Executed: In the Tang Dynasty

by Jeannie Lin

Despite many tantalizing stories about cruel and unusual punishments in ancient China, for instance the practice of lingchi, also known as slow slicing or death by a thousand cuts, the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) actually had one of the most detailed and systematic punishment systems in the ancient world.

The Five Punishments detailed how various crimes should be sentenced. Though not every magistrate necessarily adhered to this code, it prescribed a systematic way for the judicial system to hand down punishment.


The punishments continued to evolve from ancient times and by the Tang Dynasty, the five levels were the following:

1. Caning with the light rod
2. Beating with the heavy rod
3. Penal servitude (forced labor)
4. Exile
5. Death

Punishment for women differed from men however and female criminals were subjected to their own Five Punishments.

1. Forced labor grinding grain
2. Squeezing of fingers between sticks
3. Beating with a wooden staff
4. Permission to commit suicide
5. Confinement

Punishments were determined by a magistrate at a tribunal

 It's surprising to see that at one point during Tang Dynasty, the death penalty was actually abolished. During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, only the emperor could sentence a convict to death. This resulted in a low number of executions throughout the empire, with only 24 executions in 730 and 58 executions in 736. In the year 747, the emperor abolished the death penalty altogether. However, after his reign was toppled by the An Lushan rebellion, the death penalty was brought back.

But it's no fun to read about how people weren't executed in the Tang Dynasty.
 
The two most common methods of execution were strangulation or beheading. Of the two, beheading was considered to be more cruel since it rendered the body incomplete and unfit for reincarnation.

The cruelest punishment involved not merely execution, but what was known as the nine familial exterminations. This practice was in effect long before the Tang Dynasty and originally dictated the extermination of a criminal's clan or tribe, which constituted an extended family. During the more "humane" times of the Tang Dynasty, the nine familial exterminations were limited to only executing parents, children above sixteen years of age, and other close relatives. Family executions were reserved for the worst of criminals: traitors to the state.

No matter what the law dictated, the one person who was above the law was the Emperor. Surprisingly, one of the cruelest executions in the Tang Dynasty was not sentenced by an Emperor. Rather, it was an execution ordered by an Empress who was going against the Emperor's wishes.

Portrait of Empress Wu Zetian

Empress Wu Zetian (625 - 705 AD) had her rivals, the former Empress Wang and Consort Xiao, accused of witchcraft  and imprisoned in the palace. When the Emperor came to see them, the two women begged for mercy and asked him to remember their past together. The Emperor showed signs of wavering and promised to release them, which only angered Empress Wu more.

She had the two women caned and then cut off their hands and feet. Then she ordered them put into two large wine jars. The two women remained in the jars for days before dying there.

Empress Wu was vilified by later generations as a usurper who tried to start her own Zhou Dynasty in the middle of the Tang Dynasty and so it's possible that stories of her cruelty might be exaggerated, but the story of having two of the Emperor's ex-wives thrown into a wine jar is an execution fit for the ages.

There is a final Halloween twist to the tale: Consort Xiao cursed the Empress before dying, threatening to be reincarnated as a cat and the Empress a mouse so she could, for ever and ever, grab her throat. The Empress banished all cats from her palace after that and was said to be plagued by nightmares of the two woman appearing with tangled hair and bloody limbs to try to kill her.

Vengeful Ghost

The moral of the story is: If you're going to be executed, come up with a curse. And make it a good one.

Happy Halloween! 

 
Jeannie Lin writes historical romances set in Tang Dynasty China. Her next release, THE SWORD DANCER (June 2013), explores crime and punishment and rip-roaring revenge in imperial China. Her current release, MY FAIR CONCUBINE, is currently available from Harlequin Historical. For more information about her books, go to http://www.jeannielin.com

The Entertainers: Disciples of the Pear Garden

Jeannie Lin

The Tang Dynasty was a golden age for the arts in imperial China and the theater was no exception. In the 8th century, Emperor Xuanzong formed the first national opera troupe which primarily performed for the Emperor's pleasure. The troupe was dubbed the "Pear Garden" and opera performers to this day are referred to as "Disciples of the Pear Garden."

