Ban Zhao (c. 45–c. 120)

Chinese poet, historian and writer. Name variations: Pan Chao; also known in the Chinese literary world by the alternate name Ban Hui-ji and by the title Cao Dagu. Born sometime between 45 and 51; died sometime between 114 and 120; dau. of Ban Biao (3-54, noted scholar and administrator of the powerful Chinese Ban family which included a number of famous literary figures), and a highly educated mother (name unknown); both her great-aunt and her mother were also literary figures; received a broad education with noted tutors and established a reputation as a poet and woman of letters; sister of Ban Gu and Ban Chao (Pan Ch'ao, 32-102, famous Chinese traveler and military official in northern frontiers); m. Cao Shishu; children: several sons.

After brother Ban Gu died, finished his dynastic history, Han Shu (History of the Han), which is said to be the 2nd most noted of many dynastic histories of China (while her exact contributions to the work have been obscured by time and by later Confucian disregard for women, some scholars have given her credit as primary author); served as tutor to Empress Deng (fl. 105–121) and as noted court memorialist; is most famous for classic work Lessons for Women, which became a standard treatise prescribing rules for behavior of women within Chinese family for almost 2,000 years and made her the most noted Chinese woman of letters prior to 20th century; also wrote many volumes of poetry and a wide range of literary miscellany, such as epitaphs and memorials; was a model for subsequent generations of Chinese female intellectuals well into the modern era.

See also Nancy Lee Swann, Pan Chao: Foremost Woman Scholar of China (Russell & Russell, 1932); and Women in World History.