Three talented ancient Chinese women 三位极富天赋的中国古代女性

3月8日是国际妇女节。纵观全世界，女性在历史上通常扮演着一个模糊的角色。她们往往带着她们不为人知的才华和精彩的故事被埋葬于历史长河。幸好，仍有一些幸运者的故事被记录下来。

这里介绍三位才华横溢的中国古代女性，她们不仅影响了过去，在现在仍然发挥着影响力。

 Li Qingzhao

Praised as the "No.1 talented woman", Li Qingzhao, a poet from the Song Dynasty (960-1279), was born in Shandong province.

She excelled at poetry and in ink painting and calligraphy. She and her husband, Zhao Mingcheng, shared an interest in collecting bronze ware and headstones carved with prose and poems. Li was most well-known for her poems, which were divided into two contrasting styles reflecting her life as a married woman and a widow. Before Zhao's death, her poems were mainly about a carefree and happy life. The keynote turned into a tragic tune after Zhao passed away.

However, Li was not a narrow-minded woman. Apart from expressing feminine feelings and experiences, she also wrote poems praising war heroes and criticizing the decayed and weak emperor and royals.

One of her most famous poems is "Born as an outstanding soul, even die as a hero among spirits".

As an example of female patriot, Li has a great effect on modern women's literature.

Cai Wenji

Cai was good not only at poetry and calligraphy, but also mathematics, astronomy, debate and music. Her masterpieces were Hu Jia Shi Ba Pai, or Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute, andBei Feng Shi, or Indignant Poems.

As the daughter of literatus Cai Yi of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), Cai had a very unusual life. After her first husband died, Cai was abducted by the Xiongnu tribe, an ancient group in China. She was forced to marry the tribe's Zuoxian king and gave birth to two children. Living in a totally different environment, Cai was very homesick.

Twelve years later, warlord Cao Cao, also a student of Cai Yi, rescued Cai from the Xiongnutribe. At the age of 35, Cai was married for a third time in a union arranged by Cao to a man named Dong Si.

A painting of Cai Wenji, by Bai Bohua. [Photo/artron.net]

Ban Zhao

Ban was the first female historian in China. Her father, Ban Biao, was an historian during the Eastern Han Dynasty. She was also good at writing poems, yet only seven of her works have survived.

Ban was often invited by the emperor to teach the queen and other concubines mathematics, astronomy and poetry. She was honored as Da Gu, a title for knowledgeable and noble women.

At the age of 40, Ban finished Han Shu, or Book of Han, based on her brother's writings. A total of four people wrote the book, and Ban, as the last writer, faithfully kept the style of the first three.

Ban Zhao also wrote the famous Nv Jie, a book to teach women how to properly behave and how to deal with relationships with their husbands and husbands' relatives.

A painting of Ban Zhao, by Chen Zhenguo. [Photo/artron.net]

（来源：China Daily）

（感谢世界卫生组织新发传染病监测研究与培训合作中心陈伟师博士提供专业指导）

统筹：宁可儿

翻译：雷未明

美编：lily