Throughout the Tang and Song dynasties, opera was performed in Classical Chinese, however the during the Yuan Dynasty, operas performed in the vernacular became popular. Today there are 368 forms of Chinese opera, the Beijing form being the most popular.

Chinese opera is a combination of song, instrumental music, dance, acrobatics and martial arts. The training is quite strenuous with performers usually starting at a very young age. In historical tradition, a schoolmaster would take on all the costs of training and raising the disciples. As a result, the performers would incur debt which they would repay later on as they started to perform. Jackie Chan received vocal, acrobatic, and martial arts training as a child in a Beijing Opera School. So we can credit his crowd-pleasing stunts to his operatic background. I hear he's not a bad singer either.

In traditional Beijing opera, there are specific roles: Sheng (male), Dan (female), Jing (painted-face male), Chou (comedic). Within those categories, there are further sub-categories which correspond to common archetypes, for example the elderly man, the virtuous woman, the young male, the general, the warrior. The elaborate costumes, headdress and makeup are specific to each archetype and serve to help identify the character to the audience.

One of the most famous roles in the Chinese opera is that of the Monkey King. This role requires someone with acrobatic and martial arts ability as well as great comic timing.

Much like in early Shakespearean theater, female or dan roles were played by male actors. Their costumes were modified to make the actors appear more feminine such as special shoes to make their feet appear smaller. This practice waned after women were started appearing on stage in the 1870s, though the female actors continue to play the traditional roles as they were originally written -- which was for a man impersonating a woman.

Research into the North Hamlet, the entertainment district of the Tang Dynasty, yielded some very colorful characters which will hopefully be unveiled in upcoming books.

Jeannie Lin writes sweeping historical romances set in Tang Dynasty China, featuring sword play, politics, and, above all, honor. Her Golden Heart award winning debut, BUTTERFLY SWORDS, and the linked short story "THE TAMING OF MEI LIN" are currently available from Harlequin Historical.

Crime & Law Enforcement: Judge Dee

Jeannie Lin

The Tang Code was a complex legal system of offenses and punishments established during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) Consisting of twelve sections and 500 articles, the written code was considered the pinnacle of Chinese traditional law. It became the model system for subsequent dynasties as well as other governments in East Asia such as Japan and Korea.

The code was adjudicated by an array of magistrates who played a part in the investigation of crimes as well as the meting out of punishment. The most famous of such officials is arguably Di Renjie (630-700 A.D.), a statesman and magistrate of the Tang Dynasty who was highly revered by Empress Wu Zetian for his logical nature and honesty.

During part of his career, Di Renjie served as magistrate in Pengze County before promotion to prefect and eventually becoming a trusted and longtime adviser to the Empress herself. Yet despite his illustrious imperial career, he would be relatively unknown to the West save for an interesting turn of events.

In the Ming Dynasty (18th century), a Chinese historical detective novel was written about a crime solving magistrate called Judge Dee, a figure based on Di Renjie. Robert van Gulik, a Dutch diplomat and writer, found a copy of the novel, titled Dee Goong An, in a used bookstore. He later translated the novel into English and published it as The Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee.

During the effort, van Gulik translated the text faithfully, but he recognized that the supernatural element and the heavy application of philosophy might alienate western readers. On top of that, the murderer in one of the cases was revealed at the beginning with all of his motivations laid out! What fun was that for mystery readers?

Inspired by the tales, Robert van Gulik proceeded to write his own detective stories, borrowing the figure of Judge Dee. The first one, titled The Chinese Maze Murders, contains three mysteries: "The Case of the Sealed Room", "The Case of the Hidden Testament", and "The Case of the Girl with the Severed Head". All three were based on actual Chinese casebooks and van Gulik often drew from documented cases for his material.

