Chiung Yao facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chiung Yao
Native name	瓊瑤
Born	Chen Che (1938-04-20)20 April 1938 Chengdu, Sichuan, Republic of China
Died	4 December 2024(2024-12-04) (aged 86) Tamsui District, New Taipei City, Taiwan
Occupation	novelist, screenwriter, lyricist and producer
Language	Chinese
Nationality	Republic of China
Education	Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School
Period	1962–2024
Subject	Romance
Notable work	Outside the Window Fire and Rain (1964 novel) My Fair Princess (1998–99 TV series)
Spouse	Ma Senqing ​ ​ (m. 1959; div. 1964)​ Ping Hsin-tao ​ ​ (m. 1979; his death 2019)​
Children	1 son, 3 stepchildren
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	瓊瑤
Simplified Chinese	琼瑶
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Qióng Yáo Wade–Giles Ch'iung2 Yao2
Chen Che
Traditional Chinese	陳喆
Simplified Chinese	陈喆
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Chén Zhé Wade–Giles Ch'ên2 Chê2

Chiung Yao (Chinese: 瓊瑤; born Chen Che, April 20, 1938 – December 4, 2024) was a famous writer and producer from Taiwan. She was known as the most popular romance novelist in the Chinese-speaking world. Many of her books were turned into over 100 movies and TV shows.

Growing Up: Chiung Yao's Early Life

Chiung Yao, whose real name was Chen Che, was born in 1938 in Chengdu, China. This was during a difficult time called the Second Sino-Japanese War. Her parents had to leave their home in Beijing because of the war.

In 1949, when Chiung Yao was 11, her family moved to Taiwan. She went to school there, including Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School. After high school, she tried to get into university but didn't pass the entrance exams three times. She then married a writer named Ma Senqing and became a housewife.

Chiung Yao's Amazing Writing Career

When Chiung Yao was 18, she wrote her first novel, Outside the Window. This book was based on her own experiences and quickly became very popular. It helped her start her career as a writer.

Her novels were first published in a magazine and then as books by Crown Publishing. The owner of Crown Publishing, Ping Hsin-tao, later became her second husband. Together, they turned many of her stories into popular TV shows and movies.

In the 1970s, many of her film adaptations starred famous actors like Brigitte Lin and Joan Lin. These actors were so well-known that people called them the "Two Lins and Two Chins."

Chiung Yao's romance novels were a huge hit in Taiwan. By the 1990s, she was also one of the best-selling authors in mainland China. Her stories became incredibly popular across all Chinese-speaking regions. Some of her most famous books include Outside the Window and Deep Is the Courtyard.

Her books are known for their beautiful writing and poetic language. While some critics found her stories very dramatic, her focus on the feelings of young women made her very popular, especially with female readers and viewers.

Chiung Yao's Personal Life

In 1959, Chiung Yao married Ma Senqing, who was also a writer. As her writing career grew, their marriage ended in 1964.

Later, in 1979, Chiung Yao married her publisher, Ping Hsin-tao. Ping had three children from his first marriage. Ping Hsin-tao passed away in 2019.

Chiung Yao's Passing

Chiung Yao died on December 4, 2024, at her home in Tamsui District, New Taipei City, Taiwan. She was 86 years old.

List of Works: Chiung Yao's Novels