Taiwanese writer Chiung Yao, whose romance novels were wildly popular in the Chinese-speaking world, has died, authorities said on Dec 4. She was 86. Photo: AFP
Famed Taiwanese romance novelist Chiung Yao has died in a suspected suicide on Dec 4. She was 86.
According to the local police and fire department, she was found dead at her residence in New Taipei City. Her 63-year-old son from her first marriage reportedly told Taiwanese media that she left a farewell note.
The best-selling writer of popular romance fiction and screenwriter of the hit Chinese drama My Fair Princess (1998 to 2003), which remains a staple of Chinese television via reruns to this day, also left what appears to be a suicide note that was uploaded to Facebook by her secretary.
The 950-word note, structured in stanzas similar to a modern Chinese poem, is dated Dec 3. It came with a pre-recorded video of her dressed in red, with roses in the background.
Chiung Yao was born as Chen Zhe in Chengdu, China, in 1938 and moved to Taiwan with her parents in 1949.
Under her pen name, she became one of the most prolific and successful authors of her generation, whose series of popular romance novels in the 1960s made her a household name. Her works were adapted into films and television dramas that not only kept Sinophone audiences glued to the screens, but also shot well-known stars to fame.
Screen legend Brigitte Lin, now 70, made her debut at the age of 19 in the film Outside The Window (1973), adapted from Chiung Yao’s book of the same name, which depicted a teacher-student relationship.
Her book Fantasies Behind The Pearly Curtain was also made into a 1975 film starring A-listers of the time, such as Hong Kong actor Patrick Tse and Taiwanese actor Charlie Chin.
Chinese stars Zhao Wei and Fan Bingbing, as well as Taiwanese actress-producer Ruby Lin, all got their show-business start thanks to My Fair Princess, which starred the trio in its first and second seasons.
Former boy band member Alec Su from Taiwan also successfully pivoted to acting with the series, playing one of four main characters. The Qing Dynasty-set show is regarded as one of the most commercially successful Chinese dramas.
Zhao, Su and Ruby Lin also starred in Romance In The Rain (2001), another drama adapted from a Chiung Yao novel.
Zhao posted on Weibo for the first time in three years to mourn Chiung Yao with the words of a Ming Dynasty poem by Yang Shen, about “heroes of mighty feats”.
Ruby Lin also remembered the octogenarian on Weibo. Referring to her on-screen characters, the actress wrote: “To have been your Ziwei (My Fair Princess), Ruping (Romance In The Rain) and Xuehua (Flowers In Fog, 2013) is an honour enough for this lifetime.”
Su said on Weibo that the Chiung Yao works he starred in left an “indelible mark” in his life and that she has left behind “treasures for an era”.
Brigitte Lin reportedly told Taiwanese media that she spoke with Chiung Yao on the phone just months before, and regrets not meeting her in person recently. She called her a strong woman and said she would forever remember her.
Prior to her suicide note, Chiung Yao made a long Facebook post on Nov 28 which hinted at her state of mind. She mourned the loss of her second husband Ping Hsin-tao, who was also her publisher, and wrote of the pain of living without him.
Ping suffered from dementia in his final days and died in 2019. His death was a major blow to Chiung Yao, as she clashed with his children from his first marriage and ex-wife.
She was famously embroiled in a years-long extramarital affair with Ping before he got a divorce, and Ping’s ex-wife published a memoir in 2018 with details about how Chiung Yao interfered with her marriage. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
Those contemplating suicide can reach out to the Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935/ 014-322 3392); Talian Kasih (15999/ 019-261 5999 on WhatsApp); Jakim’s family, social and community care centre (011-1959 8214 on WhatsApp); or Befrienders Kuala Lumpur (03-7627 2929/email sam@befrienders.org.my/visit www.befrienders.org.my/centre- in-malaysia).