The series contains sixteen books featuring the crime solving Judge Dee, who uses his sharp instincts and keen judgment to investigate the crimes and piece together the mystery. True to traditional Chinese detective novels, each book usually features the investigation of three seemingly unrelated crimes. A common theme is the introduction of a seemingly supernatural element, though logic and rationality prevails in the end. Along with the mystery, readers explore the ancient Chinese landscape (though the details often represent Ming rather than Tang culture) and get a glimpse of the imperial justice system.

As a result of the popular series, Judge Dee is often referred to as the Chinese Sherlock Holmes, a sharp mind with a boxer's physique. The books feature a cast of secondaries such as Dee's three wives (it's good to be a magistrate) and the thugs and bandits who Dee is able to impress into his service with his integrity. Not to mention an array of courtesans, entertainers, merchants, noblemen, and officials. In typical whodunit fashion, the books start out with a strange murder or disappearance. Dee's mode of operation is to investigate and interrogate each witness and suspect personally, making his way through the colorful city as he chases down clues and red herrings.

Jeannie Lin writes sweeping historical romances set in Tang Dynasty China, featuring sword play, politics, and, above all, honor. Her Golden Heart award winning debut, BUTTERFLY SWORDS, and the linked short story "THE TAMING OF MEI LIN" are currently available from Harlequin Historical.

Guest Author: Jeannie Lin

This week our guest author is contributor Jeannie Lin as she celebrates the release of her debut, BUTTERFLY SWORDS, which is available now. BUTTERFLY SWORDS promises to take Harlequin Historical readers where they've never gone before: to 8th century China!

"If Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon merged with A Knight's Tale, you'd have the power and romance of Lin's dynamic debut. The action never stops, the love story is strong and the historical backdrop is fascinating." ★★★★ RT Book Reviews

"Jeannie Lin will take you on a trip to China you will not forget." ~ Book Lovers, Inc.

Journey to the very edge of honor, loyalty...and love.

During China's infamous Tang Dynasty, a time awash with luxury, yet littered with deadly intrigues and fallen royalty, betrayed Princess Ai Li flees before her wedding. Miles from home, with only her delicate butterfly swords for a defense, she enlists the reluctant protection of a blue-eyed warrior...

Battle-scarred, embittered Ryam has always held his own life at cheap value. Ai Li's innocent trust in him and honorable, stubborn nature make him desperate to protect her--which means not seducing the first woman he has ever truly wanted....

***

How did you market an Asian story, location and character to mainstream publishing?

Editors and agents kept on saying that ultimately, the one thing that sells any book is the writing. I paid careful attention to developing craft and spent a lot of time figuring out how to write an opening that would market the book.

Other than that, I think you have to stand strong on what you're doing and why. In my head, I saw BUTTERFLY SWORDS as having great crossover potential. When querying, I conveyed the standout elements and tried to give a clear picture of the story. I positioned it as a historical romance to commit to a genre, though I knew there were historical fantasy elements in the book.

Why butterfly swords? Why not some other type of blade?

The moment I dreamt up Ai Li, I imagined the two swords in her hands. The two ideas came together, along with the title, and everything clicked into place.

I chose them because they're the only swords I've ever received any training on so I had some idea of how to use them. The double swords really are great weapons for a woman. They're lightweight and maneuverable. Pitting the more fluid and soft butterfly swords against the harder broadsword techniques that the hero uses seemed like a perfect match.

Tell us a little-known fact about Ryam. About Ai Li.

Ryam was inspired in part by Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride. Ryam's father is a swordmaster who drank his life away and got killed in a stupid brawl. Ai Li was inspired in part by Lady Sun of the Three Kingdoms period, who had five brothers and always carried a sword around with her.

Which scene did you rewrite most?

The first fight scene between Ai Li and Ryam was the one I nitpicked the most. I had to work and rework the lead up for pacing and tension. I made a bunch of tweaks and passes for flow during the choreography of the fight. I believe that you should write an action scene and then go in and hack away a third of it, non-negotiable.

