Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Mei Zhu/WDSG

Translation of excerpt from Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, vol. 90:

The Southern Han emperor was named Liu Jixing. [(tr. note: this was Liu Chang's original name, yes.)] He grew up playing with eunuchs, and as he grew up, he learned a large number of evil deeds from the eunuchs. Liu Jixing had three strange habits: he believed in sorcery, he liked keeping vicious beasts, and he liked fat women — of the three, he particularly liked fat women. In Liu Jixing's palace, there was a Persian woman who was sold to him from Xiyu. Not only was she fat, but she also had a pair of large eyes and had skin the tone of copper. Her body was full-formed and shapely, and it surprisingly caused Liu Xijing to be enamored with her.

This Persian woman grew up in the Xiyu region and had never seen the sea. Southern Han, however, was located in the two Guangs [(Guangdong and Guangxi)], and one could see the sea as much as one wanted. Later, after she found out that pearls came from the sea, she did not like gold or silver but loved pearls. Liu Jixing thereafter ordered the fishermen to dive some 700 chi [(i.e., about 233 meters)] to seek pearls. Those who came back with pearls were greatly rewarded, and those who did not come back with pearls would not leave the sea alive. It is unknown how many innocent fishermen were drowned as a result to allow this Persian woman to have thousands of pearls.

This terrible emperor, Liu Jixing, made pearl skirts, pearl blouses, pearl crowns, and pearl dudou [(肚兜, an undergarment for the belly)] for the Persian woman, and he gave her the name of Mei Zhu [("beautiful pearl")]. These things caused the people to be incensed at him, and they referred to her as Mei Zhu [(beautiful pig)] instead.

--Nlu (talk) 13:09, 5 March 2011 (UTC)