Lady Tan's Circle of Women ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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An elite woman who becomes a physician in spite of societal restrictions during China's Ming Dynasty.

An immersive historical novel inspired by the true story of a woman physician in 15th-century China. 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.

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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.

Female doctors were primarily for women's health issues.

We've come a long way baby...

Genre: Historical Fiction, Asian Literature

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I'd give it more than five stars if I could. It took a long time to get this one through Libby but it was definitely worth the wait. I highly recommend. 

How she became a doctor when it was tabu while honoring her husband and mother-in-law as they had bought her to do. Sold at only 8 years old to be married at 15. Typical during the Ming Dynasty. Women were basically slaves. She used herbs and teas as taught to her by her grandmother, something we should perhaps consider getting back to! 

I did struggle getting through the foot binding parts. It's an important part of the history, it was still difficult to imagine. 

🎧Jennifer Lim, Justin Chien

This is one of my top five star books of the year. I liked this one so much I bought the hard copy. 

Side note: In the Vera Wong book, quirky old tea shop lady used teas for remedies. There is a lot to be said for Chinese medicine.