Autobiography of a Chinese Woman

<p>Buwei Yang Chao (1889-1981) was a Chinese-American physician and writer. She was one of the first women to practice Western medicine in China. </p><p>Assisted by her husband (linguist Yuenren Chao) she wrote this autobiography in 1947. A truly unique individual especially considering the time/place of her birth and her subsequent life events this is an uplifting story of accomplishment and progress in the early part of the 20<sup>th</sup> century.</p><p><br></p><p>Buwei Yang Chao challenged the traditions and limits of Chinese society by pursuing higher education and becoming a physician opening a Western medicine hospital in China. She (and her family) survived the Chinese revolution and as refugees helped many others escape persecution.</p><p>Challenging tradition even more so by removing herself from an arranged marriage and marrying her husband Yuenren she managed to raise a family travel extensively and become a successful writer.</p><p><br></p><p>Buwei with the help of her daughter Rulan published the book <em>How to Cook and Eat in Chinese</em> in 1945 with subsequent editions up till 1968.</p><p><em>Autobiography of a Chinese Woman</em> is an exciting and thoughtful memoir that covers an historically significant time period from the view of a unique individual.</p>