Lady Tan's circle of women by Lisa See

Tan Yunxian, or Lady Tan, is a true person from the time of the Ming Dynasty, China, in the 15th century. She trained to become a physician, treating the circle of women in the sequestered environs of her Mansion home, a place that, as a woman and an elite, she is never allowed to venture outside of. Yet, her published book of medical cases reveals that somehow she also treated a brickmaker wife, and a boat tiller woman. Lisa See has filled in the gaps of what is known about her life, and woven the story of her friendship with the lowly midwife’s daughter Mei Ling.

In this fascinating story, we learn about the confined life of the 15th century upper class Chinese woman, subject to her parents, and then to her husband. Her feet are bound from an early age, to break the bones and restrict the growth to pin cushion size, upon which she has to swayingly balance with teetering steps. Although she becomes a doctor, and recognises that her own mother died from infected feet, she goes on to also bind her daughters’ feet, to ensure their attractiveness and better marriage prospects.

Yunxian and Mei Ling are two girls from different stations in life. Yunxian is cultured and protected, whilst Mei Ling, as the daughter of a midwife, is considered contaminated by her association with women’s blood. Mei Ling cannot read or write, and has big feet. Yet the two girls become fast friends, sharing with each other aspects of their different worlds.

Close friendships, however loving, can still have their divisive moments. Just as she did in an earlier novel, The island of sea women, Lisa See shines a light on the darkest corners of this friendship also. For Yunxian and Mei Ling, it is difficult to avoid envy of what is seen as special in the other’s life. Fortune does not treat them equally, and resentment threatens their relationship.

I loved reading about the four stages in the Chinese woman’s life: ‘milk days’, ‘hair-pinning days’, ‘rice-and-salt days’, and then finally, the time of ‘sitting quietly’. There is also the amazing ornately carved three-roomed marriage bed, that the girls play in when they are young, and which accompanies Yunxian through the different stages of her life. It is an actual bed, which Lisa See still has in her family. For pictures of the bed, and other images and resources about the period, have a look at See’s site ‘Step inside: Lady Tan’s circle of women’ – it is a treasure trove of information related to the book. There is also a useful Discussion Guide with questions to provoke reflection and discussion.

Themes: China - 15th century, Women, Medicine, Traditions, Friendship, Envy.

Helen Eddy