TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Family and friends gathered in Taipei on Wednesday (Dec. 11) to honor the life of acclaimed author Chiung Yao (瓊瑤), who passed away at 86. The private ceremony, as outlined in her will, was a low-key affair. Her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughters followed her casket to the crematorium.
The ceremony at the Taipei Mortuary Services Office (懷愛館) featured Baroque-style decorations, setting a solemn tone. Actress Ruby Lin (林心如), known for her role in Chiung Yao's "My Fair Princess" (還珠格格), attended in a subdued manner, wearing a mask to conceal her sorrow. Zhao Wei (趙薇), another star from the series, sent a floral tribute in her absence.
Chiung Yao's family plans to lay her to rest at Yangmingshan's "Zhenshan Garden" (陽明山臻善園), where she will join her late husband, Ping Hsin-tao (平鑫濤), founder of Crown Publishing. The family expressed gratitude to her fans, hoping they could slowly let go of heavy emotions and return to their daily lives.
Chiung Yao, celebrated for her romantic novels and TV dramas, including "My Fair Princess" and "Romance in the Rain" (情深深雨濛濛), unexpectedly passed away on Dec. 4 in her Tamsui residence. Her works earned her the title of the world's most popular Chinese romance novelist.
