.
What is even more valuable is that such a beautiful woman is still a newcomer!
Haha, who let me also be a new person! With such historical celebrities, I am proud of my hometown!