Ban Zhao (Chinese: 班昭; 45-117 CE) , courtesy name Huiban, was a Chinese historian, philosopher, and politician. She was the first known female Chinese historian. She (complete) her brother Ban Gu's work on the history of the Western Han, the Book of Han. She also wrote Lessons for Women, an (influence) work on women's conduct. She also had great interest in astronomy and mathematics and wrote poems, commentaries, essays and several longer works, not all of survive.
Ban Zhao was born in Anling, near is now modern Xianyang, Shaanxi province. She married a local resident named Cao Shishu. (luck) her husband died when she was still young. She never remarried, instead devoting her life to scholarship. She was the daughter of the famous historian Ban Biao and younger sister of the general Ban Chao the historian Ban Gu.
Ban Zhao contributed greatly to the completion of Hanshu literally the Book of Han, the official dynastic history of the Western Han. After Ban Gu (imprison) and died in 92 because of his association the royal family, Ban Zhao helped finish the work by making up for the missing part of the Babiao (Eight Tables) . She added the genealogy of the mother of the emperor, (provide) much information which was not usually kept.
Ban Zhao's Lessons for Women, originally only (intend) for the daughters in Ban Zhao's family, was circulated immediately at court and in the communities. It was popular for centuries in China as a guide for women's conduct.
