Xi Shi

During the the Spring and Autumn Period ( c. 771 – 256 BCE), the rivalry between Wu and Yue was heating up. King Goujian lost to the state of Wu and reduced to be a hostage in the state of Wu. Goujian accepted a plan put forth by his strategist, Fan Li, deciding to sent a beautiful girl to King Fu Chai of Wu to captivate him. It was said that one day, a girl named Xi Shi was washing her silks by a river. Her silhouette reflected on the river was so beautiful that even fish was enchanted and forgot to swim and sank to the bottom of the river. Xi Shi's beauty hence was widespread, and she was sent to King Fu Chai by Goujian. Fu Chai threw himself at Xi Shi's feet when he met her for the first time. Then Fu Chai indulged himself in amusement all day long and ignored national affairs, leading to the destruction of Wu by Goujian.   Because of this history, Xi Shi was known as one of four great beauties in Chinese history.