How a ruined portrait changed the fate of China's first beauty

 

 This whole story is very similar to a fairy tale, if not for historical facts and real historical characters. And although it is now difficult to separate the truth from the artistic exaggeration, nevertheless, the fate of Wang Chao-chun is striking in its incredible twists and turns.

 

 She was born into a noble family in one of the provinces of China, was the youngest and most beloved daughter of an elderly father. She possessed everything that a girl of those times needed: she was educated, played music, knew how to ride. Popular rumor says that she was so pretty that birds, blinded by her beauty, fell dead at her feet. In any case, one goose definitely fell off during her horse ride through the neighborhood, when she played some sad melody on the Chinese lute. In those days, becoming the emperor's concubines was a pretty good career. After all, lawful wives for the ruler were chosen from there. And Wang Chao-Chun all predicted just such a fate. And she really got into the harem. But there were so many concubines that the emperor was not able to see them all. Therefore, he ordered to present their portraits. All the girls tried to look their best and even paid bribes to artists to portray them more beautifully. And only Wang Chao-Chun did not do this. Either she was confident in her beauty, or she considered bribery dishonest, but the fact is that the artist disfigured her appearance.

And maybe she would have remained until the end of her life among the concubines, in fact, the maids of honor of the court, if a new abrupt twist of fate had not presented itself. The Xiongnu nomads, who had been at enmity with the powerful Chinese empire for centuries, concluded a truce and passed into the status of an external vassal. And as a strengthening of interstate ties, dynastic marriage was used. However, the emperor did not want to give the daughter of his concubine, in fact the princess, to marry wild nomads, but ordered to find the most unattractive maid of honor. According to the portraits, it turned out that this must be Wang Chao-chun.

And the beauty agreed to marry outside the homeland. However, when she was introduced to the emperor, it turned out that, contrary to the portrait, she was beautiful, and even well educated, educated and virtuous. The ruler bitterly regretted that such a girl would have to be given to savages, but the word of the emperor is precious, and it must not be violated. So the first beauty of China became the wife of the Hun ruler Huhanye. And the insidious artist who distorted the portrait of Wang Chao-chun was executed. The time of Wang Chao-chun's stay among the Huns became the heyday of culture, she, using her immense influence on the ruler, spread civilized traditions among the nomads. And when the ruler died, she wrote a letter to the emperor about returning to her homeland. However, according to custom, she was to become the wife of the next leader. In general, until the end of her life, Wang Chao-chun lived among nomads, she had two sons and two daughters, who became influential figures in Xiongnu politics.

 The amazing fate of Wang Chao-chun or Zhaojun in Chinese transcription formed the basis of many songs and legends. She is considered one of the four main beauties of China. Theatrical performances and operas, books and serials are dedicated to her.