The 3 beauties who "did not exist" in history are still believed by some people, and their names are all familiar
In the long river of history, some characters shine like stars, but they are as empty as dreams. Their names have been resounding for millennia, their stories have been passed down from generation to generation, but their existence has become an eternal mystery. In Chinese cultural traditions, there are legends of three beauties: Mu Guiying, Diao Chan and Hua Mulan. Each of these names is thunderous, and each one has a thrilling story behind it. However, have you ever thought that these familiar characters may never have actually existed?
"On paper, I finally feel shallow, and I never know that I have to do it. Lu You's poem tells us that the knowledge in books is often not as profound as the personal experience. Similarly, do we have such misunderstandings in our perception of historical figures? Are the historical figures we know really as we think they are?
In this era of information explosion, we are receiving a lot of information every day, including some "new discoveries" or "amazing truths" about historical figures. Sometimes, we see online articles claiming to have discovered the "true identity" of a historical figure, or that a legendary figure is actually "real". This information often intrigues us, but at the same time leaves us confused: how much of history we know is true?
Let's uncover the mystery of these three beauties and explore the historical truth behind them.
Mu Guiying, as soon as this name comes out, I believe that many people will have an image of a heroic, brave and combative female general in their minds. In many operas, novels, and film and television works, Mu Guiying is an admirable heroine. She is not only strong in martial arts, but also intelligent, and is an indispensable and important figure among the generals of the Yang family.
The legendary Mu Guiying is the daughter of Mu Yu, the owner of Mu Ke Village, who has practiced martial arts since she was a child and is a peerless martial artist. Her encounter with Song general Yang Zongbao can be called a good story. Yang Zongbao led his troops to attack Mu Kezhai, but was captured by Mu Guiying. Mu Guiying was attracted by Yang Zongbao's handsomeness and chic, and took the initiative to pursue him, and the two finally became married after a series of twists and turns. After marriage, Mu Guiying was not content to be a virtuous helper for her husband and children, but fought side by side with Yang Zongbao, saved her husband from danger many times, and made great achievements.
Such a perfect female image makes people yearn for it. However, when we turn the pages of history, we find that Mu Guiying's figure is extremely blurred. In the official historical records, we can't find a single word about Mu Guiying. So, where did this deeply rooted heroine come from?
According to the records of the "Baode Prefecture Chronicles", the descendants of the Yang family in the Northern Song Dynasty had a marriage with the Murong clan of the Xianbei clan. This Murong woman is also brave and good at fighting, and is considered by some scholars to be the prototype of Mu Guiying's image. However, this claim is also only speculation and is not supported by conclusive evidence.
Mu Guiying's story first appeared in the miscellaneous dramas of the Yuan Dynasty, and was later further enriched and developed in the novel "Chronicles of the Northern Song Dynasty" in the Ming and Qing dynasties. These literary works draw on many ancient myths, legends, and folktales to create this infectious character.
Although Mu Guiying may not be a real historical figure, her image reflects a certain expectation and ideal of women in ancient Chinese society. In that feudal society where men are superior to women, Mu Guiying represents a female image that breaks through the shackles of tradition and has the courage to pursue self-worth. She is not only strong in martial arts, but also able to strategize, which is very rare in the social background at that time.
Mu Guiying's story tells us that even in troubled times, women can devote themselves to the cause of defending their families and countries just like men. Her image has inspired countless women in later generations, allowing them to see their potential and possibilities. Even in the modern world, Mu Guiying's story can still inspire and empower.
Next, let's turn our attention to another beauty - Diao Chan. "Closing the moon and embarrassing flowers", this idiom to describe the beauty of Diao Chan, must be familiar to everyone. Among the four beauties of ancient China, Diao Chan is known as Xi Shi, Wang Zhaojun, and Yang Yuhuan, which shows the prosperity of its beauty.
In "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Diao Chan is portrayed as a woman who combines beauty and wisdom. She was born in a wealthy family, but she became Situ Wangyun's singer. Wang Yun took a fancy to her beauty and intelligence, and decided to use her to separate Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu, the adoptive father and son.
The story goes like this: Wang Yun set up a banquet to entertain Lu Bu and let Diao Chan dance. Lu Bu fell in love at first sight and decided to marry Diao Chan. Just as Lu Bu was preparing for the dowry, Wang Yun spread rumors that Diao Chan had been taken by Dong Zhuo as his own. This news was like a bombshell, which completely angered Lu Bu.
Lu Bu was furious, but he didn't dare to confront Dong Zhuo directly. Wang Yun saw that the opportunity had come, so he began to sow discord, suggesting that Lu Bu should question Dong Zhuo. Under the double instigation of Wang Yun and Diao Chan, Lu Bu finally couldn't bear it anymore and decided to confront Dong Zhuo in person.
However, things turned out unexpectedly for Lu Bu. He had no advantage in front of Dong Zhuo, and was even easily driven away by Dong Zhuo with Fang Tian's halberd. This failure severely hit Lu Bu's self-esteem, and he felt that he couldn't even protect a woman, which was too shameless.
Under Wang Yun's further instigation, Lu Bu finally chose to betray and teamed up with Wang Yun to design and kill Dong Zhuo. It can be said that Wang Yun skillfully used Diao Chan to successfully separate the relationship between Lu Bu and Dong Zhuo, and finally achieved his political goals.
