Li Xiangjun (; 1624–1654) was a courtesan, singer, and musician during the Ming dynasty. Her life was dramatised in the play '' The Peach Blossom Fan''.

Biography

Li is referred to as Li Ji () or Li Xiang () in contemporary sources. To demonstrate respect for her, later scholars appended the character ''jun'' () to her name. Her courtesy name was Shanzhui (). No written records from the time Li lived record where she was born, but popular modern theories suggest that she was the daughter of an official, who was demoted and his family either killed or sold. Li was adopted by the owner of a brothel in Nanjing called Meixiang House (), whose surname she took. She was taught to dance, sing, paint, play music, and write poetry. Meixiang House was a favoured brothel of the literati and officials, with Li's adopted mother known for her generosity and chivalry. By age 13, Li was renowned for her singing and playing the

pipa The pipa, pípá, or p'i-p'a () is a traditional Chinese musical instrument, belonging to the plucked category of instruments. Sometimes called the "Chinese lute", the instrument has a pear-shaped wooden body with a varying number of frets rang ...

that her mistress charged 20 gold taels per guest to see her. Li met Hou Fangyu at Meixiang House in 1648. Hou sent her poems and Li performed for him in return. When Hou left to sit the imperial examinations (which he failed), Li waited for him and refused to perform for the inspector general of Huaiyang County. Li's romance with Hou Fangyu has been called one of the greatest romances of Chinese history. She is one of the ''Eight Beauties of Qinhuai'' () described by late

Qing The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speaki ...

officials. The other famed courtesans of this group are

Ma Xianglan Ma Shouzhen (; c. 1548–1604), also known by her courtesy name Ma Xianglan (, meaning "Orchid of the Xiang River") and pen name Yuejiao ("Lunar Beauty"), was a Chinese courtesan and artist born in Nanjing during the late Ming dynasty (1550–1 ...

, Bian Yujing (), Dong Xiaowan, Liu Rushi,

Gu Mei Gu Mei (; 1619–1664), better known by her art name Gu Hengbo (), also known as Xu Mei and Xu Zhizhu after her marriage, was a Chinese courtesan, poet and painter. She received the title "Lady (furen)" from the early Qing court, and often addr ...

, Kou Baimen (), and

Chen Yuanyuan Chen Yuanyuan (1624–1681) was a Chinese courtesan who lived during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. She was the concubine of Wu Sangui, the Ming dynasty general who surrendered Shanhai Pass to the Manchu-led Qing dynasty, and later reb ...

Residence

The Memorial Hall of Li Xiangjun 2012-10

The residence of Li Xiangjun () is open to the public as part of Nanjing's literary cultural heritage. It is located in Nanjing, in the vicinity of Fuzimiao on the Qinhuai River.

References

Notes

Works cited

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Li, Xiangjun 1624 births 1654 deaths 17th-century Chinese poets Chinese women poets Poets from Jiangsu Ming dynasty poets Writers from Suzhou Qing dynasty poets 17th-century Chinese women 17th-century Chinese people Eight Beauties of Qinhuai 17th-century Chinese women singers