In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhao (趙).
Empress consort of Western Han dynasty
Zhao Feiyan
Empress consort of Western Han dynasty
Tenure
13 July 16– April 7 BC
Born
？ BC
Died
1 BC
Spouse
Emperor Cheng of Han
Posthumous name
Empress Xiaocheng 孝成皇后
Zhao Feiyan (Chinese: 趙飛燕, ? – September or October 1 BC[1]),[2] formally Empress Xiaocheng (孝成皇后), was an empress during the Han dynasty. Her husband was Emperor Cheng.[3] She was known in the Chinese popular mindset more for her beauty than for the palace intrigue that she and her sister, the Consort Zhao Hede engaged in, but unlike most of the famous beauties in Chinese history (such as the Four Beauties), she was often vilified by her own sisters. She was often compared and contrasted with Yang Guifei, the concubine of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, because she was known for her slender build while Yang was known for her full build. This led to the Chinese idiom huanfei yanshou (環肥燕瘦, literally "plump Huan, slender Fei"), which describes the range of the types of beauties. Later, the idiom was also used as a figurative expression on literary styles that can be either verbose or sparse, but were equally effective. She was born in slavery and trained in the performing arts, a background that made her appointment as empress highly controversial. Subsequent persecution by her political enemies eventually led to her being forced to commit suicide. After her death, her reputation was marred by accusations of vicious scheming, murder of other imperial consorts and their offspring, and relentless promiscuity, punctuated by bouts of extravagant shopping.[4]
^8th month of the 2nd year of the Yuan'shou era, per vol.35 of Zizhi Tongjian. The month corresponds to 18 Sep to 16 Oct 1 BC in the proleptic Julian calendar.
^Peterson, Barbara Bennett & He Hong Fei & Han Tie & Wang Jiyu & Zhang Guangyu. (1999) Notable Women of China "M.E. Sharpe". pp. 87–90. ISBN 0-7656-0504-X.
^Raphals, Lisa. (1998) Sharing the Light "SUNY Press" p. 81. ISBN 0-7914-3855-4.
^Barbara Bennett. Notable Women of China. M.E. Sharpe. ISBN 9780765619297.
sister of the empress ZhaoFeiyan. It is not known when Zhao Hede was born, but it is clear she was younger than her sister Feiyan. According to historical...
skirt". According to the "Miscellaneous Records of the Western Capital", ZhaoFeiyan was granted the title of Empress at that time, and her sister sent people...
Because of that, Yang is often compared and contrasted with Empress ZhaoFeiyan, who is known for being a slender person. This, in turn, led to the four-character...
Consort Zhao of Emperor Cheng of Han Zhao Feiyan (died 1 BC), empress of Emperor Cheng of Han Consort Dowager Zhao (fl. 10th century), a concubine of Emperor...
and gained attention for her beautiful looks. Following her role as ZhaoFeiyan in the 2009 historical drama The Queens, Tong experienced a rise in popularity...
reinstatement of Empress Xu, who was deposed due to scheming by royal concubine ZhaoFeiyan. While he was being persecuted, he accidentally time-travels two thousand...
commander-in-chief (b. 23 BC) Xiaoai, Chinese empress and wife of Ai of Han ZhaoFeiyan, Chinese empress and wife of Cheng of Han (b. 45 BC) History portal Year...
Yanga (陽阿公主), he became enamoured with her dancing girl ZhaoFeiyan (趙飛燕) and her sister Zhao Hede (趙合德) and made them his concubines, and they became...
Yang'a (陽阿公主), he became enamored with her dancing girl ZhaoFeiyan (趙飛燕) and her sister Zhao Hede (趙合德) and made them his concubines, and they became...
Chunyu also had friendly relations with both Emperor Cheng's wife Empress ZhaoFeiyan and his deposed former wife Empress Xu. To overcome Chunyu's presumptive...
Dowager and Grand Empress Dowager during the Han dynasty and wife of Emperor Zhao. She served as de facto regent during the interim period between the deposition...
influence today's culture surrounding body image. Chinese figures such as ZhaoFeiyan were renowned for their small waists and continue to be glorified to...
when her brother Bo Zhao killed an imperial messenger—a crime far more serious than ordinary murder—in 170 BC. Even though Bo Zhao was the Empress Dowager's...
Dowager Shangguan Empress Dowager Wang Empress Dowager Wang Empress Dowager Zhao Grand Empress Dowager Fu Empress Dowager Ding Empress Dowager Wang Empress...
his mother was a singer in Emperor Cheng's service, and that Empress ZhaoFeiyan had tried to kill him after his birth, but that a substitute child was...
son Liu Fuling was born to Lady Zhao, and Emperor Wu was ecstatic in having a child at the advanced age of 62. Lady Zhao herself was introduced to Emperor...
pleated skirts became in vogue as women imitated the ripped skirt of ZhaoFeiyan (? – 1 BC), a legendary dancer who later became an empress, who had her...
commander-in-chief (b. 23 BC) Xiaoai, Chinese empress and wife of Ai of Han ZhaoFeiyan, Chinese empress and wife of Cheng of Han (b. 45 BC) Conlin, Diane Atnally...
pleats first appeared in the Western Han dynasty when Feng Wufang saved ZhaoFeiyan from falling; but while saving her, her skirt had been ripped.: 165 ...
and many entered the profession through poverty, although some such as ZhaoFeiyan achieved higher status by becoming concubines. Another dancer was Wang...
Han dynasty dancer is ZhaoFeiyan, a great beauty who rose from a humble beginning to become an Empress. She was named Feiyan or "Flying Swallow" after...
Zhao of Han. In any case, Liu Bo predeceased his father. Her grandson, Liu Bo's son, Prince He of Changyi, was enthroned as emperor as Emperor Zhao's...
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