Sumptuous Facts About Yang Guifei, The Tang Dynasty's Doomed Concubine
Yang Guifei, Doomed By Her Dazzle
Throughout history, physical beauty has been a coveted ideal for women across cultures and eras.
But for Yang Guifei—hailed as one of Ancient China’s greatest beauties—her breathtaking allure ultimately became her greatest curse, entwining her fate with the downfall of an entire dynasty.
1. She Was Born With It
Born in ancient China in 719 AD, during the Tang dynasty, Guifui grew up very comfortably. Her father held an important role as a census official, making their family's status nothing to turn your nose at. Even so, Guifui eventually ended up with far, far more than she probably imagined in her youth. And it all started with one life-changing decision.
2. She Did Her Duty
During that time period, families arranged the marriages of their sons and daughters, most often to improve their social standing and wealth.
In Guifei’s case, she gave her family one huge leg up when she married the Prince of Shou at just 17 years old. That made her a princess, and quite possibly the future empress.
And she managed to do it all while standing out in a most unexpected way.
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3. She Was A Curvy Girl
By all accounts, Guifei boasted exceptional beauty, which is probably just another reason she got selected to marry the prince. But her beauty stood out for another reason. At the time, Chinese beauty standards leaned toward a woman having a plumper figure—and Guifei certainly lived up to this ideal. Many reports claimed that she had a curvaceous body.
But, all things considered, perhaps she proved too delectable a sight for her own good.
4. She Caught A Stray
Now bound in marriage to the prince, she likely expected to live out her days in luxury with the rest of his concubines until he himself became emperor. But everything changed when she caught the eye of the prince’s father and ruler of the dynasty, Emperor Xuanzong. Even so, it took a little tragedy to really shake things up.
