Nan Wei 南威 and Xi Zi 西子 were two of the most famous beauties living in the Spring and Autumn Period in ancient China.
Nan Wei 南威, also referred to as Nan Zi 南子, was the princess from the State of Song 宋國, the consort of Duke Ling of Wei/Wey 衛靈公 and an excellent politician. In classical Chinese, the suffix “Zi 子” is often used as a title of respect for a virtuous or knowledgeable person.It is believed that Nan Wei had an affair with Prince Zhao of Song 宋公子朝, who was meanwhile having sexual relationships with Duke Ling of Wei and Duke Dowager Xuan Jiang 宣姜.
Xi Zi 西子, whose name was Shi Yiguang 施夷光, is a beauty sent to King Fuchai of Wu 吳王夫差 by King Goujian of Yue 越王勾踐 as a honey trap, who successfully assisted King Goujian in annexing the State of Wu. Xi Zi was also often referred to as Xi Shi (Wade-Giles: Hsi Shih) 西施 [Lady Shi from the west]. Legend has it that when Xi Shi was washing yarn in a stream, the fish in the stream were shocked by her beauty and forgot to swim, thus sinking. The term “Chenyu 沈魚 [making fish sink]” therefore became a term to describe a woman’s awesome beauty. See also the entry of luoyan chenyu.
