Xishi is known as one of the Four Great Beauties of China. Celebrated as
a woman of extraordinary natural beauty with a universal appeal, Xishi was the
daughter of a tea trader in Zhuji County in the state of Yue (current Zhejiang
Province) around 500BC during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC). At that
time, China was divided into several kingdoms fighting for power.
When the State of Yue was vanquished by the State of Wu, the King of Yue, Gou
Jian was forced to serve Prince Fuchai of Wu for three years. On his release,
King Gou Jian slept on brushwood and drank gall before each meal to remind
himself of the humiliation his country had suffered. He plotted the downfall of
his conqueror as soon as he was released. He commissioned men to search far and
wide for a woman whom he could send as a tribute to Prince Fuchai of Wu. Xishi,
whose beauty was much talked of even from early childhood, was selected for this
task and sent to the capital.
King Gou Jian approved of the choice and had Xishi trained in royal court
etiquette. Gou Jian ordered his minister Fan Li to take Xishi to the Prince of
Wu as a tribute gift from Yue. During the journey, Xishi fell deeply in love
with the wise minister. Fan Li also grew to admire this courageous lady who was
willing to give her life for her country. Consequently, before they parted, they
made a secret pledge of undying love.
They arrived at the capital of Wu and Prince Fuchai was enchanted by
Xishi's appearance and doted on her. Gradually he began to neglect his political
duties, preferring to idle away his time with Xishi. He frequently took her out
on carriage rides to the noisy and prosperous sections of the city. On these
rides, he liked to boast to those around him that he had won the heart of the
most beautiful woman in the world.
Xishi, however, never lost sight of her mission. Her aim was to bewitch
Prince Fuchai so that his subjects would grow restless and his friends would
desert him. Xishi managed to alienate Prince Fuchai and his most-trusted general
Wu Ziyi, resulting in the suicide of Wu Ziyi at the coercion of Prince Fuchai.
The political chaos that ensued would enable the King of Yue to invade the state
of Wu, recompensing him for his former humiliation.
The King of Yue finally annexed the State of Wu. Following the suicide of
Prince Fuchai of Wu, Xishi disappeared from public life.
Some say Xishi was drowned into the Yangtze River by the irate Wu people
after the death of Prince Fuchai and the defeat of Wu State; others say Xishi
lived in relative obscurity with Fan Li who became a successful trader.
This story is unique in the history of feudal China as no one has ever
found fault with Xishi, even though she had caused the downfall of the State of
Wu.