Lisa See

*NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!* From “one of those special writers capable of delivering both poetry and plot” (The New York Times Book Review) an immersive historical novel inspired by the true story of a woman physician in 15th-century China—perfect for fans of Lisa See’s classics Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane. According to Confucius, “an educated woman is a worthless woman,” but Tan Yunxian—born into an elite family, yet haunted by death, separations, and loneliness—is being raised by her grandparents to be of use. Her grandmother is one of only a handful of female doctors in China, and she teaches Yunxian the pillars of Chinese medicine, the Four Examinations—looking, listening, touching, and asking—something a man can never do with a female patient. From a young age, Yunxian learns about women’s illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. The two girls find fast friendship and a mutual purpose—despite the prohibition that a doctor should never touch blood while a midwife comes in frequent contact with it—and they vow to be forever friends, sharing in each other’s joys and struggles. No mud, no lotus, they tell themselves: from adversity beauty can bloom. But when Yunxian is sent into an arranged marriage, her mother-in-law forbids her from seeing Meiling and from helping the women and girls in the household. Yunxian is to act like a proper wife—embroider bound-foot slippers, recite poetry, give birth to sons, and stay forever within the walls of the family compound, the Garden of Fragrant Delights. How might a woman like Yunxian break free of these traditions and lead a life of such importance that many of her remedies are still used five centuries later? How might the power of friendship support or complicate these efforts? A captivating story of women helping each other, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is a triumphant reimagining of the life of one person who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be considered remarkable today.

A Novel

Lady Tan's Circle of Women

Laura Mei

"Qi is the material basis and life-sustaining force of all existence within the body. Everything in the universe has qi. Mountains, stars, animals, people, emotions —"

"I like to say qi is the 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 of the cosmos," Grandmother comments, "while the body is a 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 of the cosmos — all governed by yin and yang."

I'm reminded for perhaps the ten thousandth time of the nature of yin and yang and how it's woven into the fabric of every aspect of our lives — from the intimate details regarding two women to the way they affect the cosmos. When one person rises, the other sinks. When one person is happy, the other falls into despair.

Jordan

“You must speak if you wish to be heard”

After seeing her father come back with a new young wife instead of marrying the concubine whose been waiting and caring for his family.

As my forehead touches the stonework, words the original White Jade once spoke enter my mind. Whether animal or woman, we are a man’s possessions.

Lady Tan's Circle of Women quotes

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