Li Shunxian

Li Shunxian 李舜弦 (born c. 900 CE, Sichuan) was an Iranian-born Chinese poet celebrated for her beauty and poetic talent.[1] She was a concubine of Wang Yan (Wang Zongyan), the Chinese Emperor of Former Shu. She was famous for being a non-Chinese woman who was an accomplished poet in the Chinese language.[2][3][4]

Her Persian family had adopted the Chinese surname Li. After they fled the Huang Chao rebellion into interior China (Sichuan), they rose to prominence in the Chinese court of the Later Shu Kingdom.

It is unknown whether she had a Persian name or whether she spoke Persian. It is also unknown whether her parents were immigrants to China or were born in China.

It is believed that Shunxian's family was Zoroastrian because of one line in Shunxian's poem mentioning a "golden bullet for a catapult" which Veshparkar, an Iranian god was known to deploy. However, other scholars such as Chen Mingyuan reason that they were more likely Nestorian Christians because in China the Nestorians were known for their medicine, as Shunxian's brother Li Xu 李珣 was known to have written on. A third possibility is that following the Islamization of Persia, Shunxian's family was Muslim. Nonetheless there is no direct evidence for any of these.

Life

Following the Huang Chao rebellion, Shunxian's family fled to Sichuan in the year 880. This migration was also along with many other Chinese including Emperor Xizong. She had an older brother Li Xun, who was also a poet and pharmacist at the court and wrote a Chinese book on drugs.[5] They were born in Zi prefecture, Sichuan.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] The family's Persian ethnicity is mentioned in historical texts.[18][19][20]

As a concubine in the imperial court, Shunxian held the rank as Madame (夫人) which was just below the title of Empress (consort).[21] Their husband Wang Yan was born in 899, became emperor in 919 at 20 years old, and reigned until 924. He was known for his indulgence in women and wine. It is speculated that Shunxian was around the same age as Wang. It was here in the harem that she began writing her renown poetry.

The Ten-Thousand Quatrains of the Tang collected by Hongmai (洪邁) contains three poems by Shunxian. In medieval China, she is the only non-Chinese woman who composed literature in Chinese.[22] Both she and her brother were known for their poetry, and Shunxian's poems are still preserved and read today.[23][24][25][26][27]

In 926, Shunxian, Wang Yan, and his other concubines were all brutally massacred by Emperor Li Zhuangzong of Later Tang.

In the same Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period another Persian woman called Mei Zhu was a concubine of another young Chinese Emperor called Liu Chang. He engaged in aphrodisiac fueled sex games with her.[28][29] During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (Wudai, 907–960), there are numerous other examples of Chinese emperors marrying Persian women. Chen Yuan writes: "In the times of Wudai (907–960) the emperors preferred to marry Persian women, and the Song dynasty official families liked to marry women from Dashi [Arabia]." [30]