I experimented with both POVs, trying to decide who was the best narrator for the fight. I also went in and edited for sexual tension. This scene was how I wanted them to communicate with each other for the first time. Ryam had already helped Ai Li out, so she was indebted to him, but this "first touch" was so important for establishing why she would trust him and ultimately, be attracted to him.

How many people have you killed? What weapon did you use?

The funny thing is the death count in BUTTERFLY SWORDS is actually low compared to the other books I've written. Butterfly swords originated from the Shaolin temple and are meant to maim not kill. This might cause the book to lose a couple of Sherman tanks on the rating scale. (This was Courtney Milan's question, who seems to be taking a page from Mr. Milan.)

Is there a similar narrative in your next book? Or different here?

What if I told you there were no swordfights in the next book? :)

The sequel is still steeped in warfare and warrior culture, but where BUTTERFLY SWORDS is a sword fight adventure, THE DRAGON AND THE PEARL focuses on long held secrets and the underworld of the empire. My editor described it as "the same elements that made Butterfly Swords a strong submission, but very different."

***

Since BUTTERFLY SWORDS is a romantic mash-up of Asian and Western heroic fiction, what are some of your favorite mash-ups? Jeannie is giving away an autographed copy of her debut novel along with a souvenir charm and collectible art card to one random commenter. I'll draw the winner at random next Sunday. Void where prohibited. Best of luck!

Excerpt Thursday: Jeannie Lin

This week on Excerpt Thursday we're welcoming contributor Jeannie Lin as she celebrates the release of her debut, BUTTERFLY SWORDS, which is available now. BUTTERFLY SWORDS promises to take Harlequin Historical readers where they've never gone before: to 8th century China!

"If Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon merged with A Knight's Tale, you'd have the power and romance of Lin's dynamic debut. The action never stops, the love story is strong and the historical backdrop is fascinating." ★★★★ RT Book Reviews

Join us Sunday when Jeannie will be here to talk about her award-winning debut and give away a signed copy.

During China's infamous Tang Dynasty, a time awash with luxury, yet littered with deadly intrigues and fallen royalty, betrayed Princess Ai Li flees before her wedding. Miles from home, with only her delicate butterfly swords for a defense, she enlists the reluctant protection of a blue-eyed warrior...

Battle-scarred, embittered Ryam has always held his own life at cheap value. Ai Li's innocent trust in him and honorable, stubborn nature make him desperate to protect her--which means not seducing the first woman he has ever truly wanted....

***

Set-up: Ryam and Ai Li are thrown together when he rushes into a throng of bandits to save her. This scene happens the day after, when they wake up in a secluded area of the woods.

***

"I was...I was practicing."

"This is how you practice?"

He folded his arms over his chest and cocked his head as he circled her. The intensity of his gaze flooded her with heat. It was a wonder she didn't cut herself with her own swords.

"All those elaborate patterns," he murmured. "Does that help in fights?"

"In combat, your body falls into what it has done a thousand times before. A perfect harmony between instinct and thought."

Her throat felt dry as she recited the words. Her elder brothers were commonly praised for their skill, but never before had a man shown such interest in her. She drew out an intricate pattern with the tip of one sword in three neat swipes, as if wielding a calligraphy brush. It gave her something to do as he stepped closer. All of the air around her seemed to rush toward him whenever he drew near.

"Your brothers taught you this?" he asked.

"My grandmother."

His laughter filled the clearing. "Your grandmother?"

"Grandmother was a master."

The next pass of her sword sliced a scant inch in front of him, taunting him. He stood his ground and his smile widened.

"So do you want to try it?"

Her swords froze. "Try it?"

"My barbaric head bashing against that beautiful sword work of yours."

A duel. Her heart was already pounding with the promise of it.

"No," she replied.

"No?"

"You are far more experienced than I am."

The meaning had been clear in her head as she spoke the words, yet another, more suggestive meaning loomed between them. A well of heat rose up her neck. She blamed this barbarian language.

