Xi Shi, together with the stories of Wang Zhaojun, Diophantine and Yang Yuhuan, is called the four beauties in ancient China, among which Shi is the first, which is the embodiment and synonym of beauty. The four beauties enjoy the appearance of "closing the moon and feeling ashamed of flowers, sinking fish and falling geese". It is a historical allusion composed of wonderful stories that "the moon is closed and the flowers are ashamed, and the fish sink and the geese fall". "Closed Moon" tells the story of Diusim and Yue Bai. Shame on Flowers is about Yang Guifei looking at flowers. "Sinking Fish" tells the story of washing sand with stones. The Wild Goose tells the story of Zhao Jun leaving the fortress.

Shi, formerly known as Shi Yiguang, was born in Zhuluo Village, Zhuji, Zhejiang at the end of the Spring and Autumn Period.

Wang Zhaojun, surnamed Wang, was born in Zigui, Nanjun (now Xingshan County, Hubei Province).

The story of Diusim was born in Lintao, Mizhi and Xinzhou.

Yang Yuhuan was born in Yongle, Zhou Pu (Huayin County, Shaanxi Province) in the Tang Dynasty.