See also

References
  1. Needham, Joseph (1986). Science and Civilisation in China: Volume 6, Biology and Biological Technology, Part 1, Botany. Volume 6 of Biology & Biological Technolog (reprint ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 276. ISBN 0521087317.
  2. University of Hawaii at Manoa. Center for Chinese Studies (2007). China Review International, Volume 14. University of Hawaiʻi, Center for Chinese Studies and University of Hawaii Press. p. 219. While in the first years of the Former Shu many of the literati in Chengdu were aristocratic Émigrés who had fled from the upheavals in the Yellow River Valley (such as Wei Zhuang ## (836–910]), within a decade or two (if we can judge from the poets of the Huajian ji) there were both commoners (such as Yan Xuan soliń) and foreigners (such as Li Xun ##!, a poet from a Persian family that had moved to Shu before the fall of the Tang; Li's sister was one of Wang Yan's consorts and a ...
  3. Larsen, Jeanne, ed. (2005). Willow, wine, mirror, moon: women's poems from Tang China. Lannan translations selection series. BOA Editions. p. 137. ISBN 1929918747. Wang's capital was a haven for literati and artists in that difficult era. When his son Yan ascended to the throne, both women were promoted to ranks suiting the mothers of princes and wielded considerable power. They — and Wang Yan — were killed after Shu's conquest by a short-lived dynasty called the Later Tang. Li Xunxian (d. 926?), daughter of a Persian immigrant, had a reputation as a poet. She became a consort of Wang Yan, dissolute monarch of the state known as ...
  4. National Translation Center (USA) (1995). Delos. p. 91. He joined the Li Bamboo-Hat Poetry Society in 1970, and later served as the editor of the magazine. Since the eighties, his creative works and critical essays show strong social, political, and cultural concerns. Li Xunxian (d. 926?), was the daughter of a Persian immigrant to the Sichuan basin in the Tang empire's southwest. Her elder brother, Li Xun, was also reputedly a fine poet. Li became a consort of Wang Yan, dissolute monarch of the short-lived "Former Shu" dynasty.
  5. [[At times like these I only fear lest your passion has worn thin.6 Though the court poets in Chengdu wrote primarily of the pleasures of the flesh, the reputation given them by later historians, claiming that they indulged only in pleasure and debauchery, is perhaps not completely warranted. Several members of the Shu court compiled impressive works of serious scholarship, especially in the field of pharmacology. Li Xun, a poet and scholar of Persian ancestry who served in Wang Yan's ...|Faurot, Jeannette L.]] (1992). Ancient Chengdu. Chinese Materials Center Publications. p. 101. ISBN 0896446794.
  6. 蜀中广记 (四库全书本). 卷004.
  7. 蜀中廣記 (四庫全書本). 全覽1. 宗壽酒也成都文類雲李珣梓州人其妹為蜀王衍昭儀有詞藻即所稱李舜絃夫人矣洪邁絶句載舜𢎞蜀宮應制詩濃樹禁花開後庭飲筵中㪚酒微醒濛濛雨草瑤階
  8. 十国春秋 [Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms]. 顺如苏氏未详其家世后主时累封至顺妃昭仪李氏名舜弦梓州人酷有辞藻后主立为昭仪世所称李舜弦大火也所著蜀宫应制诗随驾诗钓鱼不普兰蛮项称薪圆誉韦辄糊图于舜弦后主常宴近臣于宣华苑命玉箫歌已所撰月华如水富词侑嘉王宗寿酒声音委婉抑扬合度一杂私不倾倒宗寿惧祖亦为之尽觞辅则辉辉赫赫浮五华池上月华新月华如义工横宫鲤州
