TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The 86-year-old Taiwan-based romance novelist and TV drama producer Chiung Yao (瓊瑤) was found dead at her home in Tamsui District (淡水區) on Wednesday (Dec. 4). Paramedics pronounced her dead at 1:22 p.m. without transferring her to a hospital.
Her son revealed that she left a note instructing her secretary to check on her at noon. Upon entering the home, the secretary sensed something was wrong and discovered that she had taken her own life in her room. Despite the secretary's immediate call to emergency services, paramedics found Chiung Yao unresponsive with no signs of life.
Born in 1927 in Chengdu, Sichuan (四川成都), Chiung Yao gained fame as a writer, screenwriter, producer, and lyricist known for her romance novels. Her works, celebrated throughout the Chinese-speaking world, have been adapted into numerous films and television series. Notable adaptations include "You Can't Tell Him" (庭院深深), "Fantasies Behind the Pearly Curtain" (一簾幽夢), "The Unforgettable Character" (在水一方), and "My Fair Princess" (還珠格格).
>>> If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 1995 to reach the Suicide Prevention Line. You can also call the Peace of Mind Line, under the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW ), at 1925, or the Teacher Chang Foundation at 1980 for additional resources.