This storyline is full of twists and turns, full of elements of intrigue and love, and it can be called a brilliant political drama. However, when we go back to the calendar
When looking for the traces of Diao Chan in the long river of history, he found that her figure was like the moon in the water and the flower in the mirror, illusory and elusive.
In the official historical records, we cannot find any clear record of Diao Chan. There is no conclusive evidence of her life, her experiences, or even her existence. So, where did this beauty, known as the "Closed Moon Shy Flower", come from?
The story of Diao Chan first appeared in miscellaneous dramas in the Yuan Dynasty, and was later further developed and enriched in Luo Guanzhong's "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" in the Ming Dynasty. With her rich imagination and superb literary skills, Luo Guanzhong brought to life this character, who may have been just a folklore, making her one of the most famous beauties in the history of Chinese literature.
Although Diao Chan may not be a real historical figure, her image reflects a certain idealized pursuit of female beauty and wisdom in ancient Chinese society. In that male-centric society, Diao Chan represents a feminine force capable of influencing the course of history. Her beauty is enough to captivate the country, and her wisdom is enough to influence the overall situation. This image both caters to male fantasies and affirms the value of women to some extent.
Diao's story tells us that even in that era of low status of women, there were still women who could influence the course of history in their own way. While this mode of influence may seem controversial in modern times, it was already a breakthrough in the social context of the time. The image of Diao Chan has inspired the creation of countless literati in later generations, and has also given people a new understanding of the power of women.
Finally, let's take a look at Mulan, a well-known heroine. When it comes to Mulan, many people may think of the lively, cute, brave and witty girl in Disney's animated movies. But in reality, the image of Mulan in traditional Chinese culture is much more complex than that.
According to the description of Mulan Ci, Mulan lived during the Northern Wei Dynasty, when the Northern Wei Dynasty was facing the invasion of the nomadic Rouran. In order to defend against foreign enemies, the Northern Wei government required each family to send a man to join the army. Mulan's father is old and her younger brother is young, so Mulan decides to disguise herself as a man and join the army on her father's behalf.
Mulan's decision was full of courage and responsibility. In those days, it was unheard of for women to join the army. Mulan not only has to face the dangers on the battlefield, but also has to be on guard against her true identity being discovered. She must be more courageous than the men in battle, and she must be careful to hide her feminine features in her daily life.
Imagine how Mulan deals with menstrual issues in the barracks? How do I avoid being spotted while taking a shower? How do you not notice the abnormality when you are injured? These are the challenges that Mulan has to face. Her strength and wisdom allowed her to successfully survive her twelve years of military career, and she was even promoted to a general for her merits.
Mulan's story is full of legends, however, when we try to find her traces in history, we find that her existence is equally full of controversy. In the official history, we cannot find a clear record of Mulan. The earliest record of Mulan's story is a long narrative poem called "Mulan Ci", which first appeared in the Northern and Southern Dynasties and was later included in the "Yuefu Poetry Collection" in the Tang Dynasty.
"Mulan Ci" depicts the whole process of Mulan's military service in beautiful words, from her decision to join the army on behalf of her father, to her achievements on the battlefield, to her return to her hometown, refusing the court's reward, and returning to her daughterhood. This poem not only shows Mulan's bravery and filial piety, but also reflects certain expectations and ideals of society for women at that time.
While Mulan may not be a real historical figure, her image is deeply imprinted in Chinese culture. She represents the spirit of filial piety in traditional Chinese culture, but also embodies the courage and ability of women. Mulan's story tells us that women can also take on the responsibility of defending their families and country, and they are no less capable than men.
The image of Mulan was further developed and enriched in later generations. In many literary works, operas, and movies, Mulan is a positive female hero. Her story has not only been widely circulated in China, but has even spread around the world, becoming an important symbol of Chinese culture.
Through the discussion of these three beauties, we can see that the line between history and legend is sometimes blurred. While Mu Guiying, Diao Chan, and Hua Mulan may not be real historical figures, their stories reflect the ideals and expectations of people in a particular era. The creation and circulation of these figures reflect certain cognitions and imaginations of women in traditional Chinese culture.
The existence of these fictional characters makes us think about an interesting question: why do these "non-existent" characters appear in the historical record? This may have something to do with the limitations of ancient historical records, or it may be due to people's desire and imagination for heroic figures. Regardless, these characters have become an integral part of Chinese culture, and their stories have inspired countless generations to come.
At the same time, it also reminds us of the need to maintain critical thinking when learning about history. We should learn to distinguish between historical facts and literary creations, and understand the thoughts and values of people in different eras. This not only helps us to better understand history, but also allows us to think more deeply about current social phenomena.
Finally, let us reflect on this: in modern society, are we still unconsciously creating new "historical figures"? In the era of information explosion, how can we distinguish the true from the false, and how to find the truth in the massive amount of information? These are all questions that deserve our deep thought.
History is a mirror that reflects the past as well as the present. By understanding these historical figures, which may not have existed, we can not only get a glimpse of the wisdom and imagination of the ancients, but also gain inspiration from them. Whether it is Mu Guiying's women who don't let her eyebrows, or Diao Chan's wisdom