Yang Yuhuan, often known as Yang Guifei, and known briefly by the Taoist nun name Taizhen (太真), was the beloved consort of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang during his later years. She is known as one of the Four Beauties of ancient China.
Yang Guifei Leaving the Bath by Gu Jianlong (1606–after 1689)
A modern statue of Yang
Poster for the 1955 Japanese film Princess Yang Kwei-Fei
Imperial Consort Yang is teaching a parrot to chant sutras, Liao dynasty (907–1125).
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, personal name Li Longji, was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China, reigning from 712 to 756 CE. His reign of 44 years was the longest during the Tang dynasty. Through two palace coups, he seized the throne and inherited an empire still in its golden age. He was initially assisted by capable chancellors like Yao Chong, Song Jing and Zhang Yue who were already serving as government officials before Xuanzong ascended the throne. However, under Emperor Xuanzong, the empire reached its turning point and went into sharp decline and near collapse, due to numerous political missteps throughout his long reign, such as over-trusting Li Linfu, Yang Guozhong and An Lushan, with Tang's golden age ending in the An Lushan Rebellion.
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
The Summer Palace of Emperor Ming (Xuanzong), as imagined by painter Guo Zhongshu (929–977 CE)
A Tributary Horse for Emperor Xuanzong, painted in the 12th century during the subsequent Song dynasty
Spring Outing of the Tang Court, by Xuanzong era artist Zhang Xuan, 8th century original
