Renowned Chinese Romance Novelist Qiong Yao Ends Her Life in Her Own Way

A scene from Taipei. (Online image)

[People News] Globally renowned Chinese-language romance novelist "Qiong Yao" (real name Chen Zhe), who influenced generations of Chinese readers, chose to gracefully conclude her vibrant and colorful life on Wednesday afternoon (December 4). She was 86 years old. Her passing has deeply shocked the Chinese-speaking world, including Taiwan and mainland China.

Reports state that Qiong Yao passed away at her residence in Tamsui District, New Taipei City, Taiwan, on Wednesday afternoon. A farewell letter was found next to her body. On Tuesday, she had breakfast with her son and daughter-in-law and asked her daughter-in-law to check on her at noon the following day. When family members entered her room, they found her lying on the sofa without any signs of breathing or a heartbeat. They immediately alerted the police and emergency personnel, but she was pronounced dead on the scene due to clear signs of death, and no resuscitation efforts were made. After examining the body, local prosecutors ruled out foul play, and the family did not dispute the cause of death. The body has since been returned to the family.

According to a report by Voice of America, at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, a farewell letter written by Qiong Yao was posted on her Facebook account, addressed to her "dear friends and confidants," announcing that she had "gracefully departed."

In the letter, Qiong Yao wrote, "This was my wish. 'Death' is a journey everyone must take; it is the final 'big event.' I do not want to leave it to fate or wither away slowly. I want to take charge of this final big event."

She continued, "I am a 'spark,' and I have burned as brightly as I could. Now, as the flame dims, I choose this way to leave gracefully. Everything I wish to say is in the video When Snowflakes Fall. I hope my friends will watch it several times to fully understand what I want to convey."

In her letter, Qiong Yao paid particular attention to the possible influence her manner of departure might have on young people. She emphasized, "Please note that the way I 'departed' was carried out at the final station of my life! To young people, never give up on life lightly. The setbacks and blows you face may be the 'trials' of a beautiful life. I hope you can withstand these trials, as I did, and live to 86 or 87. When your physical strength no longer supports you, then you can consider how to face death. By then, perhaps humanity will have found a humane way to help the elderly leave happily!"

"My dear friends, be brave, live a strong and resilient 'self,' and do not waste this one journey through life! Though this world is not perfect, it is full of unexpected joys and sorrows. Do not miss the brilliance that belongs to you!"

"Words cannot fully express my sentiments. Finally, I wish everyone health, happiness, and a life of freedom and grace!"

Qiong Yao’s novels and TV dramas became cherished memories for generations from the 1970s to the 1990s, holding significant influence in China.

According to The Liberty Times in Taiwan, news of Qiong Yao’s passing has deeply moved fans worldwide who grew up with her works. In China, her fans flocked to social media platform Weibo to share their thoughts and condolences. Her passing quickly topped Weibo’s trending topics, with other related keywords also making it into the top 50. Over 200 Chinese media outlets, including state-run CCTV, reported on her death. Additionally, Chinese search engine Baidu turned Qiong Yao’s page black and white as a sign of mourning.

Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported that after news of her death broke, Taiwanese actress and director Ruby Lin, who rose to fame in the TV adaptation of Qiong Yao’s novel My Fair Princess (Huan Zhu Ge Ge), said she was too emotional to respond. Meanwhile, actor Alec Su posted on Weibo, expressing his condolences: “May you depart gracefully.”

Zhao Wei, who became a household name for her role as "Xiao Yanzi" in My Fair Princess, also mourned Qiong Yao on Weibo, marking her first post in three years. Zhao Wei shared a prayer hands emoji with a caption quoting a famous Chinese poem: “The mighty Yangtze flows eastward, washing away heroes in its waves. Right and wrong, success and failure, all turn to nothing in the blink of an eye. The green hills remain, as does the sunset, time and again.”

Huang Xiaoming, another actor from My Fair Princess 3, also expressed his grief on Weibo, stating: “I was heartbroken to hear of Auntie Qiong Yao’s passing. She always encouraged us, guided us, and warmed us, teaching us to live freely and fully. Those beautiful memories feel like they were just yesterday. Your works illuminated the youth of generations, teaching us how to love, cherish, and face the challenges of life.”

Qiong Yao was born on April 20, 1938, in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Her ancestral home was Hengyang, Hunan. In 1949, she fled mainland China with her parents to Taiwan, where she began her writing career while still in middle school. She graduated from Taipei Second Girls' High School.

In 1955, Qiong Yao published her first novel, Cloud Shadows. In 1963, her debut full-length novel, Outside the Window, brought her fame. The following year, she released Mist and Rain, along with the short story collection Six Dreams. In 1975, she published the novel Beside the Water. By 1985, Qiong Yao had entered the TV and film industry, producing the drama Several Degrees of Sunset Red, which became a major success. In 1989, she published her autobiography, My Story. Between 1990 and 1993, she produced hit dramas such as Wan Jun and Plum Blossom Scar. Her most famous work, My Fair Princess (1998), for which she was both the scriptwriter and a producer, won the 17th China Television Golden Eagle Award for Best Long-Form TV Drama. In 2001, she released another TV drama, Romance in the Rain. In 2018, she compiled and published the Complete Works of Qiong Yao. In 2019, she completed her final full-length novel, Plum Blossom Hero’s Dream.

Throughout her life, Qiong Yao authored 65 literary works, many of which were adapted into films and television dramas. The Liberty Times described her as the "queen of romance novels" and the "godmother of Chinese IPs," noting her significant and enduring influence on the entertainment industries on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.