The "Four Great Beauties" of ancient China are legendary figures celebrated not only for their extraordinary physical allure but also for their profound influence on Chinese history and culture. Each woman embodies a unique blend of beauty, tragedy, and symbolism, immortalized in poetry, art, and folklore.
The story of a beauty who outshines the moon:
During the East Han Dynasty, Wang Yun, a favorite subordinate of the emperor Xian, had a female singer called Diaochan.One full-moon night in the garden, Diaochan tried to pay homage to the moon, but the moon hid quietly behind the clouds. So Wang Yun said," the moon refuses to come out because Diaochan is more beautiful than the moon!" After that, "The one who outshined the moon" became Diaochan's nickname.