Four Beauties of China: Xi Shi 西施

XI SHI 西施
c. 490BC

Descriptions:

equally charming in both heavy and light makeup
as appealing when she frowns as when she smiles
were she plump, you would admire her plumpness;
were she thin you would admire her for being slender
extraordinary natural beauty with a universal appeal
of notable virtue, had a great love for her country and her people
said to be most beautiful when she was wincing from chest pain

Background:

daughter of a tea trader
fromvillage in Zhuji 诸暨 county in Zhejiang 浙江 Province, part of the ancient state Yue 越

Related Characters:

Story:

State of Wu defeated the State of Yue. Gou Jian, King of Yue, was forced to serve Fu Chai, Prince of Wu for three years. To remind himself of his country's humiliation and suffering, Gou Jian slept on a bed of rough branches and drank bile before every meal.
Gou Jian had his men search far and wide for a woman whom he could send to Fu Chai as a tribute. Xi Shi and another woman (Zheng Dan) were selected and trained in royal court etiquette.
Minister Fan Li was ordered to take Xi Shi to Fu Chai. The wise minister and brave woman fell in love with each other on the journey, and they made a secret pledge of undying love.
Fu Chai received Xi Shi and became enchanted by her. He bragged that he had the love of the most beautiful woman in the world, saying that people would have to pay gold coins to look at her.
Eventually, Fu Chai spent all of his time doting on Xi Shi, so much that Fu Chai's friends and subjects become intolerant of his neglect. There was much political chaos.
The chaos enabled Gou Jian to invade Wu as revenge.
Xi Shi disappeared. It is said that she left with Fan Li, who became a successful trader.

Reorganized from this source.

Four Beauties of China