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2020

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Xiao Qiao, also known as Little Qiao, was a figure in Chinese history during the late Eastern Han dynasty. She is best known for her prominent role in Luo Guanzhong's historical novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which significantly romanticizes her life. Historically, she was the wife of Zhou Yu, a renowned general serving under Sun Ce and later Sun Quan, the founders of the Eastern Wu kingdom.

Born into the Qiao family of Lujiang Commandery (present-day Anhui province), Xiao Qiao and her elder sister, Da Qiao, were famed for their exceptional beauty. Da Qiao married Sun Ce, further intertwining the Qiao sisters with the emerging power of Eastern Wu. Xiao Qiao's marriage to Zhou Yu was considered a union of beauty and intellect, solidifying the alliance between two influential families.

While historical records surrounding Xiao Qiao are sparse, her character in Romance of the Three Kingdoms is portrayed as a virtuous and graceful woman, deeply devoted to her husband. Her beauty and her connection to powerful figures of the era have cemented her place in Chinese popular culture and historical fiction. Though the novel embellished details of her life, she remains a symbol of feminine elegance and devotion in the tumultuous Three Kingdoms period.