Lisa See has a knack for finding the gaps in history and filling them with vibrant, sometimes painful, but always human stories. Her 2023 bestseller, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, isn’t just a fictionalized biography of a Ming Dynasty physician. It’s a study of how women survive when the world is built to keep them silent.
People are obsessed with this book. Why? Because Tan Yunxian was a real person. She lived from 1461 to 1554. In an era where "virtuous" women had their feet bound and stayed behind high walls, she was practicing medicine. But she wasn't treating everyone. She focused on women.
Most people think of history as a series of wars and emperors. This book flips that. It focuses on the "Inner Quarters." Honestly, the concept of the Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is about the radical power of female friendship and professional mentorship in a society that valued women only for their ability to produce sons.
The Real History Behind Tan Yunxian
You can't talk about the book without talking about the actual historical figure. Tan Yunxian was one of the few female doctors in 15th-century China whose work survived. She wrote a book called Miscellaneous Records of a Female Doctor. Think about that for a second. In 1511, a woman was documenting 31 of her most complex medical cases.
She didn't just learn this from a textbook. She learned it from her grandparents. Both were physicians. That’s a huge detail. Her grandmother, especially, didn't just teach her how to grind herbs; she taught her that a woman’s body required a different kind of understanding than what the male doctors of the time were offering.
Male doctors back then weren't even allowed to touch female patients. They’d pull a string attached to the woman's wrist from behind a curtain to feel the pulse. How are you supposed to diagnose an infection or a complicated pregnancy through a piece of silk? You can't. Not really. Tan Yunxian stepped into that gap.
Why the Circle of Women Is the Heart of the Story
The title refers to more than just a social club. In the novel, See explores the "Four Agreements" of Chinese womanhood, but the real "circle" is the support system Tan Yunxian builds.
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Her relationship with Meiling is the anchor. Meiling is a midwife. In the hierarchy of the Ming Dynasty, a doctor and a midwife were worlds apart. One was "high," the other was "low." But See shows us that medicine isn't just about prestigious titles. It’s about the hands-on, often messy work of birth and recovery.
This friendship is probably the most relatable part of the book. You've got two women from totally different backgrounds realizing they need each other to navigate a world that sees them as property. It’s about "shifting" – the idea that women must adapt their personalities to fit whatever role (daughter, wife, mother-in-law) they are currently occupying.
The Brutal Reality of Foot Binding
We have to talk about the feet. See doesn't shy away from the visceral, agonizing process of foot binding. It’s hard to read. It’s supposed to be.
Foot binding wasn't just a fashion statement; it was a gatekeeper for class and marriageability. In Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, the "golden lilies" represent both a woman’s status and her literal imprisonment.
See describes the breaking of the arch and the folding of the toes with a clinical, yet empathetic, eye. It makes you realize that Tan’s medical journey wasn't just about curing external illnesses. It was about treating the lifelong trauma and physical complications caused by these cultural expectations.
Honestly, it’s a miracle Tan was able to move around as much as she did. The book reminds us that while her mind was soaring and solving medical mysteries, her body was physically constrained by the very society she was trying to heal.
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The Three Borne Truths
The book leans heavily into the philosophical and medical framework of the time. You’ll see a lot of talk about the "Three Borne Truths."
- A woman is born to suffer.
- A woman is born to bear children.
- A woman is born to be alone.
It sounds incredibly bleak. And for many women in the Ming Dynasty, it was. But Tan Yunxian’s life was an argument against that third point. By creating her "circle," she ensured she was never truly alone.
She used her position to help women who were suffering from "blood stasis" or "depletion of qi." While male doctors were busy quoting ancient texts, she was actually listening to women talk about their pain. That’s a revolutionary act, even today.
Modern Lessons from an Ancient Doctor
So, why are book clubs across the country still picking this up?
It’s because the themes of Lady Tan’s Circle of Women haven't really gone away. We still talk about the "gender pain gap" in modern medicine. Women still struggle to be heard by their doctors. We still rely on our "circles"—our friends, our sisters, our mentors—to get through the hardest parts of our lives.
The book also tackles the complex relationship between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. In the Ming Dynasty, the mother-in-law held absolute power over the younger women in the house. It was a cycle of trauma. If you were treated poorly as a young bride, you often took it out on the next generation. Tan’s struggle to find her footing under her mother-in-law’s strict rule is a masterclass in psychological tension.
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How to Read This Book (and What to Do Next)
If you haven't read it yet, don't rush through the medical descriptions. They are based on Tan’s actual writings. Pay attention to the way See uses the seasons and the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) to structure the narrative. It’s not just "flavor"; it’s how Tan viewed the world.
For those who have finished it and want more, here are some ways to dig deeper into the world of Tan Yunxian:
- Look up the actual "Miscellaneous Records of a Female Doctor." While the full text isn't available in every local library, there are academic translations of her cases. It’s fascinating to see how she treated things like "fright wind" or postpartum complications.
- Explore Ming Dynasty Art. Tan lived during a period of incredible artistic output. Looking at paintings of the "Inner Quarters" from the 15th and 16th centuries helps visualize the architecture and the restrictive clothing See describes.
- Research Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for Women. Many of the herbs Tan used, like mugwort and ginger, are still staples in TCM today.
- Read "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan." If you loved the "circle" aspect, this is Lisa See’s other masterpiece on female friendship (specifically laotong bonds) and the secret language of nu shu.
Tan Yunxian’s life was a testament to the fact that expertise doesn't always come from a formal institution. Sometimes it comes from the quiet observation of those around you. It comes from the "circle" you choose to build when the world tries to box you in.
The most important takeaway is that Tan didn't just survive; she documented. She made sure that even 500 years later, we would know that women like her existed. They weren't just background characters in history. They were the ones keeping the world turning, one patient at a time.
Actionable Insights for Readers
To get the most out of your journey into Lady Tan's world, consider these steps:
- Map the Relationships: When reading, track the power dynamics between the different generations of women. Notice how Tan’s grandmother’s influence clashes with the traditional expectations of her mother-in-law.
- Identify the Herbs: Take note of the specific remedies mentioned. Many, like red dates and goji berries, are easily found in Asian grocery stores today and offer a tangible connection to the history.
- Host a Focused Discussion: If you’re in a book club, move beyond "did you like it" and ask: "In what ways do we still see the 'Three Borne Truths' manifesting in modern society, and how do we break them?"
- Support Women in Medicine: Tan’s legacy is the visibility of women's health. Support organizations that focus on closing the medical research gap for female-specific conditions.
Lady Tan's Circle of Women is a reminder that while the walls around us might change, the need for community and the drive to heal remain constant.