Wang Chao-Chun was one of the Four Great Beauties of China. She lived during the Han dynasty. The Han emperor had just negotiated peace with the barbarians, and he was going to give one of his concubines to the barbarian king as a peace offering. With over 5,000 concubines, the emperor commissioned portraits of each of these women, so he may select the ugliest of them to become the new barbarian queen.
One of the painters was a very corrupt man. He solicited bribes from all the women he painted. When it was Chao-Chun's turn, she promptly refused to submit to his extortion attempt. Out of malice, he painted a large birthmark on the face of her portrait, and she is chosen to be the peace
offering.
The day came when the barbarians arrived to escort their new queen home, and when Wang Chao-Chun emerged, everyone present could plainly see she was the most beautiful woman present. The emperor wanted to renege on his
promise, but his ministers convinced him it would bring further warfare and bloodshed. Reluctantly he had to let her go, but because of her courage and self-sacrifice, she brought peace to the two nations for many years to come.
One of the painters was a very corrupt man. He solicited bribes from all the women he painted. When it was Chao-Chun's turn, she promptly refused to submit to his extortion attempt. Out of malice, he painted a large birthmark on the face of her portrait, and she is chosen to be the peace
offering.
The day came when the barbarians arrived to escort their new queen home, and when Wang Chao-Chun emerged, everyone present could plainly see she was the most beautiful woman present. The emperor wanted to renege on his
promise, but his ministers convinced him it would bring further warfare and bloodshed. Reluctantly he had to let her go, but because of her courage and self-sacrifice, she brought peace to the two nations for many years to come.
