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China: Emperor Xuanzang's consort Yang Yuhua, better known as Yang Gueifei, mounting a horse. Detail of a painting by Qian Xuan (1235–1305).

China: Emperor Xuanzang's consort Yang Yuhua, better known as Yang Gueifei, mounting a horse. Detail of a painting by Qian Xuan (1235–1305).

Consort Yang Yuhuan (1 June 719 — 15 July 756), often known as Yang Guifei (Guifei being the highest rank for imperial consorts during her time), known briefly by the Taoist nun name Taizhen, is famous as one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. She was the beloved consort of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang during his later years. During the Anshi Rebellion, as Emperor Xuanzong was fleeing from the capital Chang'an to Chengdu, she was killed because his guards blamed the rebellion on her powerful cousin Yang Guozhong and the rest of her family.