Wang Zhaojun (with the red veil) amongst the Huns, marriage to Huhanye Chanyu by unknown artist

August 16, 2023

Wang Zhaojun (with the red veil) amongst the Huns, marriage to Huhanye Chanyu by unknown artist

Wang Qiang, aka Wang Zhaojun, was one of the Four Great Beauties of China.

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"Heqin, also known as marriage alliance, refers to the historical practice of Chinese monarchs marrying princesses—usually members of minor branches of the ruling family—to rulers of neighboring states. It was often adopted as an appeasement strategy with an enemy state that was too powerful to defeat on the battlefield. The policy was not always effective. It implied an equal diplomatic status between the two monarchs. As a result, it was controversial and had many critics.

Lou Jing (Chinese: 娄敬, later granted the imperial surname Liu 劉), the architect of the policy, proposed granting the eldest daughter of Emperor Gaozu of Han to the Modu Chanyu of the Xiongnu. His proposal was adopted and implemented with a treaty in 198 BC, following the Battle of Baideng two years prior.

There were a total of fifteen instances of heqin marriage alliances during the Han dynasty.

The Han dynasty sent random unrelated commoner women falsely labeled as "princesses" and members of the Han imperial family multiple times when they were practicing Heqin marriage alliances with the Xiongnu in order to avoid sending the emperor's daughters.

• 200 BC: Emperor Gaozu of Han marries a Han "princess" to Xiongnu chieftain Modu Chanyu. This is the first recorded incidence of heqin in Chinese history.

• 192 BC: Emperor Hui of Han marries another Han "princess" to Xiongnu chieftain Modu Chanyu.

• 176 BC: Emperor Wen of Han marries a third Han "princess" to Xiongnu chieftain Modu Chanyu.

• 174 BC: Emperor Wen of Han marries a Han "princess" to Xiongnu chieftain Laoshang Chanyu. She brings a Yan eunuch named Zhonghang Yue with her to be her tutor.

• 162 BC: Emperor Wen of Han marries another Han "princess" to Xiongnu chieftain Laoshang Chanyu.

• 160 BC: Emperor Wen of Han marries a Han "princess" to Xiongnu chieftain Gunchen Chanyu.

• 156 BC: Emperor Jing of Han marries another Han "princess" to Xiongnu chieftain Gunchen Chanyu.

• 155 BC: Emperor Jing of Han marries a third Han "princess" to Xiongnu chieftain Gunchen Chanyu.

• 152 BC: Emperor Jing of Han marries a fourth Han "princess" to Xiongnu chieftain Gunchen Chanyu.

• 140 BC: Emperor Wu of Han marries a Han "princess" to Xiongnu chieftain Gunchen Chanyu.

• 108 BC: Emperor Wu of Han marries Liu Xijun (刘细君 130–101 BC), daughter of Liu Jian (刘建), Prince of Jiangdu (江都王 d. 121 BC), granddaughter of Prince Yi of Jiangdu, to Liejiaomi, King of Wusun.

• 103 BC: Emperor Wu of Han marries Liu Jieyou (刘解忧 121–49 BC) to King Junxumi of Wusun (Liejiaomi's grandson). After Junxumi's death in 93 BC, Princess Jieyou, in accordance with Wusun tradition, married his successor (and younger brother), King Wengguimi. After Wengguimi's death in 60 BC, Princess Jieyou again remarried his successor King Nimi (son of Junximi and a Xiongnu princess).

• 33 BC: Emperor Yuan of Han marries Wang Zhaojun (王昭君 52 BC – 15), a lady of the imperial harem, to Xiongnu chieftain Huhanye. When Huhanye died in 31 BC, Wang Zhaojun requested to return to China. Emperor Cheng, however, ordered that she follow Xiongnu levirate custom and become the wife of the next Chanyu, the eldest brother (or her stepson, Fuzhuleiruodi Chanyu, born by her husband's first wife) of her husband. In her new marriage, she had two daughters. Wang was honoured as Ninghu Yanzhi (寧胡閼氏 "Hu-Pacifying Chief-Consort")."

-taken from wikipedia