Chinese Famous Chinese Women

Xi Shi Wikipedia

Xi Shi (西施, Pinyin Xī Shī) was one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. She lived during the end of Spring and Autumn Period. She lived in Zhuji, the capital of the ancient state Yue.

King Gou Jian of Yue, king of State of Yue|Yue, was once imprisoned by King Fu Chai of Wu, king of the State of Wu. He wanted revenge, and his minister Wen Zhong suggested training beautiful women as spies and offering them to Fu Chai as a tribute. His other minister, Fan Li, found Xi Shi and Zheng Dan.

Their strategy worked. Bewitched by the beauty of Xi Shi and Zheng Dan, Fu Chai forgot all about his state affairs and killed his best advisor, Wu Zixu. Fu Chai even built Guanwa Palace (Palace of Beautiful Women) in an imperial park on the slope of Lingyan Hill, about 15 kilometres west of Suzhou. The strength of Wu was dwindling, and soon Gou Jian launched his strike and put the Wu army to full rout. King Fu Chai then committed suicide.

In legends, after the fall of Wu, Fan Li retired his minister post and lived with Xi Shi on a fishing boat roaming like fairies in the misty wilderness of Tai Ho Lake, and no one have seen them ever since.

She is remembered by the Xi Shi Temple, which lies at the foot of the Zhu Lou Hill in the southern part of the city, on the banks of the Huansha River.

The West Lake Hangzhou is the incarnation of Xi Shi, hence also called Xizi Lake, Xi Zi was another name of Xi Shi, meaning Lady Xi.

zh:西施

Last Modified:   2005-04-13