Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See
Genre: Historical Fiction
Published: June 6, 2023
Page Count: 357 pages
Summary:
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 thousand years in the past, a thousand years in the future—no matter where you live or how rich or poor you are—the four phases of a woman’s life are the same,” Respectful Lady says. “You are a little girl, so you are still in milk days. When you turn fifteen, you will enter hair-pinning days. The way we style your hair will announce to the world that you are ready for marriage.” She smiles at me. “Tell me, Daughter, what comes next?”
When the bonesetter arrives, Midwife Shi scoots behind White Jade, wraps her arms around the concubine, and clutches her opposite wrists with each hand drawn across her chest. The bonesetter cups White Jade’s calf with one hand and, without telling her what he’s going to do, quickly pulls her ankle with his other hand. White Jade screams, but the bone is once again—to my eyes at least—in place. I exchange glances with Meiling. He’s done exactly what we’d planned to do.
As he wraps the concubine’s leg in a support made of cloth and bamboo, Grandmother steps forward.
“Servants will carry you to your quarters,” she tells White Jade. “As soon as you’re settled, I will come with a tea to help ease your pain.”
Sweat glistens on White Jade’s forehead. She reaches her hand out to Grandmother, who doesn’t take it. “What will this mean for me?” she asks. In these words, her deepest fear is revealed: about her future ability to entrance Grandfather with her beautiful lily-foot walk.
“I cannot say,” Grandmother answers.
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February 2nd-8th - What was the last book you read in one sitting? (submitted by Deb @ Readerbuzz)
I read Lady Tan's Circle of Women in one sitting. It was compelling.
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