• 關於我們
    演出
    走近神韻
    神韻九大特點
    中國古典舞
    神韻交響樂團
    Factsheet
    藝術團
    我們的故事
    在神韻生活
    我們面臨的挑戰
  • 藝術家
  • 視頻
  • 最新消息
    最新消息
    新聞
    博客
    媒體報導
  • 新聞發佈
  • 常見問題
  • 觀眾反饋
  • 神韻百科 新聞通訊 搜索
    中文正體
  • English
  • 中文简体
  • 日本語
  • 한국어
  • Česky
  • Deutsch
  • Español
  • Français
  • Indonesia
  • Italiano
  • Nederlands
  • Polski
  • Português
  • Latviski
  • Pусский
  • Română
  • Svenska
  • Việt
  • Melayu
  • עברית
  • Norsk
  • 訂票信息
    選單
    Shen Yun Logo
    訂票
    最新消息
    選單
    • 關於我們
      • 走近神韻 神韻九大特點 我們的故事 在神韻生活 關於神韻的基本事實 我們面臨的挑戰 中國古典舞 神韻交響樂團
    • 藝術家
    • 視頻
    • 最新消息
      • 最新消息 新聞 博客 媒體報導
    • 新聞發佈
    • 常見問題
    • 觀眾反饋
    Shen Yun 9 Characteristics Link Image

    神韻的高超之處?

    9大特點
    • 神韻百科
    • 訂閱
    • 搜索
    語言
    • English
    • 中文简体
    • 日本語
    • 한국어
    • Česky
    • Deutsch
    • Español
    • Français
    • Indonesia
    • Italiano
    • Nederlands
    • Polski
    • Português
    • Latviski
    • Pусский
    • Română
    • Svenska
    • Việt
    • Melayu
    • עברית
    • Norsk
      神韻百科
      上一頁 神韻百科 > The Story of Lady Yang
    The Chinese beauty Yang Guifei by Chōbunsai Eishi (1756–1829)

    The Story of Lady Yang

    A
    A

    During the early eighth century, the wise and talented Tang Xuanzong ascended the throne as the Son of Heaven. In the decades to follow, he worked diligently to reform and strengthen his empire, bringing Tang Dynasty China to unprecedented prosperity and power, making tremendous strides in culture and the arts. 

    The very first emperor of the Tang Dynasty had claimed ancestry from Lao-Tzu, the founder of Taoism. Likewise, Xuanzong was a devout follower of Taoism as well. Yet toward the latter years of his reign, the Taoist principle of “wu ji bi fan” (situations will reverse upon reaching an extreme) transpired. Imperial power weakened as ministers and generals gained sway, military campaigns ended in defeat, famine struck, and natural disasters wreaked havoc. Who was to blame?

    One remarkable character in this historical episode became the subject of controversy. Lady Yang, the Emperor’s favorite consort, was considered by many to be instrumental to the glorious dynasty’s rapid decline. 

    Did the country really fragment all because of the beauty and influence of one imperial concubine? Or was she an easy scapegoat in a time of turmoil?

    A Face That Bested All Flowers 

    When Emperor Xuanzong’s closest consort died in 737, it seemed nothing could ease his melancholy. Then one day, destiny brought a new figure into His Majesty’s world. 

    Lady Yang was said to have had hair like a flowing cloud and a face that put all flowers to shame. The emperor became enamored upon their first meeting. Thereafter, he found that he could not bear to leave her side.

    In 745, Xuanzong gave Lady Yang the title of Precious Consort (gui fei), the highest rank for imperial consorts. He also conferred titles and honors upon many of her relatives, including her deceased father. 

    Lady Yang’s days became filled with unimaginable splendor. As the pearl in the emperor’s palm, she lounged with him in a gilded world, decked in jewels and flowing in lustrous gowns of silk. 

    But as they were wining, dining, and enjoying exquisite music and dance, trouble was brewing all around. 

    On the frontiers, generals far from the capital were growing more and more powerful. One in particular, General An Lushan, who had previously been on quite friendly terms with the emperor and his lady, amassed an army of 200,000 and rose above them all. 

    Meanwhile, court officials were bribing the Precious Consort’s family members for personal gain. And protests arose that the emperor was neglecting his public duties while in Lady Yang’s company.

    Revolt, Retreat, Anguish

    In 755, An Lushan mobilized his forces and stormed into northern China. As he made his way south, numerous locals joined his ranks.