He placed a hand to his chest with mock passion. "But you got the better of me yesterday when I was drugged. Don't I deserve a chance to redeem myself?"

She was certain there was something not quite proper about a strange man offering to spar with her the day after they met. Yet this foreigner treated her with such directness and familiarity, like her brothers. He continued to taunt her with laughter shining in his eyes and the curve of his mouth hinted at an irresistible wickedness. Her stomach knotted in response.

In truth, not like her brothers at all.

"I should get some advantage since you are so..." She looked him up and down. "Big."

"What do you have in mind?"

With a household of five brothers she knew how to pick her battles. Ryam had more training than her and his sword could cut her in half, but its weight would slow him down. And the terms were yet to be negotiated. With a good plan, she could defeat Fourth Brother and occasionally, even Third brother.

"I attack first. Ten attempts. You can only defend," she proposed.

"You do this often, don't you?"

His irises shifted to storm gray, the laughter in them transforming into something dark and unknown. He held her gaze while the woods faded around her.

"What do you say to a wager?" He unsheathed his sword in a seductive whisper of steel. "If I win, you give me a kiss."

Barbaric. But she saw her opening.

"If I win, you take me to Changan."

He let her heart beat on forever before answering.

"Agreed."

Her palms began to sweat, and a fever rose beneath her skin. Up until then, she truly believed she could defeat him. She had been running strategies through her head, but suddenly she found herself staring at the rough stubble over his jaw and wondering if it would tickle. It was the sort of daydream that would send Grandmother's bamboo switch stinging over her knuckles. The sort of thought that would have Mother beseeching their ancestors to bring her back to sanity.

"After the first round--" She ran her tongue over her lips. For all her negotiation, she had the sinking feeling this duel had slipped out of her grasp. "If you do not defeat me after ten attempts, you should honorably forfeit."

"Of course. Twenty moves?" he asked softly.

Deep breaths, she reminded herself. Mind, breath, body. "Or first blood."

He raised his sword in salute. The smile remained on his face as he backed away, setting the starting distance.

Guest Author: Jeannie Lin

This week on Unusual Historicals we're welcoming contributor Jeannie Lin as she celebrates the release of "THE TAMING OF MEI LIN," a Harlequin Historicals Undone set in Tang Dynasty China!

When a corrupt local official wants to take Mei Lin as, not second, but third wife, she rebels and makes an outrageous declaration--she'll only marry a man if he can defeat her in a sword fight. She has managed to fend off the local thugs and village hopefuls, but then a tall, mysterious stranger comes into town...

***

What made you decide on the Tang Dynasty as a setting for "THE TAMING OF MEI LIN"?

I explained to someone recently how the Tang Dynasty to Asians is how many people think of the Regency period in England. The Tang Dynasty was a golden era of high culture. It was a time of beautiful art and music, literacy, and diplomacy. The clothes and fashions were lavish as a reflection of the wealth and ministers and courtesans alike were expected to be witty, intelligent, and charming. Most importantly, women enjoyed more independence during this time with several noteworthy women rising to the highest positions in the empire. This was a time ripe for strong, larger than life heroines.

What really attracted me to the Tang Dynasty was the fall of the empire, which actually happened over a period of two hundred years. This was a more tumultuous time when I envisioned the empire still enjoying the wealth of its height, while political skirmishes and the rise of powerful warlords chipped away at its foundation. The inherent conflict there was too rich to ignore.

What were some of the challenges of making such an unusual time period accessible to readers?

I knew that the language and specifically the names could be a barrier. I went back and forth a lot with how much Chinese to insert and also took care to use names that were easy on the ear and the eye. I also knew readers had expectations about China. I received a lot of comments about foot binding and how my heroines could behave so independently in a culture when women were subjugated.

I tried to focus building a vivid and authentic world and hoped that the more readers became engaged in the story and the characters, the less they would doubt the historical details.

