The story of Wang Zhaojun is a cherished tale from ancient China about courage, kindness and making brave choices for the greater good. Read on to follow her adventure, discover the important lesson she teaches and try a fun craft activity at the end—a pipa cut-out craft you can download, make together with your family or friends and act out the story.

Wang Zhaojun was born to a noble family in the Western Han dynasty. Known for her beauty and intellect since young, Zhaojun mastered the four ancient Chinese arts—the guqin, the strategy game Go, calligraphy, and painting. 

The day came in 36 BC when the emperor sent out a royal decree: selected young women from noble families were to enter the palace as court ladies or ladies-in-waiting. Zhaojun—who would later be remembered as one of the Four Beauties of ancient China—was so admired for her looks and talents that she was chosen to represent her district. 

Her parents were deeply saddened to see her leave, but they also knew the emperor’s order could not be turned down. With tears in their eyes, they hugged their daughter goodbye and wished her well.

When Zhaojun arrived at the place, she and other young ladies were ushered into a room to have their portraits drawn. The emperor would use these portraits to decide who would serve him as a court lady. Those not selected remained as ladies-in-waiting instead.

“My skills in painting have been blessed by the gods,” the painter smiled slyly. “I can make you ladies look the most beautiful to the emperor. But sometimes, my genius requires a little bit more... persuasion...” he stretched out a hand, waiting.

Zhaojun watched as the ladies whispered to each other, “He wants us to pay him such that he will paint us prettier.” 

“I’ve heard how the palace works from my parents. Money can open doors. Who doesn’t want to be a court lady?” Another lady murmured back.  

The ladies hurriedly formed a queue. Each of them took out a few gold coins and pressed them into the painter’s hand. Zhaojun saw the finished portraits before her. The painter had taken quite the creative freedom!

Soon it was Zhaojun’s turn. The painter plastered on his widest grin and stretched out his hand, but she did not move an inch.

“Well? Do you have the money or not?” he asked impatiently.

“It’s not about whether I have the money for you. Even if I did, I wouldn’t give it to you,” she retorted. “Your job here is to paint the portraits as they are, not to make more money for yourself out of our pockets.”

“Your parents have certainly raised you with manners, haven’t they?” the painter mocked her. “You will regret this. I control what the emperor sees.”

 Zhaojun did not budge. “Paint me as I am.”

The painter was done in a much faster time than he had spent on the other portraits. He refused to let Zhaojun see her final portrait, though he let slip a malicious grin at his work. The other ladies shook their heads at her.

“You’re beautiful,” they told her, “Don’t you want the emperor to see that? It was just a little money.”

“If everyone thought like this, this would be a lawless place. As the palace, the head of this whole country, we need to set an example,” Zhaojun replied.

Before long, a few other ladies were picked to become court ladies, while Zhaojun remained as a lower-ranked lady-in-waiting. She did her duties without any complaints. Sometimes, she passed by the inner palace where parties and feasts were ongoing. She would pause for a moment to hear the liveliness of the celebration, before moving on quickly. Despite her composure, Zhaojun often felt very alone.

A few years passed. The chief of the Northern empire of Xiongnu came to visit. The chief hoped to form a marriage alliance with the Western Han empire, so that both lands could live in peace.

However, the Xiongnu empire was further up north, with its people braving the cold on wide grasslands. No princess wished to leave behind the wealth and warmth of the Western Han palace.

So, the emperor came up with a secret plan: he would pick a plain lady-in-waiting and pass her off as a princess. No one in Xiongnu would be the wiser.

The emperor summoned the painter to bring him all the portraits. Zhaojun’s ugly portrait caught his eye. “Her. Send her to them.” With a wave of his hand, he dismissed his subjects.

Her fate decided, Zhaojun was summoned to meet the court officials, who told her the plan. She thought of her home, her family and the Han dynasty. But she knew that this marriage was the best way to bring peace between the two empires. With a heavy heart, she agreed.

On a crisp autumn morning, Zhaojun set off on horseback to the Northern frontier. She was dressed in the palace’s finest clothing, but she could not feel any warmth. Cradled in her arms was a pipa, her most prized musical instrument, which had accompanied her through many lonely days in the palace.

The emperor and his officials stood atop the palace towers near the gate, sending off who the chief of Xiongnu thought was the emperor’s real daughter.

At that moment, Zhaojun turned around to bid her homeland one last farewell, and the emperor caught sight of her face.  

“The lady-in-waiting!” He lunged forward and pointed. “The portrait I was shown was different! How could I have missed her in the palace?” However, it was too late. Changing his mind would mean that his plot to trick the chief would be revealed.

His officials shuddered at the emperor’s rage, and quickly scurried off to investigate. How they could have missed such a beautiful woman?

As Zhaojun travelled farther from her homeland, her horse began to whine and toss its head. With only the sound of its heavy footsteps for company, Zhaojun began to play her pipa. Her melodies were soft and deeply sorrowful, expressing her longing and sadness across the empty plains.

Eventually, the officials found out about the greedy painter’s deceit. The emperor punished him greatly for his lies and misdeeds.

But Zhaojun had already begun her new life beyond the frontier.

It was believed that Zhaojun’s marriage to the Xiongnu empire ensured years of peace between the two empires. She never returned home to the Han dynasty.

Zhaojun's legendary story inspired many artworks in her name, be it paintings, music or poetry. As she was closely associated with her pipa, she is remembered in the pipa composition titled 《昭君出塞》or Wang Zhaojun Departs from the Frontier, regarded as one of the most famous pieces to be played on the pipa till this day.

Bring the story to life!

Now that you’ve journeyed through the story of Wang Zhaojun, it’s time to bring the story to life! Print, colour, cut, and assemble your paper pipa. Then, together with your grown‑ups or friends, re‑enact or re-imagine the tale together. It’s a fun way to have fun and perform just like we do here at Esplanade.