Diaochan was one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. Although based on a minor historical personage, she is mostly a fictional character. She is best known for her role in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which romanticises the events in the late Eastern Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. In the novel, she has a romance with the warrior Lü Bu and causes him to betray and kill his foster father, the tyrannical warlord Dong Zhuo. She was praised in tales as a woman of unrivaled beauty who did what no other hero in China was able to accomplish: put an end to Dong Zhuo's regime of terror and the eventual end of Lü Bu; triggering the events that would lead to the formation of the Three Kingdoms: Cao Wei, Eastern Wu, and Shu Han.

In the Yuan dynasty play Lianhuan Ji, Diaochan is said to be the daughter of Ren Ang, and her real name is Ren Hongchang. She is in charge of taking care of the Sable Cicada Hat, so she becomes known as "Diaochan" (literally "sable cicada"). She is introduced to Guan Yu by Zhang Fei after Lü Bu's death. Instead of accepting her as the spoils of war, Guan Yu decapitates her with his sword. This event is not mentioned in historical records or the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but is propagated through mass media such as operas and storytelling.

Diaochan's eventual fate differs in various accounts, but mainly along the following types:
* First, she is killed by Dong Zhuo's followers, along with Wang Yun, after Lü Bu escapes;
* Second, she follows Lü Bu while he roams around with his forces, but is executed along with Lü Bu after the latter's defeat at the Battle of Xiapi or killed herself after Cao Cao had taken possession of her;
* Third, Diaochan is captured by Cao Cao after the Battle of Xiapi but saved by Zhao Yun, to whom she later marries;
* Fourth, as told in some traditional operas, Cao Cao presents Diaochan after the Battle of Xiapi to Guan Yu in the hope of winning Guan Yu's loyalty. Guan Yu, however, sees her as a femme fatale in light of her role in the undoings of Lü Bu and Dong Zhuo. He kills her to prevent her influence on him or his sworn brothers Liu Bei and Zhang Fei;
* Fifth, Guan Yu, impressed by Diaochan's sacrifice in bringing down Lü Bu and Dong Zhuo, saves her from Cao Cao at the Battle of Xiapi and sends her away. Diaochan becomes a nun and writes down her stories for posterity.

All published appearances of Diaochan before January 1, )-(95)}} are public domain.

Some Notable Appearances are listed below:

*Records of the Three Kingdoms
*Romance of the Three Kingdoms

* Lianhuan Ji

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaochan Wikipedia]
*[https://myths-in-media.fandom.com/wiki/Diaochan Myths in Media Wiki]
*[https://comicvine.gamespot.com/diao-chan/4005-171007/issues-cover/ ComicVine]
*[https://www.giantbomb.com/diaochan/3005-4209/games/ GiantBomb]
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