Your Harlequin Undone, "THE TAMING OF MEI LIN," features several fight scenes. What sort of research went into that?

I love sword fights! I've always loved watching a hero and heroine duke it out with swords. The duel in Red Sonja between Arnold and Brigitte Nielson is one of my favorites. It just doesn't happen enough.

As to research, I trained for two years a long, long time ago in Wing Chun Kung Fu. During that time, I took several seminars on the butterfly sword form. In that style, the double short swords are an extension of your arms. The sword techniques are extensions of the hand to hand techniques. I thought that style was perfect for my heroine and I understood the principles of the system enough that I felt I could make it authentic.

"THE TAMING OF MEI LIN" is described as a linked short story to your October debut, BUTTERFLY SWORDS. Can you explain the link between them?

Ai Li is the heroine of BUTTERFLY SWORDS. "THE TAMING OF MEI LIN" is the story of her grandmother and grandfather, who I envisioned as having many heroic tales of their own in the past. So the short story is a prequel to BUTTERFLY SWORDS. In it, I got to explore what events contributed to Ai Li's feisty, yet honorable nature and what gave her the strength find love on her own terms.

***

Be Sure to join the Sept.-Oct. launch celebration for "THE TAMING OF MEI LIN" and Jeannie's October debut, BUTTERFLY SWORDS, at this special website. Jeannie will be giving away actual butterfly swords, great books, and this original artwork as part of the festivities!

***

Thanks for stopping by, Jeannie! The buzz is already huge for BUTTERFLY SWORDS. Jeannie is giving Unusual Historicals readers a little taste of this excitement before her October debut. Leave a comment of question for Jeannie for your chance to win a copy of "THE TAMING OF MEI LIN," a short story from Harlequin Historicals Undone. The story is available in Adobe PDF, Adobe EPUB, Microsoft eBook, or Microsoft MOBI formats. I'll draw a winner at random next Sunday. Void where prohibited. Best of luck!

Excerpt Thursday: Jeannie Lin

This week on Excerpt Thursday we're welcoming contributor Jeannie Lin as she celebrates the release of "The Taming of Mei Lin," a Harlequin Historicals Undone set in Tang Dynasty China. So exciting! Join us Sunday when Jeannie will be here to talk about this short story and answer questions, as well as give away a digital copy. Don't miss it!

When a corrupt local official wants to take Mei Lin as, not second, but third wife, she rebels and makes an outrageous declaration--she'll only marry a man if he can defeat her in a swordfight. She has managed to fend off the local thugs and village hopefuls, but then a tall, mysterious stranger comes into town...

***

Shen Leung extracted himself from the tavern to taunting and cries of "One more round!" The chorus finally faded by the time he made his way to the shed behind merchant Wang's house. The storage area had been cleared and swept so that a cot could be laid out to serve as a bed. He unclasped his sword belt and managed to shrug out of his tunic before sinking onto the cot.

Among the many cities and villages he'd passed through, this place was truly remarkable. The people were generous, the wine strong. And the woman...

He closed his eyes and she was there. Mei Lin. Pretty, pretty Mei Lin and her deadly butterfly swords. The noodle shop wouldn't be open this late, otherwise he'd go there now and spend what little coin he had even though he wasn't hungry.

He'd stolen glances from the tavern to search the stand throughout the evening, but she'd never returned. There had been such a quiet sorrow about her after the duel was finished. He'd felt the echo of it inside him. Every time he tried to make an excuse to leave, he'd been dragged back by well-wishers demanding stories of his travels.

Perhaps there would be time in the morning. He'd visit the stand before he left and she'd be there in the sunlight, as beguiling as she'd been when he'd first seen her. She had such delightful skin. The women of these southern regions were so soft and curved and feminine. So different from the harsh northern steppes. He pulled the quilt over his shoulders and prepared to dream.

With a sharp crack, the door flew open. He jerked awake and sat up so fast that the world tilted. A wash of moonlight highlighted the form in the doorway. He'd know that silhouette anywhere. That slender waist and graceful neck. His eyes had already committed Mei Lin to memory.

