Xijun – The isolated Princess

Princess Xijun’s marriage was known to be the first recorded marital alliance in Han history. However, she led a tragic life. Although she was from the imperial family, she was forced to live a life of slavery. However, Emperor Wudi chose her for the important task of marrying her to the King of Wusun. This alliance was meant to protect Han China from the raiding Huns. Yet, the marriage often left Princess Xijun lonely. This inspired her to create a poem detailing her sorrow. This poem has moved Chinese people’s hearts for centuries. It shows the reader the mind of a sorrowful princess who is forced to leave her home.

Princess Xijun was born around 124 B.C.E. Her family was of imperial lineage.^[1] Her great-grandfather was Emperor Jing.^[2] Her grandfather was Liu Fei, the brother of Emperor Wudi.^[3] Her father, Liu Jian, became the Prince of Jiangdu.^[4] He had several wives and concubines.^[5] Historical records describe Liu Jian as “brutal, incestuous, and depraved”.^[6] 

When Liu Xijun was an infant, her father was accused of leading a rebellion against the royal family and was forced to commit suicide.^[7] In that same year, her mother was publicly executed for witchcraft.^[8] Because her parents were public criminals against the nation, Liu Xijun and her siblings were forced to be slaves in the palace.^[9]

In 105 B.C.E., Emperor Wudi created a marriage alliance with Lie Jiaomi, the King of Wusun.^[10] Wusun were an Indo-European people that inhabited the modern-day Lake Balkhash region and northwestern Xinjiang.^[11] The population consisted of 630,000 (which was tiny compared to Han’s population of 58 million people).^[12] This alliance would compel the King of Wusun to help China against the raiding Xiongnu (known to Western readers as the Huns).^[13] Emperor Wu chose his great-niece, Liu Xijun and believed that she was the perfect Han ambassador for Wusun. Emperor Wudi officially made her his granddaughter and gave her the title of Princess.^[14] King Lie Jiaomi gave Emperor Wudi 1,000 horses for his betrothal gift.^[15] Then, Princess Xijun, who was accompanied by her entourage of several hundred officials, eunuchs, and servants, embarked on a 3,000-mile journey from Chang’an to Wusun.^[16]

When Princess Xijun finally arrived in Wusun, she discovered that the Xiongnu also sent their Princess to marry the King of Wusun.^[17] The King of Wusun married both of them, but he preferred the Xiongnu princess. He made the Xiongnu princess the Lady of the Left.^[18] Princess Xijun was made Lady of the Right, which was of lesser status than the Lady of the Left.^[19]Princess Xijun’s marriage to the King of Wusun was very unhappy. She did not know the language and could not communicate with her husband.^[20] Thus, she only saw him twice a year on special occasions.^[21]

Princess Xijun could never get used to living in Wusun. She disliked living in a yurt house and built her own palace that resembled Chinese architecture.^[22] She did not like eating raw meat and cheese.^[23] Thus, she decided to spread Han culture throughout the region.^[24] Yet, she was still lonely and yearned to be home. She is credited to have written the poem that is recorded in The History of Han China:

“I was forced to marry Wusan

Who lives in a land far away from Han,

Sheltered in the yurt, eating raw meat and cold cheese,

I suffered from homesickness and sadness,

If only I could fly like a swan, back to my homeland.”^[25]

This poem was sent to Emperor Wudi. The poem moved Emperor Wudi greatly, and he sent gifts to console his adopted granddaughter every other year.^[26]

When Lie Jiaomi was dying, he wanted her to marry his grandson.^[27] His grandson, Jun Xumi, would be the next King of Wusun, and he wanted the marriage alliance between the two nations to continue.^[28] Princess Xijun was horrified and repulsed when she learned that she had to marry her step-grandson.^[29] This was considered incestuous in Han China.^[30] She protested against the marriage and asked Emperor Wudi to intervene. However, Emperor Wudi instructed her to follow Wusun’s customs and marry the new King.^[31] Emperor Wudi still saw the importance of the marriage alliance.^[32] 

Reluctantly, Princess Xijun married Jun Xumi, the next King of Wusun. She bore him a daughter named Shaofu.^[33] Four years after she had arrived in Wusun, she died in 101 B.C.E.^[34] Since Princess Xijun did not produce a son, Emperor Wudi sent another princess, Jieyou, to take her place.^[35] Thus, while Princess Xijun spent a short time in Wusun, she made contributions to China. Her story tells us how the Han dynasty used marriage alliances to maintain peace with other nations.^[36] Princess Xijun’s poem was her greatest contribution.^[37] For in her tale, we see a sorrowful princess that was forced to become a political pawn in order to fulfil Han China’s ambitions.

Sources:

Fanzhong, Y. & Peterson, B. (2015). Notable Women of China: Shang Dynasty to the Early Twentieth Century (B. B. Peterson, Ed.; C. Jun, Trans.). London: Routledge.

Jay, J. (2015). Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E. – 618 C.E. (L. X. H. Lee, Ed.; A. D. Stefanowska, Ed.; S. Wiles, Ed.). NY: Routledge.

Wright, D.C. (2011). A Chinese Princess Bride’s Life and Activism Among the Eastern Turks, 580=590 C.E.. Journal of Asian History, 45(1/2), 39–48. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41933579.