Purchase a Premier Admission ticket for Lisa See on June 26, and receive free General Admission for Gail Tsukiyama on June 27! Details below.
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. 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.
From a young age, Yunxian learns about women’s illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. The two girls find fast friendship and a mutual purpose—despite the prohibition that a doctor should never touch blood while a midwife comes in frequent contact with it—and they vow to be forever friends, sharing in each other’s joys and struggles. No mud, no lotus, they tell themselves: from adversity beauty can bloom.
But when Yunxian is sent into an arranged marriage, her mother-in-law forbids her from seeing Meiling and from helping the women and girls in the household. Yunxian is to act like a proper wife—embroider bound-foot slippers, pluck instruments, recite poetry, give birth to sons, and stay forever within the walls of the family compound, the Garden of Fragrant Delights.
How might a woman like Yunxian break free of these traditions, go on to treat women and girls from every level of society, and lead a life of such importance that many of her remedies are still used five centuries later? How might the power of friendship support or complicate these efforts? Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is a captivating story of women helping other women. It is also a triumphant reimagining of the life of a woman who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be considered remarkable today.
Masks are required for everyone over the age of 2 years old and must be worn at all times in the venue, and throughout the duration of the event.
Details for free General Admission ticket offer for This Is Now: Gail Tsukiyama (Tuesday, June 27): When you purchase a Premier Admission ticket for our event with Lisa See, you will receive a promo code UPON REGISTRATION AND IN THE PDF OF YOUR E-TICKET that unlocks one free General Admission ticket for our event with Gail Tsukiyama. Simply go to the ticketing page (linked above) and enter your code into the field labeled "Promo Code" and then click "Apply" to reveal your ticket, and then complete your order on the next page. Questions? Email events@keplers.org.