During the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, fell into deep melancholy after the death of his beloved Consort Wu Huifei. Though his harem was filled with countless beauties, none caught his fancy, leaving him irritable and prone to outbursts for no reason.
Yang Yuhuan, the consort of Prince Shou Li Mao, was a breathtaking beauty. Her natural grace was such that a single glance back with a smile made all the palace ladies pale in comparison. With skin like jade and a mastery of music and dance, Emperor Xuanzong was utterly captivated the moment he saw her. Though she was technically his daughter-in-law, he cast aside all propriety, brought her into his court, and made her his Imperial Consort, showering her with affection. From then on, Xuanzong indulged in endless revelry, living a life where "celestial music drifted on every breeze" and "the emperor no longer held morning court."
Consort Yang Guifei, the favorite of Emperor Xuanzong, gathered all three thousand imperial favors upon herself, and her entire Yang clan rose to power like chickens and dogs ascending to heaven. Her sisters were granted noble titles—the eldest became Lady of Han, the third Lady of Guo, and the eighth Lady of Qin. The Yang family, with high offices and lavish salaries, blazed in glory for a time.
Lady Han, Lady Guo, and Lady Qin were all stunningly beautiful. Emperor Xuanzong called them his aunts and often partied with them. When they entered the palace, no one dared to take their seats, and even princesses had to yield. Each year, the emperor bestowed lavish sums of money for their cosmetics.
Of the three, Lady Guo was the most beautiful—voluptuous, soft-skinned, and skilled at flirting to win the emperor's favor. Emperor Xuanzong cherished and adored her. Proud of her natural beauty, she often entered court without makeup, presenting her bare face to the Son of Heaven. The poet Du Fu once satirized her in verse:
Lady of Guo State Received the Emperor's Favor
At dawn, he mounted his horse and entered the palace gate.
Yet She Disdained Powder and Paint, Lest They Mar Her Natural Beauty
Lightly powdered, she faced the supreme one at court.
In the Tang Dynasty palace, women caked their faces with heavy makeup to win the emperor's favor, but Lady Guo, sister of Yang Guifei, took a different path—she wore no powder at all, and among the painted beauties of the harem, her natural radiance made her appear a celestial fairy. Emperor Xuanzong was utterly captivated, and she grew arrogant and willful, demanding whatever she pleased. Local officials vied to present her with rare treasures and imperial gifts from the emperor to curry her favor. Whenever the emperor traveled, Lady Guo accompanied him, her carriage and attendants forming a grand procession. For every wedding among the imperial princes, she was invited and lavishly rewarded. Her mansion rivaled the palace in splendor, unmatched in all the land. After the An Lushan Rebellion, she fled to Chencang, where she met her end.
Later, the idiom "plain face facing heaven" came to refer to women who go to court without makeup.
Source: *Yang Taizhen's Unofficial Biography*
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "素面朝天" came to describe women who go to court without makeup.