Xiao Qiao ― the belle of Jiangdong

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Caroline Young, artwork and text

QFWF, 10-06-2021
Xiao Qiao

Xiao Qiao was a famous beauty in Jiang Dong province during the end of the Han dynasty.

She was happily married to Zhou Yu, viceroy to Sun Quan, king of Wu.

In the “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”, we learn that the warlord Cao Cao was hopelessly infatuated with Xiao Qiao.

When the southern forces of Wu and Shu Han were combined and poised to fight the naval battle at Red Cliffs (circa 208 AD) against the superior forces from the north, Xiao Qiao played a pivotal role in distracting Cao Cao long enough to allow the southern alliance to win a decisive victory and send the northerners packing.

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As an adopted child of Chinese-American expatriates, I have always been intrigued by how the Chinese culture explained the mysteries of the universe.