Anonymous (Qing Dynasty)


Wang Zhaojun tuning her pipaInk and pigment on paper, framed and glazed.71cm (28in) x 129cm (50 3/4in)
|Wang Zhaojun, 王昭君, also known as Wang Qiang 王嬙, was born in a small village during the latter part of the Western Han Dynasty. As a notable local beauty, she was selected to join Emperor Yuan's harem and, as tradition permitted, was presented to him first through an official portrait. As Zhaojun did not bribe the artist like the other girls, she was recorded in an unflattering portrait, and so it was that the emperor overlooked her entirely. Later, as part of the tributary system, the emperor needed to relinquish one of his concubines to the Northern Xiongnu tribe leader Huhanye Chanyu. Thinking she was the plainest girl in his court, he gave away Zhaojun. Only when she arrived to leave with the delighted tribesman did the Emperor realise his mistake.In the present lot she is depicted in the Northern lands with a sorrowful expression, with her Chinese lute, pipa, and a thick fur robe to protect her from the cold. It was said that she could play her instrument so beautifully that geese would fall out the sky, overwhelmed by tragedy.She is also considered one of the Four Great Beauties of Chinese history, the other beauties comprising Xi Shi (circa 7th/6th century BC), Diaochan (circa 3rd century), and Yang Guifei (719–756).