Culture >Fables, Myths and Legends
The Legend of Xishi
The legend of Xishi can be dated back to the late Spring and Autumn Period which was orally passed down generation by generation with the expansion of the spread scope and the enrichment of this content which is based on the historical background of the war between Wu and Yue, while setting the legendary experience of Xishi as the main plot. Its earliest version is recorded in the Mencius and the Mozi which already has over 2,500 years’ history. In 2006, it was added to China’s official list for national intangible cultural heritage.
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Xi Shi: a timeless beauty with big feet

According to the legend Xi was playing in the water and the fish were shamed by Xi’s beauty and chose to sink to the bottom, hiding in the depths so they wouldn't be compared to the lovely woman.

The Legend of Xishi

The Legend of Xishi is a time-honored one, spanning a history of over 2,500 years from beginning up till now. Its area of circulation has been so wide as to cover not only Zhuji, but also Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces and the whole country and Southeast Asian countries like Korea, Japan and Singapore as well as areas of overseas Chinese worldwide. The legend is substantial and varied, involving almost all of the elements of folk literature such as people, names of places, local products, and custom and social practice. Apart from story-telling as folktale, the legend is also circulating in various forms such as traditional opera and play.

Xishi

Xishi was a legendary beauty of the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 B.C.) in ancient China. She has been described as "equally charming in both heavy and light makeup"," as appealing when she frowns as when she smiles". Of her figure it has been said that "were she plump, you would admire her plumpness, were she thin you would admire her for being slender".

Knowledge Graph
Examples

1 His other minister, Fan Li, found Xi Shi and Zheng Dan, and gave them to Fuchai in 490 BC.

2 Bewitched by the beauty and kindness of Xi Shi and Zheng Dan, Fuchai forgot all about his state affairs and at their instigation, killed his best advisor, the great general Wu Zixu.

3 In the legend, after the fall of Wu, Fan Li retired from his ministerial post and lived with Xi Shi on a fishing boat, roaming like fairies in the misty wilderness of Taihu Lake, and no one saw them ever again.