White Lily

by Ting-xing Ye

Nearly a century ago, deep in the centre of the Forbidden City, China's last emperor reigned from his dragon throne. Although he was only a boy, the imperial decrees issued in his name were shouted in every corner of the country, binding his subjects with the stout ropes of custom and regulations. Every man had to shave his head and wear a single pigtail to symbolize his submission to the boy, and every woman was second in importance, even in her own family. She was called to obey her father and brothers as a young girl. She was certainly not allowed to attend school.

Into this world, in a village in the lower reaches of the Yangtze river, White Lily was born. She had a happy childhood running, playing and laughing until, at age four-and-a-half, she was deemed grown up enough to have her feet bound. Unwilling to suffer the loss of mobility, not to mention the pain, White Lily enlists her older brother in a plan clever enough to convince their father to defy tradition and allow White Lily's feet and mind to grow.

Genres: Historical, China, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult

53 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Ting-xing Ye, author of the best-selling memoir, A Leaf in the Bitter Wind, was born in Shanghai, China, in 1952, the fourth of five children born to a factory owner and his wife. At sixteen she was “sent down” to a prison farm during the Cultural Revolution, spending six years there before being admitted to Beijing University. She took a degree in English Literature, then began a seven year career as English interpreter for the national government in Shanghai. Ye came to Canada in 1987. She has been a child-care worker, bank clerk, and secretary. She published her first picture book in 1998. She also writes Young Adult fiction and non-fiction.

Reviews

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong girl protagonist fights against foot-binding during the Qing Dynasty in China.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story Description:

Nearly a century ago, in the Forbidden City, China’s last emperor reigned from his dragon throne. Although he was only a boy, the imperial decrees issued in his name echoed in every corner of the country. Every man had to shave his head and wear a single pigtail to symbolize his submission to the emperor, and every woman was second in importance to the men in her family. Women were obedient to their fathers and brothers and later to the husbands in their arranged marriages. Certainly no woman was encouraged to attend school or to show any independence.

Into this world, in a village in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, White Lily was born. She had a happy childhood, running and playing, until, at the age of four, she was forced to undergo the painful procedure of foot binding required for all females of her social class. But White Lily has her heart set on more than a traditional role in society, and she enlists the support of her beloved elder brother. Together they devise a plan to defy tradition and convince their father that White Lily’s feet and mind must be allowed to grow.

My Review:

At only 64 pages this was a quick read. It’s a YA novel but packs a punch and is well written for such a short story.

[Kes · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a children's short story about a girl dealing with footbinding - White Lily's father eventually relents after her brother teaches her to read and write.

[Cindy L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this such along time ago as a young child and remember that it made such a deep impression on me as a child. It led me begin my journey of research and more reading into China's relatively more recent societal and cultural phenomenon.

[Sonia Jarmula · Rating 2 out of 5]

Falling Short of Ting-xing Ye's Ability

Ting-Xing Ye's "Throwaway Daughter" was a masterpiece. "White Lily", was a short book with little to engage you in. No action. Less descriptive words. Less than 53 pages. Nice illustrations, and a thoughtful, interesting plot that fell way short of what I would have thought Ye could have done. The problem became so small, only solved by questioning. The ending was not even inspirational. It seemed like it would have been, reading the last sentence of the synopsis. I expected better from Ye. Her life is a story, written by her and lived, and yet she can't seem to write a short one for children.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good quick read. About how a girl decides to go against tradition and earned her rights to a free life.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on Chinese folk lore this simple tale of a young girls longing for learning had deeper meaning but still endures as a metaphor for freedom and courage.