Li Shishi, a famous prostitute in the Northern Song Dynasty, how did she end up after Huizong was captured
Although the Song Dynasty was questioned about its military prowess, many outstanding women were born in such an environment. Among them, Li Shishi, known as the first prostitute of the Song Dynasty, is one of the legendary figures.
Her charm even made Emperor Song Huizong fall in love with her, and the deep affection and wonderful story between the two are still talked about by people today. So, after the shame of Jingkang, was Master Li captured by the Jin people, just like Song Huizong?
What will be her fate?
Li Shishi: The Legendary Love between the Talented Girl of the Northern Song Dynasty and Huizong of the Song Dynasty Li Shishi, a native of Bianjing in the Northern Song Dynasty, died of both parents when he was a child, but was fortunately adopted by a woman in the Qinglou and was able to grow up in an artistic atmosphere.
Master Li not only has high attainments in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, but also became the first prostitute in Beijing with his outstanding beauty and talent. However, her story does not stop there, and her legendary relationship with Song Huizong is even more amazing.
Song Huizong, the embodiment of artistic cells, but the three thousand beauties of the harem could not meet his artistic needs. One day, Song Huizong complained to the scholars around him, and the scholars recommended Master Li to him.
Although Song Huizong did not have much hope for Master Li at first, he was deeply attracted when he saw her talent and beauty. That night, Song Huizong pampered Master Li, and since then, their relationship has become increasingly close.
The story of Master Li and Song Huizong is undoubtedly an artistic and romantic legend. Their stories also allow the world to see the deep connection between art and emotion.
Song Huizong often secretly went to see Master Li, and for fear of being discovered, he built a secret tunnel under the palace. This tunnel became his direct passage to Master Li's residence.
However, after a long time, Song Huizong went less often, and only a few times a year. Master Li had already been favored by Song Huizong, and others did not dare to approach her.
However, there is a talented man in the capital, Zhou Bangyan, who is fifty or sixty years old, but he is still romantic. He dared to risk being killed to meet Master Li. The two talk about art, and Song Huizong suddenly appears.
Master Li asked Zhou Bangyan to hide under the bed, and Zhou Bangyan heard the story of Song Huizong and Master Li's love under the bed. After that, Master Li took the initiative to send Song Huizong away, and Zhou Bangyan was able to come out.
He immediately asked Master Li to prepare pen, ink, paper, and inkstone and write a poem. Master Li compiled this poem into a song. They lived happily for a while, but because Master Li revealed that the poem was written by Zhou Bangyan when he was serving Song Huizong, Zhou Bangyan was demoted and never saw Master Li again.
Behind the legend of Master Li, in addition to her story with Song Huizong and Zhou Bangyan, there is another good story between her and the prodigal son Yanqing. However, this story is not historical, so we will not mention it for now.
As time passed, the dynasty ruled by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty collapsed. When the Jin soldiers were about to capture Bianjing, Song Huizong panicked and passed the throne to his son Song Qinzong, hoping that he would be able to turn the tide.
After Song Qinzong succeeded to the throne, he immediately drove Li Shishi out of the capital to prevent her from having a private meeting with Song Huizong. Since then, Master Li's status has plummeted, and there is no longer the glory of the past.
However, this was not the lowest point in her life, because the Northern Song Dynasty was about to perish. The Jin soldiers finally arrived in Bianjing, and Song Huizong and Song Qinzong could only be captured, and were taken back to the Jin country as prisoners by the Jin people, and the Northern Song Dynasty was destroyed.
Li Shishi, a famous courtesan in the Northern Song Dynasty, was driven out of the capital by Song Qinzong, and the official history of him came to an abrupt end. As for her final ending, people look more to folk tales.
Among them, one of the most talked-about endings is that Li Shishi was captured by the Jin soldiers. It is said that after the Jin soldiers captured Song Huizong, they heard about the reputation of Li Shishi, the first prostitute in Bianjing, and wanted to see his demeanor.
So, they searched everywhere for Master Li. However, when the Song people learned of this, they helped Li Shishi to hide, so that the Jin soldiers did not find her for a long time. It wasn't until later that the traitor Zhang Bangchang deliberately took people to find Li Shishi, and she was discovered by Jin Bing.
In the face of Jin Bing, Li Shishi was not afraid, but scolded Zhang Bangchang. After scolding, she took off the golden hairpin on her head and tried to commit suicide, but fortunately she was rescued and failed.
However, when people were negligent, she broke the golden hairpin and swallowed it, and finally ended her own life, thus preventing Jin Bing's insult. This legendary story originates from the legendary work of the Song Dynasty "The Biography of Li Shishi", because it is the closest to the era of Li Shishi and has the greatest influence among the people, so this ending has also been accepted by most people.
While this ending is a foregone conclusion, there are many different versions. It is said that after Li Shishi was driven out of the capital by Song Qinzong, she relied on the wealth accumulated over the years to live a good life, but after hearing that the Jin State attacked the Northern Song Dynasty, she donated all her property to the state, and she chose to become a monk, and since then she has lived a life without fighting with the world and has become a female Taoist priest.
There is also a version that after Li Shishi left the capital, he took advantage of the chaos to escape to the south, and married a wealthy businessman and lived a comfortable life, it can be said that this ending is the most perfect of all endings, and if Li Shishi's ending is really like this, then she should also feel lucky.
However, the third version is closer to reality, after Li Shishi lost Song Huizong as a backer, his status plummeted, and he was often bullied. After the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty, the country was torn apart, and life was very difficult.
In general, the story of the legendary woman Li Shishi came to an abrupt end after the abdication of Song Huizong, and there is no relevant record in the official history. If we want to find the answer, we can only search from the people, but unfortunately, there are so many answers that we can't tell the truth from the fake.
However, in this turbulent era, we still hope that Master Li can have a relatively good ending.