Li Yannian (Chinese: 李延年; pinyin: Lǐ Yánnián died 82 BC) was a Chinese musician during Han Dynasty. Born into a musical family, he became a court musician during Emperor Wu's reign. Later he was sentenced to castration after committing a crime.
His most famous composition was the song Jiarenqu (literally, The Beauty Song), describing a lady with exceptional beauty. Upon hearing this song, Emperor Wu did not believe there could be such woman on earth, but his sister Princess Pingyang mentioned Li has a younger sister who could match the description, so Emperor Wu took Li's sister as a concubine. Li Yannian himself allegedly had a homosexual relationship with Emperor Wu. When Emperor Wu re-established the Imperial Music Bureau, Li Yannian was appointed Chief Musician.
Jiarenqu (The Beauty Song):
The lyrics:
From the north comes a ravishing maiden,
Whose beauty stands alone.
One look at her, cities fall,
On the second, empires collapse.
Care not whether cities fall or empires collapse,
Such beauty never comes around twice.
北方有佳人, 絕世而獨立 一顧傾人城, 再顧傾人国 寧不知倾城与倾国 佳人難再得
After the death of his sister, Li Yannian's family began to lose Emperor Wu's favor. In 82 BC the entire family was executed on multiple charges, including treason.