Taiwanese renowned writer Chiung Yao passed away on Wednesday (4th), shocking both sides of the Taiwan Strait and overseas. Actors and friends of Chiung Yao such as Brigitte Lin and Ruby Lin posted messages mourning her death. Chiung Yao’s farewell letter, goodbye video, and letters to her readers and friends have been widely circulated online.
On December 4th, the well-known writer Chiung Yao passed away in her residence in Tamsui. Paramedics found her without a pulse, indicating obvious death without hospital treatment. The Shilin District Prosecutor’s Office stated that on the evening of the 4th, the prosecutor went to the funeral home to conduct an autopsy on Chiung Yao’s body. The preliminary autopsy results showed no suspicion of homicide, and the family had no objections to the cause of death.
According to the initial police investigation, Chiung Yao left a suicide note for her son, instructing her daughter-in-law and secretary to come home at noon to check on her. When the daughter-in-law arrived, she found Chiung Yao had taken her own life and immediately alerted the authorities. By the time the police and paramedics arrived, it was too late.
Chiung Yao, whose real name is Chen Zhe, was a versatile writer known for her romantic novels, screenwriting, film and television production, and songwriting in Mandarin. Many of Chiung Yao’s novels have been adapted into movies or TV dramas, with the most famous being the “Huan Zhu Ge Ge” trilogy, which was a ratings champion in Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong, and also enjoyed popularity in Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia.
In recent years, Chiung Yao had rarely appeared in public. In 2017, she posted a letter on Facebook addressing her son and daughter-in-law about her final arrangements, stating that when the time comes, “do not be sad, rejoice for me!” This post had sparked discussions among the public at that time.
Chiung Yao’s passing at her home at the age of 86 has sent shockwaves across Taiwan, China, and beyond. Actors like Brigitte Lin, Ruby Lin, and Alec Su, who have worked in Chiung Yao’s dramas, as well as many other celebrities, have expressed their condolences.
Following the news of Chiung Yao’s death, her friends shared a post on her Facebook account called “When Snow Falls”, which included a farewell letter and a message to her confidants.
In “When Snow Falls,” Chiung Yao wrote:
Leaving behind… leaving behind…
My written works, every word and sentence,
Are the passionate flames of love in my life.
Who placed a fresh flower in the snow,
The sunlight reflecting on the rose so vivid,
Just like the snow and fire in my heart.
Whether good or bad, right or wrong,
That me… that me…
Continuously chasing the sunrise and sunset,
Believing in love on earth, with the original heart like yesterday.
Chiung Yao’s letter to her friends and family expressed: “What I cannot let go of the most is my family and all of you. ‘Love’ tightly binds my heart, and all of you are those I can’t bear to part with the most. In order for my soul to ‘dance lightly,’ let everyone laugh for me, sing loudly for me, and dance for me! In the realm of heaven, my spirit will ‘dance together’ with you! Farewell, my beloved ones! Grateful for meeting and knowing you in this life.”
To all dear ones, be brave, live as a strong ‘self,’ and don’t disappoint this journey in this world! Though this world is not perfect, it still offers various unexpected joys and sorrows. Don’t miss out on the wonderful moments meant for you! Though words may fail, in the end, I wish everyone health, happiness, and to live freely and confidently.
Let’s bid farewell to the most beloved Chiung Yao with a video tribute.