Some of ancient China’s most famous courtesans:
Liang Hongyu (1101-1135)
Mulan, the most adapted Chinese female warrior, is a fictional character, but Liang is genuine. Her real name, birth year, or anything before her meeting with General Han Shizhong, who became her husband, is unknown, as is the case with most ladies who managed to leave their mark in historical records.
Hongyu, or red jade, is the name often used in folklore tales and traditional operas.
What is certain is that Liang met her husband while serving in the military as an entertainer in 1121. She fought alongside Han against the Huns, also known as the Jin Tribes at the time.
In one famous battle, the military heroine is said to have used drums and flags as communication signals to direct the men and ships. The emperor rewarded the couple after their victory.
Xue Tao (AD 770-832)
“Not all blossoms are equally appreciated, nor are they mourned when they fade.
I want to ask where my lover is, between the flowering and fading flowers.”
These four lines are among the most quoted of Xue’s 90 known poems, marking her as one of the most prolific female poets. Some sources claim she wrote more than 400 in her life. She later became a Taoist nun.
Xue’s life story is largely made up of fragments penned by her male contemporaries, who praised her poetic ability. Many people exchanged poetry with her as gifts, while a few others were said to be romantically involved with her. Among them was Yuan Zhen (AD 779-831), one of the most distinguished academics of his period and nine years younger than Xue.
She became known for her lyrical talent, which drew the attention of a local military governor. She registered with the guild of courtesans and performers in the southwest city of Chengdu early on. Xue became the hostess of the governor’s receptions, where she met several scholars and officials.
Yu Xuanji (AD 840-868)
Yu Xuanji left an indelible effect on Chinese and international literature. The detective series “Judge Dee” by Robert van Gulik is based on an 18thcentury Chinese detective story about Di Renjie (AD 630-700), a government figure who served twice as chancellor during the reign of Wu Zetian (AD 624-705), China’s only female monarch.
“Poets and Murder” is a novel about Judge Dee’s investigation of a female poet who is suspected of whipping her maidservant to death.
Yu is the inspiration for that female poet. Her life story is mostly based on a tabloid-style semi-legendary book and several other tabloids from the time, including how she was decapitated for killing her maid.
She was wedded as a concubine at a young age and later divorced, becoming a courtesan. She traveled much, which was unusual for a woman at the time, and this had an impact on her writing.
Only 49 of her poems have survived to this day. Yu has been a favorite of modern novelists and screenwriters because of her skill, lack of a definite background, and sensational tabloid descriptions of her as a strong-willed, sexually open and independent woman.