Zhao Feiyan

She was the empress of Emperor Cheng (reigned 32-7 BC), the late Western Han Dynasty emperor. She rose from humble origins to serve Yang Ashu, where she learned to sing and dance. By chance, Emperor Cheng was visiting Yang Ashu's house and caught his eye. She and her sister entered the harem, eventually becoming empress. However, one night, the most licentious emperor of the Western Han Dynasty suddenly died, and her sister, who had spent the night with Emperor Cheng, fell under suspicion and was driven to suicide. As Wang Mang's influence grew within the palace, Feiyan was demoted to a commoner and followed her sister's footsteps. The turbulent life of the sisters Zhao Feiyan, who rose from humble origins to enjoy the splendor of the harem, and ultimately followed the path of decline, was eventually made into a literary work, "The Legend of Zhao Feiyan." This work is said to have been written based on direct interviews with her relatives, but is actually believed to be a later forgery.

[Tota Kirimoto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、前漢末期の皇帝である成帝（在位前32～前7）の皇后。卑賤(ひせん)の生まれから身をおこして陽阿主(ようあしゅ)に仕え、そこで歌舞を習得し、偶然陽阿主の家を訪れた成帝の目に留まって妹とともに後宮入りし、ついには皇后となった。しかし前漢王朝きっての放恣(ほうし)な皇帝が、ある夜突然死去したために、成帝とその夜をともにした妹に嫌疑がかかり妹は自殺に追い込まれてしまう。やがて宮廷内で王莽(おうもう)の勢力が伸張すると、飛燕もただの庶人に格下げされて、妹の後を追う。このように卑賤の身から一転して後宮の栄華をほしいままにし、最後には凋落(ちょうらく)の道をたどる趙飛燕姉妹の波瀾(はらん)の生涯は、やがて文学作品『趙飛燕外伝』となった。この作品は、彼女の血縁者から直接聞き取りの形で書き上げられたと伝えられるが、実際には後世の偽作とされる。

［桐本東太］

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