When Xi Shi was washing silk beside the river, her shadow on the surface of the river so so attractive, the fish forgot to swim when they saw her shadow and they sank to the bottom of the river. Thus, Xi Shi was named "so beautiful as to make fish sink" (西施沉鱼).
Xi Shi and Dong Shi 西施和东施
There is a story about a girl named Dong Shi as the opposite of Xi Shi (Dong = East, Xi = West). One time, Dong Shi saw Xi Shi frowning from chest pain, and she decided that she too would frown like Xi Shi. However, while everyone thought that Xi Shi looked lovely, everyone thought that Dong Shi looked ugly. Only Xi Shi was beautiful both when smiling and frowning.
Wang Zhao Jun's Beauty 昭君落雁
The day Wang Zhao Jun left her homeland, she played the pipa sorrowfully. The geese forgot to fly and fell to the ground when they heard the sweet song of the beautiful woman on the horse. Thus, Wang Zhao Jun is described as being "so beautiful as to make flying geese fall" (昭君落雁).
Diao Chan's Beauty 貂蝉闭月
It is said that, while Diao Chan was praying to the moon in Wang Yun's garden, a breeze brought the clouds to cover the moon. Wang Yun said that Diao Chan was so beautiful, even the moon hid when it sensed her. Thus, she is said to be "so beautiful as to make the moon hide behind the clouds" (貂蝉闭月).
Yang Gui Fei's Beauty 贵妃羞花
During her sadness from leaving home, Gui Fei took a walk in the garden. When she saw that the flowers were all in full bloom, she cried, "Flowers, you open every year. When will my time come?" When she touched the flowers, they shrank instantly. Thus, she is called There was a beautiful girl named Yang Yuhuan who was selected into the palace in Tang Dynasty. She missed home very much after her entering the palace. One day, She took a walk in the garden and felt distressed when she saw the peonies and roses were all in blossom. She said sadly to the flowers: “Flowers, flowers, you open every year but when will my good time come? And the flowers shrank instantly when she touched them. So she is also called “making flowers feel shameful” (贵妃羞花).
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