Fan Yeh’s early-fifth-century biography of Ban Zhao was based on an account written shortly after Ban Zhao’s death, some three centuries earlier. The biography made clear that Ban Zhao was an active and important participant in court politics, giving as much attention to her close relationship with the imperial family as it did to her scholarly and literary accomplishments. For example, we learn that she was consulted by the Empress Teng on “affairs of the state” and that her son’s political advancement was the result of Ban Zhao’s “diligence both at court and in outside activities.” As you read the biography, pay particular attention to the clues it offers to Ban Zhao’s status. What roles did she play at court? How were these roles interconnected?

Ban Zhao, the wife of Ts’ao Shih-shu of Fu-Fêng (in Shensi), was the daughter of Ban Biao of the same district. Her personal name was Zhao, and her style Hui-chi. She displayed profound erudition and talent of a high order. After the early death of her husband, Ban Zhao observed the canons of widowhood.

Her elder brother Ban Gu wrote the Han Shu [History of the Former Han Dynasty] in which the “Eight Tables” and the “Treatise on Astronomy” were not finished at the time of his death. Thereupon the emperor Ho commanded Ban Zhao to come to the Tung Kuan Library in order to continue and complete the work.

The emperor many times summoned Ban Zhao to the palace, where he ordered the empress and the ladies of honorable rank to treat her as a teacher. They addressed her accordingly in terms of respect. Every time there was a presentation of tribute or of unusual gifts the emperor commanded her to compose commemorative verses for the occasion.

When the empress Têng became regent (106 B.C.E.) she conferred with Ban Zhao concerning affairs of the state. As a result of his mother’s diligence both at court and in outside activities, Ban Zhao’s son Gu was by imperial grant created a marquis, and appointed minister to the prince of Ch’i.

At the time when the Han Shu first appeared, most of the scholars could not comprehend it. Ma Rung, a native of the same district as Ban Zhao, was allowed as a special favor to go to the library, where he studied under her. Later Ma Rung’s elder brother Hsü was ordered to continue and complete Ban Zhao’s work.

In the middle of the Yung-ch’u period (107–113 B.C.E.), the empress’s elder brother, General Têng Chih, grieved on account of his mother’s death, sent up a petition to the throne begging to be retired from office. Now the empress was reluctant to allow this, and therefore asked Ban Zhao her opinion. Ban Zhao then presented a memorial . . . in accordance with which the empress permitted the general to retire. Whereupon Têng Chih and other members of his family each in proper order returned to his own place of residence.

Ban Zhao also wrote “Lessons for Women” in seven chapters, a treatise which affords assistance in the education of women. . . . Ma Rung was so pleased with the treatise that he ordered the wives and daughters of his family to practice its precepts. Ban Zhao’s younger sister-in-law, Ts’ao Fêng-shêng, likewise talented and cultured, wrote essays which are worth reading, in which she took issue with Ban Zhao.

When Ban Zhao was seventy and more years old, she died. The empress wore half-mourning for her, and appointed a mourning period. She also sent messengers to superintend, and to represent her in, the funeral arrangements.

The literary works of Ban Zhao included Narrative Poems, Commemorative Writings, Inscriptions, Eulogies, Treatises, Expositions, Memorials, and Final Instructions, in all enough to fill sixteen books. Her daughter-in-law, of the Ting family, collected and edited her works, and appended thereto an appreciation of Ban Zhao.

Source: Nancy Lee Swann, trans., Pan Chao: Foremost Woman Scholar of China (New York: The Century Co., 1932), pp. 40–41. © The East Asian Library and the Gest Collection, Princeton University.

Questions to Consider