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Qiong Yao (琼瑶), real name Chen Che (陳喆) April 20, 1938 December 4, 2024 , was a Chinese romance writer and screenwriter popular among readers and viewers, and was known as the Diva of Romance Novels. Her works are full of delicate emotions and touching stories, and have had a profound impact on literature, film and television in the Chinese-speaking world. The following is a detailed introduction to Qiong Yao’s life and her creative works.

1 Qiong Yao’s biography

1 Early life

Qiong Yao was born on April 20, 1938, in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, and is originally from Changsha, Hunan Province.

Qiong Yao’s father, Chen Chiping, was a scholar and her mother, Yuan Xingshu, was a lover of literature. She grew up in an intellectual family and was nurtured by literature.

In 1949, she moved to Taiwan with her family and settled in Taipei. During her school years, Qiong Yao loved to read, but because of her sensitive personality and poor academic performance, she was once regarded as an underachiever, which made her more immersed in the world of literature.

2 Youth and the Beginning of Creativity

Qiong Yao’s first love experience had a profound impact on her literary creation, especially her first novel, Outside the Window, which was based on her own real-life experience of teacher-student love.

Her first job was as an elementary school teacher, and then she turned to freelance writing because of her insistence on literary creation.

3 Marriage and Family

After an unhappy first marriage, Qiong Yao married Ping Xintao, a famous Taiwanese publisher, and co-founded Crown Publishing House.

After their marriage, Qiong Yao focused on writing, while Ping Xintao fully supported her literary endeavors, and the couple became a golden couple in Taiwan’s literary and film industries.

2 Qiong Yao’s Creative Career

Qiong Yao’s literary creation covers novels, prose, movies and TV dramas, and the following are the important stages of her creative career.

1 Novel Writing

Qiong Yao began to write romance novels in the 1960s, and her novels are famous for their delicate emotional descriptions, touching love stories, and fluent writing.

Main works

1963 Qiong Yao’s debut novel, also her most famous work, was based on her personal experience of a teacher-student relationship and became a sensation in the literary world.

1964 Exhibits the theme of overcoming obstacles in love.

1965 Adapted into the classic TV series Love is Deep and Rainy.

1968 The story of young people in search of love and freedom.

1969 A love story about a family feud.

1984 Showcases a love story that transcends class.

Qiong Yao wrote more than 60 novels in her lifetime, most of which were adapted into movies or TV series.

2 Movie and TV Drama Creation

Qiong Yao has been involved in the movie and television industry since the 1970s, and has written and produced many classic movies and TV dramas.

Classic Movie and TV Drama Works

1998 2003 Set in the Qing Dynasty, this drama about the legendary experiences of Little Swallow and Ziwei has become the pinnacle of Chinese television history.

1990 Including Plum Blossom Brand, Water and Cloud, and Ghost Husband, a tragic love story.

2001 Adapted from the novel “Smoke and Rain”, which became a cross-generational classic.

1975 1996 2007 Adapted several times, depicting a love story full of regrets and complicated feelings.

1971 1987 2001 Multiple adaptations The story revolves around family conflicts and love entanglements.

3 Prose

Qiong Yao has also written a number of prose collections, such as My Story, My Everlasting Fruit, which record her feelings about life and her creative process.

3 Artistic Characteristics of Qiong Yao’s Works

1 Delicate depiction of emotions

The biggest characteristic of Qiong Yao’s works is the portrayal of love details, sincere and delicate feelings, which can trigger readers’ empathy.

2 The combination of tragedy and beauty

Her works are often full of tragedy, and many love stories end in regret, but they are also more touching.

3 The ups and downs of the plot

Qiong Yao is good at using conflict, so that the plot has ups and downs, and readers or viewers are often worried about the fate of their characters.

4 Female Perspective and Independence

Female characters in Qiong Yao’s writing often bravely pursue love and self, showing women’s sense of independence in the emotional world.

4 Influence and Controversy of Qiong Yao

1 Influence on Literature and Film

Qiong Yao opened the way for modern Chinese romance novels, and her works have become popular throughout the Chinese-speaking world, influencing generations of people.

Her movies and TV dramas have become the youthful memories of many viewers, and have also promoted the development of Taiwan’s film and television industry.

2 Social Controversies

For example, the theme of teacher-student romance in Outside the Window has sparked great controversy.

Some critics considered Qiong Yao’s work too idealized and lacking in realism.

In recent years, the copyright disputes involved in the adaptation of Qiong Yao’s works have also aroused public concern.

5 Later life and public service

Qiong Yao gradually retired from the literary world after 2000, devoting more time to her family and public service.

She actively promotes the development of Taiwan’s literature, film and television culture, as well as environmental protection and charity work.

6 Summary

Qiong Yao has conquered countless readers and viewers with her delicate strokes and heartfelt stories, and her works have become an inescapable part of the Chinese-speaking world. From Outside the Window to Fuzhu Gege, from text to movie and television, she has composed a touching love epic with her artistic language. Whether in literature or film, Qiong Yao has left a far-reaching impact with her profound emotional expression and immortal artistic charm.