  9. 十國春秋 (四庫全書本) [Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms]. 卷038. 昭儀李氏名舜弦梓州人酷有辭藻後主立為昭儀世所稱李舜弦夫人也所著蜀宫應制詩隨駕詩釣魚不得詩諸篇多為文人賞鑒同時宫人李玊簫者寵幸亞于舜弦後主常宴近臣于宣華苑命玊簫歌已所撰月華如水宫詞侑嘉王宗壽酒聲音委婉抑揚合度一座無不傾倒宗壽懼禍亦為之盡觴〈詞曰輝輝赤赤浮五雲宣華池上月華新月華如水浸宫殿有酒不醉真癡人〉
  10. 十國春秋 (四庫全書本) [Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms]. 卷044. 李珣字徳潤梓州人昭儀李舜弦之兄也珣以小辭為後主所賞常製浣溪沙詞有早為不逢巫峽夜那堪虚度錦江春詞家互相傳誦所著有瓊瑤集若干卷尹鶚成都人也工詩詞與賔貢李珣友善珣本波斯之種鶚性SKchar稽常作詩嘲之珣名為頓損鶚累官至翰林校書
  11. 御定全唐诗. 卷七百九十七. 李舜弦梓州人珣之妹蜀王衍纳为昭仪诗三首随驾游青城
  12. 词苑萃编. 卷三品藻一. ○李冷较沙词李雷值氯螅梓州人，昭仪李舜弦兄也。酪孕〈饰后主所赏，尝制浣溪纱词，有「早为不逢巫峡梦，那堪虚度锦江春」，词家互相传诵。有琼瑶集若干卷。十国春秋
  13. "郑艺". 十国春秋. 卷四十三至卷四十八. 季殉宇德涧梓州人胎仪李舜弦之兄也殉以小辞为后主所赏常制浣溪沙词有早为不逢巫峡夜那堪虚度锦江春词家互相传诵所署有琼瑶集若干卷尹鹤成都人也工诗词与宾贡李殉友善殉本波斯之种鹑性滑稽常作诗朝之殉名为顿捐鹄累官至翰林校书
  14. "《亡至此生不知死固不食卒繼》". 十國春秋. 六. 李瑜字德潤梓州人昭儀李舜弦之兄也前以小辭為後王所宜當製浣溪紗詞有早為不逢巫峽夜那堪虛度錦江春詞家互相傳謂所著有瓊瑤集若干卷雕杵係夢
  15. "李徇". 五代诗话. 卷四. 李殉字德润梓州人昭仪李舜弦兄也徇以小词为后主所赏常制浣溪纱词有旱为不逢巫峡夜那堪虚度锦江春词家互相传诵所著有遭瑶集若干卷十图东大李殉巫山罔段云词古庙依青障行宫枕碧流水声山色销妆楼往事思悠悠云雨朝还暮姻花春复秋啼猿何必迎孤舟行客自多愁黄叔阳蓄唐词多缘题所赋临江仙则吕仙事女冠子则述遭情河渍神则味檀潮大概不失本题之意尔后渐变去题达矣如匈此作实唐本来词体如此词绵
  16. 蜀秀集: 蜀秀集. 十国吞秋词伪后住僻均梓州人昭仪李舜弦兄也宝席制浣溪沙同所瞽有环酬以小集蓄千多纲题佩酬禅酬愿景霄木题之饷睡驯蹴怯诰输冰来辞体如此周密勾奏蹴制渐细手量石子数百其一有云辈疆花电手万衮仞州泪长潜乡思茫茫玉垒间变姓青城奋卖瓜开东何日得重遣
  17. "杨纷". 粤雅堂丛书: 粤雅堂丛书. 李殉字德润梓州人昭仪李舜弦兄也尔以小词为后土所当常制浣溪沙词有早为不逢巫峡夜那堪虚度锦江春词家互相传谓所著有琼瑶集若干卷茧十国秋字荆巫山口段云词古庙依青障行宫枕碧流水声山邑锁维楼往事思悠悠云南朝违暮姻花春复秋啼猿回惭睢孤舟行客自多愁黄叔阳云唐词多缘题所赋临江仙别言仙事女冠子则述道情河渎神则陈祠庙大概不失本题之意尔后渐变主题还矣如卿此作实唐本来辞体如此关词
  18. 御選歴代詩餘 (四庫全書本). 卷101. 李珣字德潤先世本波斯人家於梓州王衍昭儀李舜絃兄也為蜀秀才嘗與賓貢有瓊瑤集一巻
  19. 御選歴代詩餘 (四庫全書本). 全覽4. 李珣字德润先世本波斯人家于梓州王衍昭仪李舜弦兄也为蜀秀才尝与宾贡有琼瑶集一巻 　　李珣字德潤先世本波斯人家於梓州王衍昭儀李舜絃兄也為蜀秀才嘗與賓貢有瓊瑤集一巻 文錫詞以質直為情致殊不知流於率露諸人評庸陋詞者必曰此仿毛文錫之贊成功而不及者逮覧其全集有巫山一段雲詞細心微詣直造蓬萊頂上〈葉夢得〉梓州李珣其先波斯人珣有詩名以秀才豫賔貢事蜀主衍國亡不仕有瓊瑤集多感慨之音其妹為衍昭儀亦能詞有鴛鴦瓦上忽然聲句誤入花蕊宮詞中〈茅亭客話〉李珣歐陽炯輩俱蜀人各製南鄉子數首以誌風土亦竹枝體也〈周密〉
  20. 十國春秋 [Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms]. 卷四十二至卷四十七. 李殉字德澗梓州人昭儀李舜弦之兄也殉以小辭為俊主所賞管襲浣溪沙詞有旱為不逢巫峽夜那堪虛度錦江舂詞家互相傳誦所著有瓊瑤集若于卷尹鵲成都人也工詩詞與賓貢李旬壬友喜殉本波斯之種鵲性滑稽常作詩廟之均名為領捐鵲累官至翰林校書
  21. 石仓历代诗选 (四库全书本). 全览4. 李舜弦夫人
  22. "The Transmission of Foreign Medicine via the Silk Roads in Medieval China: A Case Study of Haiyao BencaoI". Asian Medicine. Leiden: Koninklijke Brill NV. pp. 248–251 in 241–264. doi:10.1163/157342008X307866. ISSN 1573-420X. researchgate.net link.
  23. 李, 舜弦. 蜀宮應制. 濃樹禁花開後庭，飲筵中散酒微醒。 濛濛雨草瑤階溼，鐘曉愁吟獨倚屏。
  24. 張, 廷華 (1909). "五代花月　清　李調元雨村　撰". 香艷叢書. 2. 後主時有「月華如水浸宮殿，有酒不醉真癡人」之句。宮人李舜弦有才藻，獻詩為時傳誦。詞雲： 六宮皆醉舞斜欹，曲晏池亭月上遲。 誰倚闌幹偏獨醒，蛾眉雙斂自題詩。
  25. 全唐詩 [Complete Tang Poems]. 797.
  26. 御定全唐詩:. 總目十一.
  27. "Sino-Foreign Cultural Exchanges in Tang Dynasty". ChinaCulture.org. Ministry of Culture, P.R.China. July 7, 2013. Archived from the original on July 7, 2013.
  28. McMahon, Keith (2013). Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 251. ISBN 1442222905.
  29. Ouyang, Xiu (2004). Historical Records of the Five Dynasties. Translations from the Asian classics. Richard L. Davis (illustrated, reprint, annotated ed.). Columbia University Press. p. 544. ISBN 0231128274.
  30. Jaschok, Maria; Shui, Jingjun (2000). The History of Women's Mosques in Chinese Islam: A Mosque of Their Own (illustrated ed.). Psychology Press. p. 74. ISBN 0700713026.
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