On December 4th, the renowned Taiwanese writer Qiong Yao, whose real name is Chen Zhe, was found dead by suicide at her residence in the Tamsui District of Taipei, at the age of 86. The news of her passing has shocked various circles. Qiong Yao was a prolific writer known for her romance novels, screenwriting, film and television production, as well as lyrics for Mandarin songs. She had over 60 romance novels to her name, with many actors rising to fame overnight by portraying the characters she created, leading to actresses being dubbed as “Qiong Girls”.
Qiong Yao’s novels have mostly been adapted into films and television dramas. Her notable works include “Silence of the Courtyard”, “How Many Red Sunsets”, “Misty Rain”, “Colorful Clouds Flying”, “Where the Seagulls Fly”, “Thousand Knots in the Heart”, “One Dream by the Curtain”, “Beside the Water”, as well as series like “Six Dreams”, “Plucking the Three Strings of the Plum Blossom”, “My Fair Princess”, and more.
In the 1970s, Qiong Yao’s first full-length novel “Outside the Window” was adapted into a film of the same name. The 19-year-old actress Lin Qingxia skyrocketed to fame overnight for her portrayal of the eloquent “Jiang Yanrong” character. Last year, when Lin Qingxia received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 60th Golden Horse Awards, she expressed gratitude to Qiong Yao for the significant influence she had on her career, calling Qiong Yao an important mentor in her life, noting that many successful romantic films of the 1970s were related to Qiong Yao.
Entering the film and television production industry in 1986, Qiong Yao found success with the Taiwanese television series “How Many Red Sunsets”, based on her novel of the same name. Qin Han, who played “He Mutian”, reached new career heights and won the Best Actor at the 1987 Golden Bell Awards. Liu Xuehua also gained immense popularity for her selfless portrayal of the tragic female lead Li Mengzhu.
In May 1989, Qiong Yao returned to Hunan, where she actively promoted cross-strait co-productions such as the “Six Dreams” series and completed works like “Gentle Lady”, “Mute Wife”, “Three Flowers” the following year. An 8-year-old girl from Beijing, Jin Ming, starred in her first television drama in “Gentle Lady”, winning the hearts of audiences across both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwanese artist Chen Derong, now 50 years old, rose to fame in her early years with dramas like “Burning Flame of the Plum Blossoms”, “Proud Twins”, and “One Dream by the Curtain”, as a favored leading lady of Qiong Yao. She expressed deep sorrow upon hearing of Qiong Yao’s sudden departure, stating, “It’s very difficult for me to accept that she chose to leave us in this way.” Similarly, born in Taiwan, Xiao Qiang (Xiao Xiuxia), was handpicked by Qiong Yao at the age of 28 to play “Wang Green Ping” in “One Dream by the Curtain”, winning immense popularity for her portrayal of the proud and aristocratic heiress.
Jiang Qinqin was one of the earliest mainland Chinese actresses to collaborate with Qiong Yao, who played a pivotal role in boosting Jiang Qinqin to stardom. In 1996, Qiong Yao decided to produce the television series “Tears in Heaven”. As was customary, all cast selections had to be approved by Qiong Yao herself. When it came to choosing the actress for the role of “Xiao Yufeng”, other cast members were already signed, yet the female lead remained uncertain.
During this dilemma, an unexpected encounter led Qiong Yao to stumble upon a photo of Jiang Qinqin in a magazine. Enamored by Jiang Qinqin’s serene and intelligent demeanor, with a classical yet modern charm, Qiong Yao immediately decided that she had found her long sought-after “Xiao Yufeng”. Jiang Qinqin was promptly cast as the female lead “Xiao Yufeng”, and Qiong Yao dubbed her with the stage name “Shui Ling”.
The television series “My Fair Princess”, scripted by Qiong Yao, made a stellar debut in 1998 on mainland Chinese screens, becoming a household classic that launched stars like Zhao Wei, Lin Xinru, and Fan Bingbing, who were around 20 at the time. Lin Xinru, in particular, gained rapid fame for her role as “Zhiwei” in “My Fair Princess” and later showcased her exceptional acting skills in “Misty Rain”, both adaptations from Qiong Yao’s works. Upon learning of Qiong Yao’s sudden passing, her emotions were hard to quell, with her management stating that she needed time to adjust her mood.
When reminiscing about the filming of “My Fair Princess”, there is an intriguing anecdote worth mentioning. Fan Bingbing, who had left a deep impression with her classical aura, was initially invited to join Qiong Yao’s “My Fair Princess”. Initially cast as “Zhiwei”, she was switched to “Jinsuo” within a week, leading her to depart from the set in dissatisfaction. After over a month of persuasion, Fan Bingbing returned to the production, eventually falling in love with her character. She remarked, “Xiaoyanzi is exaggerated, Zhiwei is gentle, but Jinsuo must leave an impression on the audience, which is not easy.”
The news of Qiong Yao’s passing immediately trended as the top discussion on Weibo, provoking widespread discussions among netizens. Many expressed sentiments like, “It’s too sudden and unbelievable,” and “Her novels have had a tremendous influence, may she rest in peace.” Others nostalgically commented, “Qiong Yao accompanied several generations in their growth, and many actors became famous because of her TV dramas. She truly influenced many generations!”