Yang Guifei

Yang Guifei (719–756) was a favored consort of Tang emperor Xuanzong. Her story became entwined with the An Lushan Rebellion and China’s Four Beauties tradition.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang: The Tang emperor who ruled from 712 to 756 and made Yang Guifei his favored consort. Their relationship became a defining episode in accounts of Xuanzong’s later reign.
Old Book of Tang: A history of the Tang dynasty compiled in the tenth century. It is among the principal historical sources for Yang Guifei’s court life.
Four Beauties of China: A traditional grouping of four women famed for exceptional beauty in Chinese history and legend. Yang Guifei is conventionally counted among these four celebrated figures.
Mawei Mutiny: A 756 mutiny by imperial guards at Mawei during Xuanzong’s flight from the rebels. The soldiers demanded Yang Guifei’s death before agreeing to continue the retreat.
An Lushan: A Tang general whose rebellion against the dynasty began in 755. The rebellion he led forced Xuanzong and Yang Guifei to flee the capital.
New Book of Tang: An eleventh-century history of the Tang dynasty compiled under the Song. Its account preserves details about Yang Guifei and the political crisis around her.
Chang Hen Ge: The Chinese title of Bai Juyi’s poem The Song of Everlasting Sorrow. Its poetic account helped turn Yang Guifei’s story into a lasting romance.
Tang dynasty: A Chinese imperial dynasty that ruled from 618 to 907. The rebellion and court upheaval associated with Yang Guifei weakened Tang rule.
Gao Lishi: A powerful Tang court eunuch who served Emperor Xuanzong. Court tradition places him in the events surrounding Yang Guifei’s death.
Zizhi Tongjian: A comprehensive chronological history of China compiled by Sima Guang and his collaborators. Its narrative places Yang Guifei’s fate within the sequence of the rebellion.

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