C-Drama Stars Mourn the Passing of Taiwanese Author Chiung Yao

Trigger warning: Suicide topic

It's a sad day today, December 4, 2024, in the Chinese entertainment industry as popular Taiwanese author, screenwriter, and film producer Chiung Yao passed away in an apparent suicide at her home in Taiwan. She was 86.

Chiung Yao is the pen name of Chen Che, she is often regarded as the most popular romance author in the Chinese-speaking world. Her books have been adapted into movies and television series, and starred by popular stars from Taiwan and mainland China. 

Chiung Yao passed away at the age of 86

She created the highly successful costume series, My Fair Princess (also known as Princess Pearl),  which catapulted Zhao Wei, Ruby Lin, and Fan Bingbing to fame. It remains one of the most popular costume series ever made in the Chinese language. 

Zhao Wei and Ruby Lin reunited in another drama adaptation of Chiung Yao's book, Romance in the Rain, in 2001. 

The cast of My Fair Princess, Zhao Liying (who starred in the 2011 version of Princess Pearl, "New My Fair Princess" which Chiung Yao also wrote), Chao Yen, and other personalities in the entertainment industry in Taiwan and mainland China, expressed their sadness over the loss and extended their condolences to the bereaved family.

cast of My Fair Princess/Princess Pearl (1998)

According to the local police and fire department in Taiwan, the prolific writer was found dead at her residence in New Taipei City. Her son told Taiwanese media that his mother left a farewell note, which appears to be a suicide note.

Part of her suicide note reads: "I am the ‘spark’ and I have burned with all my strength. Now, before the flames are extinguished, I choose this way to go home gracefully.”

Zhao Wei, who has been inactive on Weibo for three years since her profile was muted due to some issues with Chinese authorities, posted on Weibo for the first time to mourn Chiung Yao.

Taiwanese actress Ruby Lin (the wife of Wallace Huo), posted on Weibo: “To have been your Ziwei (her character in My Fair Princess), Ruping (Romance In The Rain) and Xuehua (Flowers In Fog, 2013) is an honor enough for this lifetime.”

Zhao Liying, who portrayed Princess Qing'Er in the 2011 "New My Fair Princess", which Chiung Yao also wrote, also paid tribute to the deceased author on her Weibo.

Zhao Liying played Princess Qing Er in New My Fair Princess (2011)

On November 28, Chiung Yao already made a hint about her mental state when she posted a lengthy message on Facebook, writing the pain of living without her husband, Ping Hsin-tao, who died in 2019.

Chiung Yao's debut novel, Outside The Window, was published in 1963 and adapted into a movie in 1973. There are hundreds of movies and television series adapted from her novels, and the following are some of the most popular: 

• Flowers in Fog (series/modern romance) 2013: Ruby Lin, Deng Lun, Ray Chang, Joo Jin Mo
• New My Fair Princess (series/costume) 2011: Li Sheng, Zhang Rui, Zhao Liying
• Romance in the Rain (series/modern drama) 2001: Ruby Lin, Zhao Wei, Alec Su
• My Fair Princess season 3 (series/costume) 2002: Huang Xiaoming, Ma Yili
• My Fair Princess season 2 (series/costume) 1999: Zhao Wei, Ruby Lin, Fan Bingbing
• My Fair Princess (series/costume) 1998: Zhao Wei, Ruby Lin, Fan Bingbing
• Plum Blossom Scar (series/costume) 1993: Steve Ma, Vivian Chen
• Deep Garden (series/mystery) 1987: Leanne Liu and Chen Han
• My Cape of Many Dreams (movie/romance) 1981: starred by Taiwanese actors
• Outside the Window (movie/romance) 1973: Brigitte Lin, Chen Han
• The Young Ones (movie/romance) 1973: Chen Chen and Alan Tang

Plagiarism of Yu Zheng

In 2014, the controversial screenwriter and producer, Yu Zheng, known for his works: Palace (2011) and Story of Yanxi Palace (2018) was involved in a plagiarism issue when it was found out he plagiarized the original work of Chiung Yao, "Plum Blossom Scar", for his drama, Palace III: The Lost Daughter (it has a movie version starring Chen Xiao, Zhou Dongyu, and Zhao Liying).

In April 2014, after Palace III was aired, Chiung Yao released an open letter to China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film, and Television accusing Yu Zheng of blatant plagiarism, "unprecedented and beyond my endurance," seeking the immediate suspension of the broadcast of the TV series. 

At first, Yu Zheng denied Chiung Yao's claim, saying he was a fan of the author and had no intention of angering her. But days later, a team led by Wang Jun from Beijing-based Yingke Law Firm filed a plagiarism lawsuit against Yu Zheng. 

In December of that year, the Beijing Third Intermediate People's Court convened the case. Wang Hailin, the executive director of the Chinese Television Series Screenwriter Association, testified, and on December 12, several Chinese screenwriters published a joint statement supporting Chiung Yao's lawsuit against Yu Zheng.

On Christmas day of 2014, the court ruled in favor of Chiung Yao, ordering companies to stop distributing and broadcasting Palace 3: The Lost Daughter. The court also demanded Yu Zheng to publicly apologize, and pay Chiung Yao a large sum of money as compensation. It took several years before Yu Zheng issued a public apology to Chiung Yao.

Sending our deep condolences to the family of Chiung Yao. May her soul truly rest in eternal peace. She was a true icon in the Asian Drama industry.