Wang Zhaojun

Wang Zhaojun served at the inner palace (gokyu) for Emperor Yuan in the Former Han period. The Emperor decided to offer a woman from the inner palace to the Xiongnu, who threatened the country, as a gift. He chose based on the portraits, and selected Wang Zhaojun, who he considered to be the ugliest. However, although the other women bribed the painters to depict them as beautiful, Wang refused to do this, and so was painted ugly. The Emperor was unwilling to part with her, but she accepted her fate and departed. Her face shows a high elegance brightened by candlelight, which captures her determination.