Li Yannian
Encyclopedia
Li Yannian was a Chinese
musician
during Han Dynasty
. Born into a musical family, he became a court musician during Emperor Wu
's reign. Later he was sentenced to castration
after committing a crime.
His most famous composition was the song Jiarenqu (literally, The Beauty Song), describing a lady with exceptional beauty. Upon hearing this song, Emperor Wu did not believe there could be such woman on earth, but his sister Princess Pingyang mentioned Li has a younger sister who could match the description, so Emperor Wu took Li's sister as a concubine. Li Yannian himself allegedly had a homosexual relationship with Emperor Wu. When Emperor Wu re-established the Imperial Music Bureau
, Li Yannian was appointed Chief Musician.
Jiarenqu (The Beauty Song):
The lyrics:
From the north comes a ravishing maiden,
Whose beauty stands alone.
One look at her, cities fall,
On the second, empires collapse.
Care not whether cities fall or empires collapse,
Such beauty never comes around twice.
北方有佳人,
絕世而獨立
一顧傾人城,
再顧傾人国
寧不知倾城与倾国
佳人難再得
After the death of his sister, Li Yannian's family began to lose Emperor Wu's favor. In 82 BC the entire family was executed on multiple charges, including treason
.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
during Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
. Born into a musical family, he became a court musician during Emperor Wu
Emperor Wu of Han
Emperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
's reign. Later he was sentenced to castration
Castration
Castration is any action, surgical, chemical, or otherwise, by which a male loses the functions of the testicles or a female loses the functions of the ovaries.-Humans:...
after committing a crime.
His most famous composition was the song Jiarenqu (literally, The Beauty Song), describing a lady with exceptional beauty. Upon hearing this song, Emperor Wu did not believe there could be such woman on earth, but his sister Princess Pingyang mentioned Li has a younger sister who could match the description, so Emperor Wu took Li's sister as a concubine. Li Yannian himself allegedly had a homosexual relationship with Emperor Wu. When Emperor Wu re-established the Imperial Music Bureau
Music Bureau
Music Bureau , also known as the "Imperial Music Bureau", discontinuously and in various incarnations was an organ of the imperial governmental bureaucracy of several Chinese dynasties...
, Li Yannian was appointed Chief Musician.
Jiarenqu (The Beauty Song):
The lyrics:
From the north comes a ravishing maiden,
Whose beauty stands alone.
One look at her, cities fall,
On the second, empires collapse.
Care not whether cities fall or empires collapse,
Such beauty never comes around twice.
北方有佳人,
絕世而獨立
一顧傾人城,
再顧傾人国
寧不知倾城与倾国
佳人難再得
After the death of his sister, Li Yannian's family began to lose Emperor Wu's favor. In 82 BC the entire family was executed on multiple charges, including treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
.