• "Zhejiang Cultural Imprints" is a series of introductory articles introducing some of the most influential cultural heritages and cultural imprints in Zhejiang province. Today, we will bring you the story of Xi Shi, one who ranked top among the four major beauties in ancient China and is symbolized the image of beauty in traditional Chinese culture. 

(The tale of Xi Shi)

In China, Xi Shi is a metonym for beauty. Countless Chinese poems have honored her brand of feminine virtue, which more or less defines the model woman: physically resplendent, pleasingly pliant, patriotic. 

The tale of Xi Shi 

Xi Shi was born in the State of Yue in a mountain village in what is known today as eastern China's Zhejiang Province. Her father was a firewood peddler and her mother a weaver. Xi Shi was always known for her beauty ever since she was a little girl. According to descriptions in Chinese literature, Xi Shi's beauty was not only natural but also perfect. A famous saying which describes the beauty of Xi Shi is that her beauty was said to be so extreme that while leaning over a balcony to look at the fish in the pond, the fish would be so dazzled that they forgot to swim and sank below the surface.  

The State of Yue, where Xi Shi and her family lived, was defeated in a war with its neighbor State of Wu and Gou Jian, the king of the Yue was captured.  In order to save his homeland, the king of Gou Jian swallowed his humiliation and worked very hard as a horseman for the king of Wu. As a result, three years later, he was set free. After returning home, the king refused to live in his former palace. Instead, he slept on a pile of firewood and hung a pig gallbladder in his hut. Every night the king would taste the bitter gall to remind himself of the humiliation he and his country had suffered. 

In the meantime, one advisor suggested the king Gou Jian send an extremely beautiful woman to the Wu king as a tribute to allure him away from his state affairs. Hence, in order to save the homeland,  Xi Shi was brought to the Yue ruler.  

Gradually, the Wu king began to neglect his duties and spent most of his time with Xi Shi. Xi Shi tried her best to keep the Wu king away from his court duties and frequently sent intelligence to her home state.

A few years later, an opportunity came and the Yue army launched an all-out and merciless offensive against the State of Wu. The once-powerful Wu collapsed and its king killed himself.

Even today, Xi Shi continues to bedazzle future generations by her legendary charms and her patriotism after her job was done.