The Yanmen fortress was one of the most important one on the Great Wall of China.
In its 2000 years of existence guarding China's heartlands from the steppe nomads, real history turned into legends here.
Here's a sad but true story that happened 2000 years ago.
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In its 2000 years of existence guarding China's heartlands from the steppe nomads, real history turned into legends here.
Here's a sad but true story that happened 2000 years ago.
1/🧵
Yanmen fortress is located in a mountain pass north of Shanxi.
If breached, the entire Shanxi plain is open, which will lead the nomadic hordes straight into the Guandong plains (around Xi'an), then eastwards to the entire Northern China plain.
If breached, the entire Shanxi plain is open, which will lead the nomadic hordes straight into the Guandong plains (around Xi'an), then eastwards to the entire Northern China plain.
The basic layout of Yanmen fortress is formed when the singular line of the Great Wall bifurcates into 2 walls, creating a pocket of protected land in the mountain pass.
It's a military fortress, as well as a trade hub during peacetime.
It's a military fortress, as well as a trade hub during peacetime.
The Han-Xiongnu war fought on-and-off for over 200 years (133 BC- 89AD)
But the decisive victory of 119 BC fractured Xiongnu (Proto-Mongolic confederacy) into competing factions.
Han dynasty, worn out by the long war, wanted to use divide and rule as a less costly alternative.
But the decisive victory of 119 BC fractured Xiongnu (Proto-Mongolic confederacy) into competing factions.
Han dynasty, worn out by the long war, wanted to use divide and rule as a less costly alternative.
In 33 BC, Huhanye Chanyu (proto-Khan) of the Xiongnu came to the Han dynasty capital to pay tribute, he asked to become the imperial Son-in-law of the Emperor.
Emperor Yuan reluctantly agreed, but he didn't want to send a real royal Princess
Emperor Yuan reluctantly agreed, but he didn't want to send a real royal Princess
So he asked the plainest looking lady-in-waiting from the palace to be picked.
The court officials asked for volunteers.
Burdened with a sense of duty and yearning for peace, the then 17 year old Wang Zhaojun stood up and volunteered.
The court officials asked for volunteers.
Burdened with a sense of duty and yearning for peace, the then 17 year old Wang Zhaojun stood up and volunteered.
In ancient China, Emperors pick their imperial harem based on portraits drawn by court artists, the emperor doesn't meet the women.
Some times, a bribe is paid to make the women look more beautiful than she really is, in an attempt to trick the Emperor into picking her.
Some times, a bribe is paid to make the women look more beautiful than she really is, in an attempt to trick the Emperor into picking her.
Wang Zhaojun, whose beauty was unmatched, refused to pay a bribe, so the court artist made her portrait ugly.
The Emperor picked her for Imperial harem, but believing her to be plain looking, never bothered to meet her.
Emperor Yuan heard Wang Zhaojun volunteered, he agreed.
The Emperor picked her for Imperial harem, but believing her to be plain looking, never bothered to meet her.
Emperor Yuan heard Wang Zhaojun volunteered, he agreed.
When Emperor Yuan finally met this brave girl, he instantly regretted the decision, but the words of the Emperor cannot be retracted.
So Wang Zhaojun departed the Han capital with Huhanye Chanyu.
So Wang Zhaojun departed the Han capital with Huhanye Chanyu.
As she rode through the Yanmen Fortress pass, leaving Han territory, she looked back at the Great Wall and her homeland.
She played her Pipa (an instrument) as the Xiongnu convey moved North, the frigid Northern Steppe greeting her.
She played her Pipa (an instrument) as the Xiongnu convey moved North, the frigid Northern Steppe greeting her.
The Soldiers guarding the Yanmen fortress saw her beauty and heard her sad music, the story quickly spread across China.
The people were touched by her selfless sacrifice and beauty.
The people would later honored Wang Zhaojun as one of the four great beauties of ancient China
The people were touched by her selfless sacrifice and beauty.
The people would later honored Wang Zhaojun as one of the four great beauties of ancient China
China is filled with places that has deep cultural significance.
Yanmen fortress alone has many other interesting stories to tell.
This statue is of Yang Yanzhao (shown in the video above, born 958 AD), was one of the most famous commanders of Yanmen fortress.
Yanmen fortress alone has many other interesting stories to tell.
This statue is of Yang Yanzhao (shown in the video above, born 958 AD), was one of the most famous commanders of Yanmen fortress.
Yang Yanzhao's daughter-in-law Mu Guiying became a Door Goddess (divine guardians of gates and doors) in the Chinese pantheon of Gods.
It's a long story, that could be considered as one of the most successful wartime propaganda in Ancient China.
Interested?
It's a long story, that could be considered as one of the most successful wartime propaganda in Ancient China.
Interested?
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