10 most talented women in modern China
The Chinese phrase 女人无才便是德(for women, lack of literary talent is a virtue) summarizes the dominant sentiment that the literary field was traditionally a domain for men. Despite this belief, works authored by women play an integral part throughout Chinese history. Especially a number of women writers in early 20th century were respected by the public even to today. Here collected below is a list of the most talented women in modern China.
1. Zhang Ailing 张爱玲 (1920-1995)
Zhang Ailing, also called Eileen Chang, Chinese writer whose sad, bitter love stories gained her a large devoted audience. Her works frequently deal with the tensions between men and women in love, and are considered by some scholars to be among the best Chinese literature of the period.
2. Sanmao (三毛) (1943 –1991)
San Mao, also called Echo in English, was a Chongqing-born author who moved to Taiwan Province and later traveled the world, writing books about her experiences. Sanmao’s books deal mainly with her own experiences studying and living abroad. They were extremely well received not only in Taiwan but also in mainland China, and they remain popular reads today. She committed suicide in 1991.
3. Xiao Hong 萧红 (1911 – 1942)
Xiao Hong was a Chinese writer, known for her novels and stories set in the northeast during the 1930s.Her best-known work is Hulanhe zhuan (1942; The Field of Life and Death & Tales of Hulan River
4. Lu Yin 庐隐 (1898-1934)
Lu Yin was one of the best known women writers in China during the 1920s. Her works include short stories, novels, poetry, travelogues and hundreds of essays. She empoyed a variety of vernacular genres to explore women`s living conditions at the turn of the twentieth century.
5. Shi Pingmei 石评梅 (1902-1928)
Shi Pingmei is on the list of “the Republic of China (1912-1949)’s four most talented women” that has been compiled by contemporary Chinese literary critics. The story of the pure, yet sad, love between her and Gao Junyu is widely known throughout China. Shi died when she was 26. Her life is often described as an epic—and a most “moving tragedy.” Shi was one of the most influential writers in Peking and published many profound, and revolutionary, articles in the newspaper.
6. Su Xuelin 苏雪林 (1897－1999）
Su Xuelin was a Chinese author and scholar. During the May Fourth Movement, she penned an essay Green Skies and a novel Thorny Heart which won critical acclaim. She did not write much; most of her time was devoted to teaching and research.
7. Lin Huiyin 林徽因 (1904 –1955)
Lin Huiyin was a noted 20th century Chinese architect and writer. She is said to be the first female architect in China. Lin Huiyin wrote poems, essays, short stories and plays. She was involved along with her husband Liang Sicheng in the design of the National Emblem of the People’s Republic of China and the Monument to the People’s Heroes located in the Tiananmen Square. She had been adored by the well known Chinese poet Xu Zhimo whom is thought as the most famous romantic story in 20th century of China.
8. Bing Xin 冰心 (1900 – 1999)
Bing Xin is one of the most prolific and esteemed Chinese writers of the 20th Century, as much beloved as the male literary giants of her time. Many of her works were written for young readers. Her most famous works is the book To Young Readers.
9. Lu Xiaoman 陆小曼(1903—1965)
Lu Xiaoman was an early 20th century Chinese painter. She was also known for acting and writing. She was one of the best known women in China in the 1920s for her very passionate and public relationship with Xu Zhimo. Both Lu Xiaoman and Xu Zhimo were said to have been very beautiful and talented, and their love story was widely known and followed by the Chinese public.
10 Ding Ling 丁玲 (1904 – 1986)
Ding Ling was a Chinese author from Hunan province. Ding Ling became well known as the author of Miss Sophie’s Diary
