Chen Yuanyuan

Chen Yuanyuan
A 17th-century portrait of Chen Yuanyuan
BornXing Yuan
c. 1623
Jiangsu, Ming Empire
Died1689 or 1695
Majiazhai, Guizhou, Qing Empire
Burial
Majiazhai, Guizhou, Qing Empire
SpouseWu Sangui
Occupationcourtesan,actress
Chen Yuanyuan
Traditional Chinese陳圓圓
Simplified Chinese陈圆圆
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinChén Yuányuán
Wade–GilesCh'en Yüan-yüan
Xing Yuan
(birth name)
Chinese邢沅
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinXíng Yuán
Wanfen
(courtesy name)
Chinese畹芬
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinWǎnfēn

Chen Yuanyuan (c. 1623–1689 or 1695) was a Chinese courtesan who later became the concubine of military leader Wu Sangui. In Chinese folklore, the Shun army's capture of her in 1644 prompted Wu's fateful decision to let the Qing armies enter China proper through Shanhai Pass, thereby sealing the fate of the Ming dynasty.