Taiwanese Novelist Chiung Yao Dies by Suicide at 86 in New Taipei City

Dec 4, 2024, 09:04 AM

Renowned Taiwanese romance novelist Chiung Yao, whose real name was Chen Che, passed away on December 4, 2024, at the age of 86 in her home in New Taipei City, Taiwan. Local authorities, including the police and fire department, confirmed that her death was a suicide, and a farewell letter was left behind. She was discovered in the afternoon. Chiung Yao was a prolific author whose works, including 'My Fair Princess,' 'Romance in the Rain,' and 'Fantasies Behind the Pearly Curtain,' were adapted into over 100 films and television series. Her literature significantly influenced Chinese-speaking audiences across multiple generations. In her farewell video titled 'When Snowflakes Fall,' Chiung Yao expressed her decision to end her life on her own terms, describing herself as a 'spark' that had burned brightly. The police have ruled out external factors in her death.