    By 756, the rebel army arrived outside the Tang capital of Chang’an. And Xuanzong, along with many members of his court and Lady Yang, were forced to flee further south on an arduous trek through the mountains. 

    However, as they approached Mawei Courier Station, the exhausted and aggrieved men had enough. They entreated the emperor to do away with the Precious Consort—the “cause” of the entire nation’s suffering. Without her death, they refused to carry on. 

    Left without a choice, the emperor… consented.

    Wrapped in fragrances and purple silks, the Consort’s body was buried by imperial guards beside the rugged road.

    The Aftermath

    As Tang Xuanzong’s retinue sought refuge in the south, his son, the crown prince, ascended the throne. Upon receiving the news, Xuanzong stepped aside to become emperor emeritus. And when the new emperor recaptured Chang’an from rebel forces, an aged Xuanzong returned to the palace as well. 

    The former emperor spent the rest of his years in relative quietude. Yet the passage of time did nothing to dispel memories of his Precious Consort. Only after having a portrait of her commissioned, could he find a bit of solace by visiting the likeness daily.

    Some renditions of this stirring tale tell of a visiting Taoist, who, pitying the heartsick emperor, offered to help him contact Lady Yang in the world beyond. When the Taoist locates her in a palace amidst the clouds, the lonely consort breaks apart her treasured hairpin and jewelry box—both gifts from His Majesty—and asks the Taoist to bring a piece of each back to the emperor as tokens of her enduring devotion. 

    History would go on to memorialize Lady Yang as one of ancient China’s Four Great Beauties—women of extraordinary appearance and talent whose lives greatly altered the fate of the empire. Her story has also been eternalized by master poet Bai Juyi’s Song of Everlasting Sorrow, as well as numerous literary, dramatic, operatic, and cinematic works throughout the millennia. 

     

    Shen Yun 2023’s The Tang Emperor and Lady Yang is a classical Chinese dance rendition of this historic tale.

    • Shen Yun 2023
    相關文章
    • Journeytothewest Shenyun Thumb
      Tang Monk from Journey to the West
    • 2012 Tang Dance
      Daily Life in the Tang Dynasty
    • SYWEB 275 FPF #9  WangZhaojun HelenTroy  V2  Web Head Thumb 400x246
      Famous Parallel Figures 8/10: Wang Zhaojun and Helen of Troy
    • ZhaoJun昭君header
      A Story of Selfless Beauty
    評論
    verification

    上一頁

    A Lady’s Guide to Manchurian Etiquette

    下一頁

    Riding Alone to the Rescue: The Story of Zhao Yun

    標簽

    • Shen Yun 2023
    相關文章
    • Tang Monk from Journey to the West
      Journeytothewest Shenyun Thumb
    • Daily Life in the Tang Dynasty
      2012 Tang Dance
    • Famous Parallel Figures 8/10: Wang Zhaojun and Helen of Troy
      SYWEB 275 FPF #9  WangZhaojun HelenTroy  V2  Web Head Thumb 400x246
    • A Story of Selfless Beauty
      ZhaoJun昭君header
    Shen Yun logo golden
    Shen Yun logo golden

    神韻藝術團是全球頂級中國古典舞與傳統音樂藝術團。神韻藝術團成立於紐約,通過中國古典舞、民族民間舞、舞劇、交響樂伴奏、樂器獨奏和美聲獨唱,復興與弘揚中國五千年正統神傳文化。

    關於神韻
  • 走近神韻
  • 神韻交響樂團
  • 在神韻生活
  • 關於神韻的基本事實
  • 我們面臨的挑戰
  • 藝術與靈性的啟迪
  • 藝術家
  • 觀賞禮儀
  • 視頻
  • 最新
  • 關於我們
  • 藝術家
  • 觀眾反饋
  • 媒體報導
  • 最新消息
  • 推薦
  • 新聞
  • 博客
  • 觀眾反饋
  • 媒體報導
  • 神韻百科
  • 中國古典舞
  • 神韻音樂
  • 神韻聲樂
  • 神韻服飾
  • 神韻天幕
  • 神韻道具
  • 神韻舞劇
  • 神韻與中國傳統文化
  • 與神韻互動:
    Follow Us on Gan Jing World
    請留言以作紀念
    神韻作品
    神韻的線上影音平台
    藝術考級中心
    神韻藝術品
    神韻藝術家
    神韻藝術團官方網站 ©2025 神韻藝術團,版權所有。
    聯繫我們 使用條款 隱私政策 網站地圖