Four Beauties

The Four Beauties (Chinese: 四大美人; pinyin: sì dà měi rén) are four legendary ancient Chinese women, renowned for their beauty. They are thought to be the most beautiful and significant women of ancient China. The stories about these women are based on fact, but they are also steeped in legend. They've remained famous because of their effect on the emperors, kings, and kingdoms with whom they were involved. Some brought kingdoms and dynasties to their knees. Most ended their lives in tragedy or mystery.

They are, in chronological order:

• Xi Shi (c. seventh- to sixth-century BC, Spring and Autumn period), "an appearance that would sink the most beautiful fish".
• Wang Zhaojun (c. first-century BC, Western Han Dynasty period), "an appearance that would let fall the most elegant bird".
• Diao Chan (c. third-century, Three Kingdoms period), "a face that would make clouds cover up the full moon".
• Yang Guifei (719-756, Tang Dynasty period), "a face that would shame any flower".