Qiong Yao, the literary icon whose romance novels defined generations of Chinese-speaking readers, has died at 86. Her passing was confirmed on Wednesday in New Taipei City, where authorities reported she took her own life at her residence.
Born Chen Zhe in 1938 in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Qiong Yao moved to Taiwan with her family in 1949. Under her pen name—meaning 'jade cliff'—she rose to fame in the 1960s with emotionally charged stories like Outside the Window and Misty Rain, which became cultural touchstones. Many of her 60+ novels were adapted into films and TV dramas cherished by audiences across the Taiwan Strait.
Fans worldwide are mourning the loss of a storyteller who blended poetic prose with timeless themes of love and resilience. Her works not only shaped modern Mandarin romance fiction but also bridged cultural connections between readers in the Chinese mainland and the Taiwan region.
'She made us believe in grand, impossible loves,' said one fan tribute online. Whether through dog-eared paperbacks or binge-worthy dramas, Qiong Yao's legacy lives on.
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Many of her 60+ novels were adapted into films and TV dramas cherished by audiences across the Taiwan Strait.
Whether through dog-eared paperbacks or binge-worthy dramas, Qiong Yao's legacy lives on.
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