"The Ming dynasty fell in 1644 and the Qing Dynasty, led by the Manchus, began. For about thirty years, the country was in turmoil. Some women were forced from their homes; others went out by choice. Literally thousands of women became published poets and writers. The lovesick maidens were part of this phenomenon. The works of more than twenty of them have survived today.
"I have followed the traditional Chinese style for rendering dates. Emperor Kangxi reigned from 1662-1722. Tang Xianzu's opera The Peony Pavilion was first produced and then published in 1598. Chen Tong (Peony in this novel) was born ca.1649. Tan Ze Ca 1656, and Quian Yi ca 1671. In 1694, The Three Wives Commentary became the first book of it's kind to be written and published by women anywhere in the world."
Lisa See C 2007
Random House Publisher
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