ARTS / CULTURE & LEISURE
Last farewell to Qiong Yao, who left behind a timeless literary legacy
Her works deeply rooted in Chinese culture: professor
Published: Dec 11, 2024 02:53 PM
Photo: VCG

Photo: VCG



The funeral and flower burial ceremony for the renowned writer and producer from the island of Taiwan Qiong Yao took place on Wednesday at the Yangming Mountain Park in Taipei. After the cremation, her son personally scattered her ashes, attendees paid their respects by offering flowers and bowing in her honor.

Yu Xiaofan, who once played the lead role in the TV series Wan Jun inspired by Qiong Yao's work, was present at the ceremony. "I came here today to send Qiong on her final journey. Perhaps she has already transformed into a beautiful butterfly, flying toward the rainbow, flying toward Mr Ping [Ping Xintao], to continue her beloved writing. I wish her a peaceful journey," she said.

In addition to Yu, Ruby Lin, widely known for her role as Ziwei in the TV series My Fair Princess, also attended the ceremony. Lin, Yu, and other attendees joined fans in singing the song "Meihua San Nong," which instantly brought everyone to tears.

Jiang Qinqin, Qin Lan, and other actors and actresses also sent floral tributes to express their con-dolences. Singer and director Leo Ku's former manager attended on behalf of Ku.

"Ms Qiong was an influential writer who harbored deep feelings for the mainland, and she played an active role in promoting cross-Straits literary exchanges and film cooperation," said Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, on Wednesday.

"Qiong is a giant in Chinese literary history, a cultural phenomenon. Her works are deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture, while cleverly blending traditional elements with modern entertain-ment, creating a unique artistic style," Zuo Heng, a professor at the China Film Art Research Center, told the Global Times.

Zuo noted that Qiong's works span multiple fields, including books, films, and songs, and even helped launch the careers of Taiwan singers.

"Many singers in Taiwan gained widespread recognition by performing covers of theme songs from Qiong Yao's works. Her works have huge fan bases in both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan," he said.

"This cultural phenomenon goes beyond just literature or film; it is a cross-disciplinary cultural fu-sion that has driven the development of the entire entertainment industry," Zuo added.

"Whether it's the fairy tale-like romance or the artistic expression, Qiong's works are able to evoke a genuine sense of love and warmth in readers," Xue Mo, a national first-class writer and member of the China Writers Association, told the Global Times.

"Love, in her writing, never needs to be mature or complicated. It simply exists as a pure, heartfelt emotion," Xue noted. "This emotional authenticity is the true charm of her works."

Ms Qiong was an influential writer who over 60 years had created more than 70 widely recog-nized literary works, giving life to a series of distinct and deeply moving literary characters. Her works attracted countless readers, leaving a profound impact on the Chinese-speaking cultural circle, according to a statement released by the Chinese Writers Association on December 6.

"The works of Qiong radiate a strong sense of traditional Chinese culture, not only telling love stories, but also conveying the profound essence of Chinese culture," Zuo said. "These works are filled with emotional expressions that are deeply human and celebrate traditional virtues. The inter-pretations of family, love, and life in her works blend profound cultural meanings, making her works timeless and still captivating to readers today."

"Qiong's passing is not just a simple farewell; what she leaves behind is an emotional world that will forever be engraved in our hearts," Chang Ximing, a fan who participated in the live stream of Qiong Yao's funeral, told the Global Times.

"Her works not only shaped my views on love and life when I was young but also shaped the way I and my fellow fans experience emotions," Chang said. "Her works taught us that love is not just about romance, but about acceptance, understanding, and growth; that family ties are not only about blood relations, but about constant support and reliance; and that friendship is not just about laugh-ter and fun, but about mutual support and unspoken understanding."

"Every time I revisit Qiong Yao's works, I can still feel that pure warmth, that sincere and genuine emotional power. This is the most precious gift she has given us," Chang said.