theworldofchinese: Mysteries of the Fragrant Concubine BY: JULIJA VELJKOVIC It has been said that the Fragrant Concubine’s beauty was like no other. With her, she carried an alluring, sensuous scent, free from lavish perfumes and powders. Tales of her exquisiteness reached the Qianlong Emperor’s ears. Hungry for her beauty, the Manchu monarch demanded that she be brought to him safely. As Burhanad-Din’s control over Altishahr (southern Xinjijang) was eventually lost to the Qing conquest in 1755, the young concubine Xiang Fei (香妃) was stripped from her home and her husband. Forced to endure a long and arduous journey to the Emperor’s palace, the concubine bathed in camel’s milk and had daily butter rundowns to preserve her pure fragrance. When Xiang Fei reached the Imperial City, she was greeted with a doting Qianlong. Showering her with extravagant gifts, the Emperor hoped he could woo the exotic creature. Hami melons and narrow-leaved oleaster (沙枣 shāzǎo) were given as a token of his appreciation. But the young woman did not stir. Patiently, Qianlong built her a hall against the southwestern wall of the imperial city and established a small Muslim community, complete with a new mosque and bazaar. The Emperor hoped that when the concubine gazed out the window, she would see the Muslims and feel at home. Still, she did not stir. This is where the legend becomes confusing. Read more
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theworldofchinese:

Mysteries of the Fragrant Concubine

BY: 

It has been said that the Fragrant Concubine’s beauty was like no other. With her, she carried an alluring, sensuous scent, free from lavish perfumes and powders. Tales of her exquisiteness reached the Qianlong Emperor’s ears. Hungry for her beauty, the Manchu monarch demanded that she be brought to him safely.

As Burhanad-Din’s control over Altishahr (southern Xinjijang) was eventually lost to the Qing conquest in 1755, the young concubine Xiang Fei (香妃) was stripped from her home and her husband. Forced to endure a long and arduous journey to the Emperor’s palace, the concubine bathed in camel’s milk and had daily butter rundowns to preserve her pure fragrance.

When Xiang Fei reached the Imperial City, she was greeted with a doting Qianlong. Showering her with extravagant gifts, the Emperor hoped he could woo the exotic creature. Hami melons and narrow-leaved oleaster (沙枣 shāzǎo) were given as a token of his appreciation. But the young woman did not stir. Patiently, Qianlong built her a hall against the southwestern wall of the imperial city and established a small Muslim community, complete with a new mosque and bazaar. The Emperor hoped that when the concubine gazed out the window, she would see the Muslims and feel at home. Still, she did not stir.

This is where the legend becomes confusing.

Read more

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    Everytime I hear “fragrance concubine’ I think...Huan Zhu Ge Ge…
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