Falling Leaves was translated into Chinese for the Taiwan market. It was titled Luoyeguigen (T: 落葉歸根, S: 落叶归根, P: Luòyèguīgēn). Unlike other cases of memoirs, the novel was translated by the original writer. [21] The protagonist of the tale, Ye Xian is the motherless daughter of a cave-dwelling chieftain in an uncertain region of China called Wudoung. The other primary characters of Ye Xian's tale all fall into a very similar role to that of the French "Cinderella": there is the cruel stepmother, one of two wives of Ye Xian's father; an unkind stepsister called Jun-li, who's age varies depending on the translation; a supernatural wish granting figure; and—of course—the royal male who will whisk Ye Xian away from her difficulties. Two months after Yen Mah arrived in Shanghai, her grandfather, her Aunt Baba, Franklin and Susan arrived (they delayed moving to observe the hundred days' mourning period for Nai Nai). When Susan arrived, she was too young and too close to Aunt Baba to recognise and approach her mother, Niang, who thus beat her loudly in frustration and anger. Yen Mah intervened, leading Niang to declare that she would never forgive her. [15]

SCOBIE, ALEX. "SOME FOLKTALES IN GRAECO-ROMAN AND FAR EASTERN SOURCES". In: Philologus 121, no. 1-2 (1977): 17-18. https://doi.org/10.1524/phil.1977.121.12.1 Yen Mah also writes of her grandfather's younger sister (Yan Shuzhen), [3] whom she calls 'Grand Aunt'. She cites Yan Shuzhen as founder and president of the Shanghai Women's Commercial and Savings Bank. [4] Shuzhen's colleagues would often call her 'Gong Gong', meaning Grand Uncle. [4] Yen Mah's Early life [ edit ] She had many more test to face on the path of learning. You get to know Adeline and you learn how she thinks/feels which makes you think what you would do if you were her. If you don’t like emotional stories this is not the book for you nut if you do this book is good.

The goal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. My heart gave a giant lurch as her words sank in. For a dazzling moment, I knew with every fiber of my being that somehow, against all odds, Aunt Baba had come to my rescue! The whole of me was vibrating with joy, and I ran as fast as I could towards the visitors’ lounge, followed by Mother Marie.” Chinese Cinderella, p.136 Nai Nai is Adeline's paternal grandmother, the wife of Ye Ye. Born under a different dynasty, her feet were broken and bound as a child. This causes her constant pain and she "hobbles" instead of walking tall. In the few chapters where she's present, Nai Nai is portrayed as a sensible and strong woman, capable even with the handicap imposed on her. The traditional matriarch of the Yen family, the family structure falls apart with her death. Without her support, Ye Ye is no longer able to hold his position at the top of the chain, and Niang takes over the household. Nai Nai's death is a turning point in the novel, from a time of tranquil freedom to an oppressive atmosphere and a segregated home. Big Brother (Gregory)

Long before the Qin and Han Dynasty, in a village populated by non-Han people located somewhere in the southern area, their chief by the name of Wu had two wives by custom and a daughter by each of them. Ye Xian is Wu's daughter of one wife, and she is extremely beautiful, kind and gentle, and gifted in many skills such as pottery and poetry. In contrast, her half-sister Jun-Li is plain-looking, cruel and selfish, and both she and her mother, Wu's other wife Jin, envy the attention Wu lavishes upon Ye Xian. Ye Xian's mother died while she was still a baby, so Wu did all he could to raise his motherless daughter.Yet another version of the story finds Ye-Xian's new husband bringing her stepfamily to live with them in his palace. There is a catch, however: Jin and Jun-Li must cater to the whims of his queen and himself, and to the eventual whims of their children and heirs. Otherwise, Jun-Li and Jin will be cast out among the populace...who, knowing of the pair's ghastly natures, will surely rip them both to pieces on sight. And so poetic justice prevails: Ye-Xian's stepfamily find themselves trapped in servitude, surrounded by the lifestyle of royalty to which they aspired; they are in it, and of it, but they will never have it. Rather, it has them instead. Above all, there is the wisdom and magic of our language itself. When you read a Chinese book, try to look at the characters and think about them. I have met many who appear to know a good many Chinese words but never actually grasp the true meaning of any of them.” Chinese Cinderella, p.151 While she outwardly expresses respect and deference to the natural head of the household, Ye Ye, for the sake of Father's feelings, their relationship is a frigid one. Likewise, she sees Aunt Baba as a threat, after an incident with Little Sister on the first night in Beijing, and does her best to remove her influence from the household. Niang's personality is fairly static throughout the novel, permanently the antagonist to Adeline's story. Father (Joseph Yen)

Her second work, Chinese Cinderella, was an abridged version of her autobiography (until she leaves for England aged 14), and has sold over one million copies worldwide. It received numerous awards, including When Ye Xian appeared wearing both her shoes with the fish motif and her beautiful sea-green-and-blue gown, the King realized that it was her that he was looking for. He asked her to come with him to his kingdom and to be his wife and queen, and she happily accepted.The eldest daughter of Ye Ye and Nai Nai, Aunt Baba is described as "meek, shy and unmarried," wholly dependent on her younger brother--Adeline's father--financially. Tasked with taking care of Adeline, the two develop a close bond due to their position as the unwanted and powerless members of the family. Aunt Baba provides encouragement for Adeline to pursue her dreams, a decision that causes her to lose favor in the eyes of Niang. Along the River: A Chinese Cinderella Novel (2009); also published as Chinese Cinderella: The Mystery of the Song Dynasty Painting Ye Xian's only relief comes from her acquaintance with a very large and very chatty fish living in the river near Ye Xian's home. The fish, as it turns out, is a guardian sent from the sky by her ever-present mother, and helps Ye Xian through her dark home life. That is, until Jun-li catches Ye Xian with the fish and Ye Xian's stepmother stabs it with a dagger for her and Jun-li's dinner. Zhang, Juwen. "Rediscovering the Brothers Grimm of China: Lin Lan." The Journal of American Folklore 133, no. 529 (2020): 285-306. Accessed July 24, 2020. doi:10.5406/jamerfolk.133.529.0285. Yen Mah had an older sister called Lydia (Jun-pei) and three older brothers, Gregory (Zi-jie), Edgar (Zi-lin), and James (Zi-jun). [1] She has stated in Falling Leaves that she did not use the real names of her siblings and their spouses to protect their identities but she did, however, use the real names of her father, stepmother, aunt and husband, while referring to her paternal grandparents only by the Chinese terms 'Ye Ye' and 'Nai Nai'. [2]

Mah, Adeline Yen (1998). Falling leaves: the true story of an unwanted Chinese daughter. New York: Wiley. pp.45–47. ISBN 978-0-585-36179-6. OCLC 47011622. Adeline Yen Mah's short biography, exploring her childhood experiences, meant to be read and inspired other readers. She wrote this book for teens and young kids to express her desire and sadness in the past while living with her stepmother, living without desire, loosing hopes and dreams and losing her rights as a child of his father. My favourite quote in this novel was "“Please believe that one single positive dream is more important than a thousand negative realities.” This quote was very inspiring to me and it should be to others as well. If things arent going well in life then you shouldnt give up because having a dream can help you get through life and it can also help you to strive for what you are after.Adeline's eldest brother is distinct from the other three in that he often shows a maturity corresponding to his position, albeit interposed with flashes of malice that corrode any of Adeline's built-up good will. Big Brother, along with his other two natural brothers, is forced to have an outdated hairstyle and wear antiquated clothes, leading to much ridicule from their classmates. Although he takes up the banner of rebellion against Niang, his resolve is extinguished by his stepmother's all-encompassing influence.