"Shen Leung."

Tentatively she stepped forward. Her hair was pulled up into a simple knot and her skin glowed in the pale light. Elegant. Sweet. Tempting.

She blinked at him, then glanced away. The blanket had slipped from his shoulders and the stir of the air against his skin reminded him that he was half-naked before this maiden. Blood gathered in his loins alarmingly.

"Mei Lin?" His voice came out thick and huskier than he had expected.

Her mouth pressed tight. It was then that he noticed the glint of the butterfly sword in her hand.

"Shen Leung, you are going to die tonight."

Scandal: Imperial Consort Yang Yuhuan

By Jeannie Lin

The month's theme of "Scandal" has brought about many delicious stories of notorious women. I thought it might be interesting to look into how a scandalous woman becomes notorious. Especially in the days before mass media.

The Tang Dynasty (618 A.D. - 907 A.D.) was a particularly literate time. Now, by literate that doesn't mean that every peasant and farmer could read and write, but people outside of the highest noble classes studied calligraphy and poetry and read the classics. Empress Wu supported the imperial civil examination system as a way for commoners to elevate themselves in the ranks. You could rise above your station and the way to do it, was through education. Then on top of that, people seemed fascinated with the lives of the imperial family. They were the subjects of painting, sculpture and poetry.

Enter Yang Yuhuan. Consort Yang was arguably the most famous concubine in Chinese history--she's credited with bringing down the Golden Age with her beauty.

She appears as one of the Four Beauties--a very common theme in Chinese artwork. What draws people to Concubine Yang's story is that it starts as a romance and ends so tragically. Emperor Xuanxong sees her bathing in a pool among other palace beauties and he falls madly in love with her. At that time, he's 61 and she's 26.

He installs her in his palace and spends every waking moment by her side. He gives her the title of "Yang Guifei" which means "Precious Consort Yang". The title elevates her to the most highest ranking woman in the court besides the Empress. Then he starts promoting her family members to key positions.

hat's where things go wrong. The early part of Emperor Xuanzong reign is considered the height of the Golden Age. The empire is prosperous and wealthy and the arts flourish. At the later part of his reign, strife and rebellion start to brew. The regional warlords, many who are ethically non-Han, start wresting power from the central imperial government. The empire suffers several disastrous military losses to. The Emperor is criticized for leaving the rule of the empire to corrupt eunuchs and officials. His infatuation for Yang Guifei is an easy target.

This period of unrest culminates in the Anshi rebellion when warlord An Lushan marches on the imperial capital and the Emperor and his consort or forced to flee. But suddenly, the Emperor's guards will go no further. They refuse to protect him unless he orders the death of the one woman blamed for starting the downfall.

The Emperor orders the eunuchs to execute Yang Guifei, the love of his life, then and there, by the side of the road. She's strangled with a horse whip and buried in an unmarked grave.

It is said that Emperor Xuanzong mourned for her for the rest of his life. Once the Anshi rebellion was put down, he abdicated the throne. He tried to return to the roadside and find her grave, but when they opened it, there was nothing left. He died heartbroken.

Consort Yang became notorious in her time because of the prevalence of poetry and propaganda that publicized her relationship with the Emperor. The story of the Emperor's obsession with her became so well known that she became a scapegoat for political events that were out of her control. Perhaps it was easier to blame a beautiful "femme fatale" than a great Emperor for the downfall of the kingdom.

The Tang poet, Bai Juyi (772 - 846 A.D.) immortalized her in "The Song of Everlasting Sorrow". Bai Juyi's poetry as very accessible and immediately popularized the romance and tragedy of Consort Yang and the Emperor.

Scandal by epic poetry!

The secondary character of Lady Ling in my forthcoming debut, BUTTERFLY SWORDS, was inspired by the Consort Yang Yuhuan. Perhaps she'll get her own, happier ending one day.